50 years in business calls for a unique celebration. It requires an event for appreciating our colleagues, staff, associates, and clients for all the support and efforts they put into making Earth Systems successful. So, the local offices on the Central Coast gathered to celebrate and enjoy one of our more unique projects.
Wine Caves at Halter Ranch Winery
Halter Ranch Winery is an award-winning winery deep on the west side of Paso Robles, CA. In 2011, the winery completed its new multi-level, gravity flow, production system. In 2015, Earth Systems participated with the design and construction team in the completion of the wine caves.
Wine Cave Construction
There are various systems used to support wine cave tunnels. The methods depend on the type of ground encountered. However, the primary choice is shotcrete, a concrete mix sprayed on the walls and ceilings. It can be used to provide early strong support. If the integrity of the arch is kept in the self-supporting tunnel, it is made even stronger with the additional layers of shotcrete.
Wine caves are used for the storage and aging of wine. Caves naturally produce an ideal environment for winemaking. The average temperature of a wine cave is around 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Most importantly, the temperature remains constant throughout the year. Also, wine caves maintain a constant 90% humidity, which prevents wine evaporation during the aging process.
