Valve for Tanks
notes: label: Description
content: This valve fitting was used in the mid-1990s to seal an opening in one of the stainless-steel fermentation tanks at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (SLWC) in California’s Napa Valley. Stainless steel tanks and fittings are among the major innovations in 20th century winemaking. Easily cleaned and maintained, the stainless steel tanks also prevent bacteria from spoiling the wine. Fitted with temperature-monitoring metal jackets, they also allow more control over the temperature of the wine during the fermentation process.
label: Description
content: In an interview with Smithsonian researchers in 1997, Julia Winiarski, daughter of SLWC founders Warren and Barbara Winiarski, described how she learned the important function of tank valves as a child growing up at the winery. She recalled,
label: Description
content: <i>I was curious about the valves on the tank and I had wondered how they worked. So one day I came home from school and instead of walking right up the hill I wandered through where the tanks were and decided to find out how the valve worked. I opened a valve, I think my face was at the height, and the valve was kind of right face level and I just got blasted backwards by a jet of red wine. So I was terrified and I ran away, of course. Luckily someone had heard me shout when it first happened and came up and closed the valve and came and found me sniveling and wine soaked. At least I learned a healthy respect for valves.</i>
topic: label: Subject
content: Wine
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Agriculture
label: See more items in
content: Food
label: See more items in
content: FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000
label: Exhibition
content: Food: Transforming the American Table
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1998.0181.16
label: accession number
content: 1998.0181
label: catalog number
content: 1998.0181.16
objectType: label: Object Name
content: valve, for tanks with fittings
label: Object Name
content: valve
label: Other Terms
content: valve, for tanks with fittings; Food Technology; Winemaking
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: manufactured (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 16 cm x 16 cm x 17.5 cm; 6 5/16 in x 6 5/16 in x 6 7/8 in