Partner page | | | | e-boutique French English HOME HISTORY TERROIRS EXPERTISE WINES NEWS WINE TOURISM CONTACT Our expertise THE ART OF WINEGROWING AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY LET'S BECOME PATNERS The harvest The harvest is the most important time of year to winegrowers – the culmination of work done all year long in the vineyard. The characteristics of the crop have a direct effect on winemaking. Before picking, the levels of sugar, acidity, and polyphenols are measured, since these are important factors in quality. Upon arrival, the grapes are put into a state-of-the art receiving bin. Traceability is one of the Union de Producteurs' strong points. The receiving bins are connected to each fermentation vat by an automatic system to ensure the complete traceability of branded wines and château wines. This distribution of grapes takes place without pumping or pipes, and is done with an overhead travelling crane. The aim is to reconstitute a gravity flow system that was first used decades ago. Gravity in the interest of quality In addition to the traditional concrete cellar, a new vat room with 141 stainless steel vats holding grapes transported by gravity flow was constructed in 2003. Original, innovative, and extremely quality-oriented, this is the largest of its kind in Europe. Extremely respectful of the grapes, the UDP gravity flow vatroom has served as a model for many prestigious châteaux and cellars that found much to appreciate in this new system which transports the grapes in small portable containers to the fermentation vats via gravity flow. This is done without pumps or pipes in order to treat the grapes delicately and protect them as much as possible. The range of 100-150 hectolitre vats makes it possible to individually ferment grapes from separate plots. All vats are equipped with independent temperature-control and inerting systems. Making sure that fermentation temperatures are kept steady is vital for transforming grapes into wine. Pressing Eight high-tech vertical hydraulic winepresses are used to extract the precious liquid very gently. A remarkable barrel cellar Ideally situated underground, beneath the vat room, the barrel cellar houses 5,300 French oak barrels containing free run juice run off by gravity flow. The duration of ageing varies depending on the wine, but can last up to 18 months. A bottling line UDP Saint Emilion has a bottling system equipped with 35 filling valves, working at a rate of 8.000 bottles per hour. Storage, packaging and shipping Located in Vayres, few kilometers from Saint Emilion, a 6.700 m² buiding has been constructed for storing and labelling bottles thanks to a partly automated labelling line which processes 5.000 bottles per hour. Shippings all around the world start also from this area. UDP SAINT EMILION SINCE 1931, A SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS 2021 © Union de Producteurs de Saint Emilion - All rights reserved. | Création Agence web Eenov Partner page | Contact | Legacy notices Alcohol abuse is dangerous for the health. To savour in moderation. Site map HOME HISTORY WHO ARE WE ? OUR PEOPLE, OUR PROJECT YEARS OF INNOVATION TERROIRS DISCOVERING SAINT EMILION VINEYARDS & TERROIRS EXPERTISE THE ART OF WINEGROWING AN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY LET'S BECOME PATNERS WINES CHATEAUX BRANDS PARTNER PAGE NEWS CONTACT Our news SEE ALL NEWS SUBSCRIBE TO UDP RSS FEEDS Union de Producteurs de Saint Emilion BP 27 - 33330 SAINT-EMILION - FRANCE Phone number : 05 57 24 70 71 - Fax : 05 57 24 65 18 Email : contact@udpse.com DIRECT SALES in the Wine Shop (near the Libourne-Bergerac road) from Monday to Saturday 10AM-12.30PM and 1:30PM-6PM. Conditions of access under conditions due to the health crisis (distribution of hydroalcoholic gel, wearing of mask/visor, number of people at the same time limited in the shop). Visits and exhibitions are suspended until further notice. Thank you for your understanding. Pour en savoir plus : www.quefairedemesdechets.fr Welcome, You must have more than 18 years old to visit this website. Are you 18 years old or above ? NO YES, I AM 18 YEARS OLD OR ABOVE