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The Perfect Wine

Making kegged wine is an economical and functional way to reduce wine costs, preserve quality and promote sustainability. It’s currently creating waves in the beverage industry. If you’re looking to invest in the best equipment to serve kegged wine, explore our guide below and talk to a Meritus Gas team expert today.

How to Make the Best Kegged Wine

Creating kegged wine is straightforward and only requires a few pieces of equipment. Most importantly, you need a keg — wine kegs generally come in the same sizes as beer kegs, so you can choose from mini kegs to extra large kegs for your needs.

The typical wine keg comprises several different parts, including:

  • Beverage line
  • Beverage disconnect
  • Gas line
  • Gas disconnect
  • Gas tank
  • Gas regulator
  • Tap or faucet

In addition to the keg, make sure you have the following items and equipment:

  • Wine
  • Nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas or a combination of both
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Coupler
  • Perlick faucet (optional, used for sparkling wine) 

Here are the general steps of the kegging process:

  1. Sanitize the keg and all its parts.
  2. Siphon the wine into the keg.
  3. Close the lid.
  4. Secure the coupler.
  5. Hook up the gas disconnect to the keg to get rid of oxygen in the headspace and replace it with your gas of choice. Set the pressure to 10 pounds per square inch.
  6. Once the gas is inside the keg, turn off the gas and pull the pressure release valve.
  7. Repeat steps four and five a few times.
  8. Let some gas into the keg so it can “blanket” the wine.
  9. Test the keg to ensure you get the desired output. Pour at least two glasses — the first pour will likely be highly pressurized.
  10. Adjust the pressure at the regulator accordingly, or install the Perlick faucet for a smooth pour that controls gas and liquid flow.

Contact a Meritus Gas team expert to streamline your kegging process with the best products.

Best Practices for Wine on Tap

This process can preserve your wine’s stunning flavor profile and delicate notes. Here are some of the best practices to ensure your wine on tap stays delicious:

Equipment Requirements

Ensure all keg fittings and valves are high-quality and sanitary. Other important keg equipment pieces to double-check include:

  • Flowmeters 
  • Wash down hoses
  • Semi-pneumatic or pneumatic tires 
  • Bevel seat
  • Clamps
  • Gaskets

Storage and Serving 

Just like bottled wines have specific storage instructions to preserve their quality, so do kegs. Generally, white wines should be stored in a walk-in cooler and served cool, while reds should be kept at room temperature.

Following proper storage procedures keeps your wine crisp, fresh and flavorful for longer. Additionally, consider the ideal serving temperatures for wine even when it’s on tap. Here are some serving suggestions:

  • Sparkling wine: Serve at ​​41-50 degrees Fahrenheit for a refreshing sparkle and vibrant flavors.
  • Sweet and semi-sweet white wine: Serve at 41-50 degrees Fahrenheit — the lighter the wine, the cooler you should serve it. 
  • Full-bodied white wine: Serve at 50-57 degrees Fahrenheit to enhance the deep flavor profile. 
  • Rosé wine: Serve at 41-50 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping it on the cooler side for lighter pours.
  • Light and fragrant red wine: Serve at 50-57 degrees Fahrenheit for a refreshing sip. 
  • Pinot noir wine: Serve at 55-59 degrees Fahrenheit to showcase the delicate fruity notes. 
  • Full-bodied red wine: Serve at room temperature and never above 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gas Pressure and Wine Flow 

Gas propels the wine out of the keg and prevents oxidation and spoilage. If the gas mix is out of balance, the wine will spurt out or drain too slowly.

Nitrogen is the most commonly used gas for kegged wine. However, you can also use a combination of gases. A combination of nitrogen and carbon dioxide creates the perfect bubbly yet stable pour that improves wine longevity. While commonly used for beers, it also works well for a steady wine stream. 

The right gas mix preserves your wine’s beautiful notes and undertones. Meritus Gas Partners can help you find preservation and dispensing solutions that keep your wines crisp and flavorful with the ultimate blend.  

Line Cleaning

Over time, bacteria, yeast and mold can build up in keg gas and beverage lines, affecting the quality of the wine. This buildup can destroy the aroma, flavor and appearance of wine and lead to customer dissatisfaction. Periodically clean these lines with a caustic high-pH wash and a citric low-pH acid wash to keep them sterilized.

Finishing Kegged Wine

The golden rule of kegged wine is that you can only keg it when it’s perfect. The powerful preservation qualities of the gases involved prevent it from aging once it’s stored.

Age your wines and ensure they’re in peak condition before you pour them into the keg. If you’re working with high-malic acid wines, leave them to ferment until they’re buttery. If they’re kegged too early, they could smell.

What Are the Benefits of Kegged Wine?

Kegged wine offers a range of benefits for both businesses and consumers. Here are some of its perks: 

1. Preserves Flavor

Once opened, a bottle of wine will start to oxidize and may become vinegary or lose its vibrant colors within a few days to weeks. Kegged wine keeps its flavor — even complex bouquets and subtle earthy finishes last in the keg. Kegged wine can be conserved for months and still maintain its consistency and flavor. Customers and connoisseurs alike will enjoy the aromatic and full-of-character product.

2. Saves Time

Kegerators — refrigerators designed to store kegs — make serving easier. Bartenders don’t have to search through shelves of wine bottles to find the right one and spend time popping a cork. They simply pull the tap handle and pour.

3. Reduces Expenses

Old bottled wines can be damaged over time due to improper storage and temperature fluctuations. Alcohol waste can cause businesses to incur significant losses. Kegged wine lasts longer and isn’t prone to oxidation. The keg and gas preserve the wine to prevent spoilage and maintain maximum flavor.

Kegged wine also saves businesses a significant amount of money on cork, carton, bottle and labeling costs. They can offer it to customers at lower prices. Compared to bottled wine, kegged wine reduces labor costs by 17% and wine costs by 20%, and you save 85% of storage space. 

4. Contributes to Sustainability

Kegged wine is also better for the environment. Studies show that wine packaging has the biggest environmental impact out of all the steps in the wine production chain. Creating heavy glass bottles taxes water and energy consumption and releases selenium emissions, which are toxic for humans.

Stainless steel kegs are reusable for many years when kept in good condition, offering customers the same wine-by-the-glass perks but without the bottles.

Start Kegging Wine With a Meritus Gas Partner Near You

Whether you’re looking for gas or other kegging materials, Meritus Gas Partners has what your business needs to start kegging wines. We partner with a network of independent distributors across industries and connect customers with the services they need. Browse our gas offerings to learn more about how we can support your kegging endeavors and find the right partner for you today.

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