St. Julian Winery & Distillery continues to modernize and expand its operations as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2021. Recently, the winery installed two state-of-the-art storage tanks at its Paw Paw, Michigan facility. The tanks stand 88 feet tall and add 140,000 gallons of new storage capacity. As a result, they are the tallest tanks ever installed at the winery and likely among the tallest in the state of Michigan.
“We are replacing older storage tanks while also expanding capacity at our Paw Paw facility,” says John Braganini, President and third-generation owner. “As we near our 100th anniversary, we made a strategic decision to modernize and grow our capabilities.” He adds, “Although we have operated for a century, we always focus on what comes next. That mindset shapes both our production facilities and the wines we create for today’s consumers.”
The winery installed the new tanks just in time for the 2020 harvest. Winemakers now use them to store base wines and juice intended for blending and bottling. Together, the tanks increase overall storage capacity by 10 percent. In addition, the stainless steel tanks feature glycol cooling systems. This technology allows the winemaking team to control fermentation and post-fermentation temperatures with greater precision.
Beyond the new tanks, St. Julian has made several other recent investments. These improvements support both quality and long-term growth.
The winery added 700 new oak barrels to enhance premium wine and spirit aging. It also increased capacity by 80,000 gallons through smaller glycol-jacketed stainless steel tanks designed for premium winemaking. In the vineyard, St. Julian planted more than 60 new acres featuring 49 premium grape varieties, with additional plantings planned. These vineyards offer expanded opportunities for new wine styles and blends.
At the same time, the winery expanded its wholesale and direct shipping channels. These efforts make St. Julian wines more accessible to customers and fans. The company also increased warehouse space to a total of 80,000 square feet. This expansion supports current needs while preparing for future growth. In addition, St. Julian introduced new ways for consumers to connect with Vice President of Winemaking Nancie Oxley through virtual wine tasting events.
Nancie Oxley has worked at St. Julian for nearly two decades. During her tenure, St. Julian wines have earned more than 500 Best of Class and Double Gold awards in competition. She oversees wine production and leads a talented team that crafts more than 150 wines and spirits each season.
“St. Julian Winery & Distillery continues to lead the Michigan wine industry through innovation and development,” says Braganini. “Our recent investments strengthen our winery, but they also benefit the broader Michigan wine community.” He concludes, “We value collaboration and believe we can all grow together by sharing our expertise.”
