Mobile wine bottling saving time and money for MI wineries

Wine is generally thought of as a laid back indulgence, something to be enjoyed in small sips over good conversation.

But that's not necessarily the case when it comes to the bottling process.

A new company in Michigan is working to save wineries space, time, and most importantly, money.

"Anything we can do to help this area grow helps all the other wineries out here," said Sam Simpson of Harbor Hill Fruit Farms.

Inside his trailer wine bottles can be filled, corked. and labeled faster than in a traditional wine production facility.

Harbor Hill owner and manger Simpson says this technology saves time.

"Traditionally we were doing about 600 cases in a day it would still take 4 people. We're able to do 1800 cases in a full day now with four people, so we've been able to triple our output."

The mobile bottling unit can also save space floor space.

"What we're seeing is some of the newer wineries that are coming on board are not making their business model in needing a bottling line anymore, so they're actually designing their winery around the fact that they can maximize their floor-space for tanks and barrels and all kinds of things."

There's also cost savings involved.

"For smaller wineries that are doing hand spout filling, when they account for their time and equipment they're somewhere around the 7 to 8 dollar a case range. Our pricing is somewhere around $2.65 to $3.65."

Rove Estate has used the mobile trailer for one its vintage wines and owner McKenzie Gallagher is thrilled about the technology.

"This is the perfect opportunity for those smaller businesses like Rove to utilize the mobile bottling line which is extremely efficient. It's cost effective and you're able to bottle your whole vintage in a matter of a day, two days, tops," said Gallagher.

Both Simpson and Gallagher are excited to see other wineries jump on board.

"Any time we have the opportunity as an industry to bring in more technology - we need to embrace it, so I was extremely excited."

Harbor Hill plans to expand their services throughout the state of Michigan and while they didn't invent the idea of mobile bottling... they're one of the first in their region to use it.