Farm Winery Research Articles

Retrofit interventions in non-conditioned rooms: calibration of an assessment method on a farm winery

In the Mediterranean area, most wine farms make use of unconditioned above-ground buildings for wine conservation and ageing. Those buildings are usually constructed without a specific temperature control design, therefore indoor temperature distributions and trends can be suboptimal for wine storage. At the same time, various elements (commonly available in farms such as straw bales and climbing plants) could be used to create cheap constructive solutions capable of improving building's thermal behaviour. This study aims to test the effectiveness of different retrofit interventions for thermal behaviour improvement in unconditioned above-ground farm buildings, referring to wine-ageing requirements. The alternative design solutions are evaluated through energy simulations, calibrated and validated on an Italian case study. The results show the importance of roof insulation, and the improved performance of the combination of more retrofit strategies. The proposed approach can be extended to other passive strategies and proves useful to provide information to optimize, or even avoid, conditioning systems.

The Village Farm Resort and Winery

The Village Farm Resort and Winery is an integrated winemaking vineyard with wine tasting house, restaurant, spa and guest house located in the north-east of Thailand. It has achieved success both through the quality of its Chateau des Brumes brand of wines and for the conviviality available at the country retreat. These market sectors have become feasible in Thailand because of large-scale social and economic changes which have completely disrupted the marketing environment in the country. The sector is rapidly developing based on an expanding market and the passion and enthusiasm of investor-entrepreneurs. However, there are certain to be new challenges to be faced as the market matures.

Farm Winery Layout Design: Size Analysis of Base Spatial Units in an Italian Study Area

Abstract. The general goal of this study was the built environment analysis of small to medium-sized farm wineries, which are strategic for Italian wine production. The specific aim was the identification of significant correlations between the dimensional features of spatial units and the production capacity in a context characterized by broad product diversification and high process flexibility. The research refers to an 800 km 2 study area in the Emilia-Romagna region. We identified 131 farm wineries with average annual production capacities of up to 5000 hL year -1 . The wineries were georeferenced and classified based on their production capacity and altimetry zone. A representative sample of farms was studied by means of data analyses and in-field surveys. We measured the floor area, average internal height, and volume of the spatial units of which each building was composed. We then computed means and coefficients of variation of these variables, as well as their Bravais-Pearson correlation with annual wine production. We also analyzed the proximity of different production areas. Sizes of areas not directly linked to wine-making (such as storage of additives and adjuvants, tasting room, and dressing room) showed substantial independence from production capacity. The floor area, height, and volume of the grape receiving and wine-making units, as well as the volume of the bottling, aging, and commercialization units, showed significant correlations with production capacity, as identified through a linear regression model. Based on the correlation indexes and average sizes, we formulated quantitative relationships to assess the overall area and volume of a hypothetical farm winery depending on its production capacity. Finally, we developed design scenarios of winery layouts for various production sizes.

Thermal Performance Assessment for Energy-Efficient Design of Farm Wineries

Abstract. This study represents the first contribution within a research project aimed at defining design criteria for energy efficiency in food processing farm buildings. In this context, small to medium wine-growing and producing farms call for a specific approach to building design, since criteria available for industrial wineries are not suited to this production sector. This study assesses the effects of various building design solutions on the energy performances of farm wineries and estimates relevant differences in construction costs. The following design variables were considered: plan and elevation composition, sun-shading surfaces, and construction technology. The following building design solutions were analyzed and compared through 3D computer modeling, energy simulation, and finite element structural analysis: aboveground building (I), partially underground building (II), and partially underground building with sun-shading elements (III). The analyses provided results in terms of the variation of mean indoor temperature throughout the year, the amount of energy to be transferred to maintain predefined temperatures in areas provided with thermal control systems, and differences in construction costs. Based on these results, we found that the partially underground solution (II) produced a reduction in the overall energy demand of 14% for heating and 50% for cooling in comparison with the aboveground solution (I). In particular, concerning the wine aging room, if it is built totally underground, the reduction in the energy demand for this area is 100% for heating and 75% for cooling. The adoption of sun-shading devices (solution III) allows an overall reduction of 27% for cooling. Design solutions II and III entail construction cost increases ranging from 12% to 27%, depending on the construction technology, but also allow wineries to reduce their energy consumption by up to 63%, and consequently their operating costs, with positive effects on the farm’s image due to ever-increasing environmental concerns. This study also takes into consideration the effects of wine barrels on the aging room energy demands. Different numbers of barrels were introduced into the simulations, and results showed an energy demand increase of 12% to 26% to store 400 barrels and a linear dependence between the number of barrels and the energy demand increase.

Landscape Quality in Farmyard Design: An Approach for Italian Wine Farms

This study addresses the issue of landscape quality in farmyard design for farm wineries. Tourist and marketing strategies have been increasingly emphasising the relationships between landscape and typical products through the farmyard image. However, ordinary farms often lack accurate design research, due to economic constraints and cultural issues. The study aims at defining the main variables that should be considered in designing outdoor spaces of small and medium-sized wine farms, based on a contemporary interpretation of the hortus topos. It allows us to consider the farmyard as a transition space between architecture (farm buildings) and cultivated land, combining functional and aesthetic values. Landscape, composition and architectural characters of various design solutions, as well as the main requirements and critical issues related to farmyard design have been analysed on a representative sample of farms, with reference to an Italian study area. Moreover, useful design references were obtained from the analyses developed.

Design of farm winery façades for the optimisation of indoor natural lighting: a case study

This paper deals with the theme of daylighting performances of rural buildings, within a broader research context aimed at establishing design criteria for farm wineries. The objective is to benchmark the performances of different window systems in order to define design guidelines directed towards the optimisation of natural lighting to improve visual comfort and reduce energy consumption. A winegrowing and producing farm with standard features in the Emilia- Romagna region, Northern Italy, is considered as a case study. Particular attention was given to the part of the building designated for tasting activities. The study considered several opening solutions in the building envelope, and showed the effectiveness of those involving south façade glazing with appropriate screening systems. Further analyses will aim to investigate the performance of windows distributed on several fronts, including heat balance assessment.

Design of farm winery façades for the optimisation of indoor natural lighting: a case study

This paper deals with the theme of daylighting performances of rural buildings, within a broader research context aimed at establishing design criteria for farm wineries. The objective is to benchmark the performances of different window systems in order to define design guidelines directed towards the optimisation of natural lighting to improve visual comfort and reduce energy consumption. A winegrowing and producing farm with standard features in the Emilia- Romagna region, Northern Italy, is considered as a case study. Particular attention was given to the part of the building designated for tasting activities. The study considered several opening solutions in the building envelope, and showed the effectiveness of those involving south <em>façade</em> glazing with appropriate screening systems. Further analyses will aim to investigate the performance of windows distributed on several fronts, including heat balance assessment.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF FARM WINERIES: AN ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY FOR DEFINING META-DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The study represents the first step of a broader research aimed at outlining specific building and landscape design criteria for small to medium-sized farm wineries. With reference to a study area of the Emilia- Romagna region (Italy) representative of the regional wine-growing and producing sector, the specific aims of the study are the identification and quantification of the main production parameters, and the formulation of a preliminary framework of dimensional and functional requirements of wineries. We acquired, georeferenced, and analysed the available databases about wine farm production and sizes. We analysed a representative sample of such farms and the national and local codes about building design for that sector. The study has led to the definition of the main characters of the production process and a layout of the main parameters influencing the design process.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT OF FARM WINERIES: AN ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY FOR DEFINING META-DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

The study represents the first step of a broader research aimed at outlining specific building and landscape design criteria for small to medium-sized farm wineries. With reference to a study area of the Emilia- Romagna region (Italy) representative of the regional wine-growing and producing sector, the specific aims of the study are the identification and quantification of the main production parameters, and the formulation of a preliminary framework of dimensional and functional requirements of wineries. We acquired, georeferenced, and analysed the available databases about wine farm production and sizes. We analysed a representative sample of such farms and the national and local codes about building design for that sector. The study has led to the definition of the main characters of the production process and a layout of the main parameters influencing the design process.

An Assessment of the Operating Characteristics of Farm Wineries, and Managerial Perspectives of Farm Winery Owners Who Use Distributors

Hypotheses that concern operating characteristics of farm wineries, and managerial perspectives of farm winery owners are developed and tested empirically. Key results focus on the tendency of farm winery owners who use distributors to abdicate key marketing functions, particularly that of brand management. Such abdication appears to debilitate the competitive position of such wineries, and sow the seeds of conflict between the wineries and their distributors.

The Proliferation of Specialist Organizations in the American Wine Industry, 1941-1990

The research reported here was supported by the University of Michigan Business School. I thank Glenn Carroll, Mike Hout, and Trond Petersen for their advice on my dissertation research. Comments on earlier versions of this paper by Bill Barnett, Joel Baum, Jacques Delacroix, Jane Dutton, Heather Haveman, Will Mitchell, Christine Oliver, Linda Pike, and three anonymous reviewers were invaluable. Please address all correspondence to Anand Swaminathan, University of Michigan Business School, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-1234. To account for the proliferation of specialist organizations as industries mature, this paper examines the relative importance of four processes-density dependence in founding rates, niche formation through changes in consumer preferences, resource partitioning, and direct institutional support-to explain the level and dispersion in foundings of specialist organizations. Analyses of the founding rate of specialist organizations, farm wineries, over 1941-1990 reveal that state-level farm winery density has the strongest impact on both the level and dispersion of farm winery foundings. Density effects are followed by the effects of resource partitioning, institutional support, and niche formation, in order of level of importance, and by the effects of niche formation, institutional support, and resource partitioning, in order of the importance to dispersion. The results suggest that factors such as density dependence and resource partitioning that are endogenous to a specific population need to be considered in combination with factors such as niche formation and changes in the institutional environment that are exogenous to the population to account adequately for the proliferation of specialist organizations.