College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Mechanical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Mechanical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Date
6-2026
Primary Advisor
Karla Carichner, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Department
Additional Advisors
Lauren Rueda, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department Jenna Kloosterman, College of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
The proposed project is a semi-automated wine barrel filler. Currently, there is no streamlined and affordable method for smaller wineries to fill wine barrels without dedicating complete focus to the task. The primary use is controlled filling for white wine fermentation, during which an air gap must be left in the barrel to allow for expansion of the wine during fermentation. Tom Greenough, Saucelito Canyon’s head winemaker, and associate winemaker Bodie Ringhofer are the primary stakeholders in our project and want to consistently fill barrels at their winery to a fluid volume of approximately 50 gallons each. This project serves to ease the filling process by providing a repeatable, semi-automatic, and accurate way to consistently measure and fill wine barrels, such that the associate winemaker can use his time more efficiently during the harvest season.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/mesp/874