A wine tank manufacturer is an industrial specialist in the design and production of containers for winemaking, storage and ageing of wine. The tank is the central tool of any winery: it is where alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place, where blends are refined and where wines are held before bottling. The choice of material, shape and size of a tank is a fundamental oenological decision that directly influences the style and quality of the wine.
The tank manufacturer is far more than a simple metalworker or carpenter: they are a technical partner of the oenologist. They design containers that meet very precise requirements in terms of hygiene, thermoregulation, oxygen impermeability, ease of cleaning and durability. Innovation in materials and shapes is at the heart of their expertise.
The first winemaking tanks were carved from rock or modelled in clay. Georgians have been making wine in kvevris, large buried clay jars, for 8,000 years. In ancient Greece and Rome, terracotta amphorae served both as fermentation tanks and transport containers. Wooden foudres, then barrels, dominated for centuries.
It was in the 20th century that the materials revolution radically transformed winery tanks. In the 1950s, stainless steel gradually established itself as the reference material for its gustative neutrality, impeccable hygiene and resistance. French companies became national references for bespoke stainless tanks.
Since the 2000s, there has been a return to revisited ancient materials: reinforced concrete, concrete eggs, amphora jars, sandstone tanks, wooden foudres in different species. This diversification responds to winemakers seeking terroir expression and original styles, beyond the uniformity brought by all-stainless.
The tank manufacturer works on personalised orders in most cases. Each winery has its constraints: available floor space, ceiling height, desired capacities, door configurations, access for cleaning equipment. Computer-aided design (CAD) enables bespoke solutions to be designed that maximise space use and facilitate the daily work of cellar teams.
On-site installation is a critical step. For large stainless tanks of several hundred hectolitres, transport and installation require special equipment. Some manufacturers prefer to deliver tanks in parts and assemble them directly in the cellar, particularly when access is restricted.
Complementary equipment is often offered as a package: integrated thermoregulation systems (double wall with cold water circulation), racking valves, inspection hatches, agitators, automatic pump-over systems, connected temperature and density sensors. The modern tank is a sophisticated production tool far beyond a simple container.
According to data from AXEMA and the FIEB:
Over 500 million hectolitres of wine storage capacity in France — FranceAgriMer
Stainless steel represents approximately 70% of new tank installations in France — AXEMA
The return of concrete: over 20% of new tanks installed in France are concrete, rising trend — AXEMA
Over 200 wine tank manufacturers active in Europe — FIEB
The concrete egg market multiplied tenfold in Europe between 2010 and 2022 — FIEB
Thermoregulated stainless tanks — reference standard, gustative neutrality, perfect hygiene, cold double wall
Conical stainless tanks — optimised tannin extraction, easier pump-overs, widely used for reds
Reinforced concrete tanks — thermal inertia, natural micro-oxygenation, terroir connection, revisited tradition
Concrete eggs — ovoid shape creating natural convective movement, increased aromatic complexity
Terracotta amphorae — Georgian kvevris, Spanish tinajas, maximum natural micro-oxygenation
Wooden foudres — oak, acacia, chestnut, cherry, gentle micro-oxygenation, controlled aromatic contribution
Fibreglass tanks — lightness, resistance, used in warm countries for large capacities
Enamelled sandstone tanks — Alsatian and Rhenish tradition, perfect neutrality, exceptional longevity
Stockinger tanks (wood) — oval or round Alpine oak tanks, premium Austrian speciality
Mobile isothermal tanks — transport under controlled conditions, bulk wine import-export
The diversification of materials is the sector's major trend. Faced with the uniformisation of wines produced in stainless steel, many winemakers are experimenting with amphorae, concrete eggs, foudres in rare wood species and sandstone jars to bring complexity and originality to their wines. Manufacturers offering these innovative alternatives are riding a growing demand.
The connectivity and automation of tanks are transforming cellar management. Tanks equipped with connected sensors enable real-time monitoring of temperatures, densities and levels from a smartphone. Programmable automatic pump-over systems and remote-controlled valves considerably reduce manual work in the cellar and improve the precision of oenological interventions.
Finally, the durability and longevity of equipment are growing arguments. A quality stainless tank can last 30 to 50 years with appropriate maintenance. Winemakers, increasingly sensitive to their carbon footprint, prefer durable equipment manufactured locally over disposable or distant-imported solutions.
Inoxy — Montpellier, Herault, France
Sotraco — Cuxac-d'Aude, Aude, France
Mori Inox — Saint-Andre-de-Sangonis, Herault, France
Grillot — Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France
Speidel — Ofterdingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
CDR Tanks — Verona, Veneto, Italy
Marchisio — Alba, Piedmont, Italy
Stockinger — Aspach, Upper Austria, Austria
Cuve Beton Nomblot — Chablis, Burgundy, France
Taransaud — Cognac, Charente, France
Tinajas Jesus Romero — Villarrobledo, Castile, Spain
Georgian Kvevri Craft — Tbilisi, Georgia
Tank Craft — Napa, California, USA
New Holland Stainless — Barossa Valley, Australia
Elgin Inox — Elgin, Western Cape, South Africa
Vallauris Amphores — Vallauris, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Oenoplug Cuves Beton — Bordeaux, Gironde, France
Berthier Inox — Vire, Saone-et-Loire, France
Seguin Moreau Foudres — Cognac, Charente, France
Metaluisiana — Almendralejo, Extremadura, Spain
Maconnaise Cuves — Macon, Burgundy, France
Cuves Espace — Montbeliard, Doubs, France
Pichot Cuverie — Bergerac, Dordogne, France
Cuve Tradition Bois — Arbois, Jura, France
Wolffer Tanks — Neustadt, Palatinate, Germany
Vinitech Equipment — Bordeaux, Gironde, France
Would you like your company to appear on this page? Listings are reserved for Pro Premium members of Wine BHM.
Join the selection of producers on the platform.
Join the network*Featured listings are reserved for Pro Premium members, subject to terms and conditions.
