Starting a wine business

At home or on an industrial scale, it is a profitable type of business that allows you to realize your winemaking abilities and cover the initial investment in 1-2 (when opening a factory). The success of the project depends on the quality of the grapes, as well as compliance with the production technology. Regardless of the scale of activity, it is desirable to draw up a business plan, which will reflect all stages of development, as well as financial calculations.

How is the alcoholic drink made?

To get regular customers and stable profits, it is important to follow wine production technology and carefully consider each of the stages. The manufacturing process begins with primary winemaking, the result of which is the finished product, after which it is the turn of cellar storage and ensuring proper exposure to the intoxicating drink.

The production process for different types of wines is almost identical, but there are some features. Against this background, two types of winemaking stand out - special and general.

Based on the classical version, the following stages can be distinguished:

1. Harvesting and preparing grapes for further processing.
2. crushing of the source material. The purpose of this work is to extract the liquid from the shell. The result is a mixture of seeds, juice and peel.
3. Loading ridges within the allowable limit.
4. Transportation of waste for subsequent disposal.
5. Waiting for a certain time while the finished composition goes through the stage of fermentation and the transformation of ordinary juice into an alcoholic drink.
6. Clarification by settling the product. The purpose of the stage in the technological process is to remove turbidity, as well as to exclude premature fermentation. The task is realized through the use of sulfuric acid (to speed up the process) or through exposure to low temperatures.
7. Removing the finished drink. The work is carried out with the utmost care so as not to capture the sediment. After completing the steps discussed above, further processing is carried out already in the cellar.

The technology for the production of wine spirits largely depends on the scale of the activity. If all the work is done by hand when making wine at home, it requires the use of special equipment to create a product in large volumes. For example, for mechanical crushing, a destemming crusher is used, after which the pulp is pressed, and the solid elements are separated from the must.

Special attention deserves the production of white wines, in which the pulp is supplied by means of a pump into a special cylinder with perforated walls. Thanks to this device, gravity separation of the wort is carried out. At the final stage, the composition is compressed, and then clarified by sampling the supernatant or by settling. At the end of 24 hours, sulfur dioxide is added, after which the wort is fermented in prepared containers. The period of wine settling may be different, but the longer the exposure, the tastier and more expensive the alcoholic drink.

Organizational events

Requires formalization. The first step is to determine the appropriate organizational and legal form. There are two options here - IP or LLC. The first way is suitable for entrepreneurs who plan to do business at home, and the second one is for organizing large-scale production. The best solution is the registration of the company (LLC), which will simplify the search for buyers for the finished product and attract large customers.

Next, you need to select OKVED codes, which are indicated during registration. Mention must be made of 74.82 (packaging without processing), 01.13.1 (production of home grown wine), 15.93 (production of foodstuffs), and 51.34.21 (bottling of wine).

The set of OKVED codes considered above is sufficient to be able to produce ordinary, table, sparkling and sparkling wines.

Special attention should be paid to the taxation system. For medium-sized production with up to 100 employees, UTII is suitable. At the stage of registration, it is important to indicate the relevant data in a certain package of documents. In particular, an entry is made in the charter and the state register.

Since 2010, the wording of the certification of wine products has changed. Obtaining a certificate implies that the wine meets the quality requirements. To draw up the necessary document, you will need the conclusion of the SES.

To start a business in the production of wine and sell it, you will need a license (FZ - 171). To obtain it, the preparation of the following package of papers is required:

• Application for a license. The document must contain information about the company, its divisions (if any), types of activities carried out (according to OKVED codes), as well as the period for which the permit is issued.
• Copies of the constituent papers of the company, as well as documents on state registration (must be notarized).
• A copy of the receipt confirming the payment of the state duty in the amount determined for obtaining a license.
• Copy of papers confirming registration with the Federal Tax Service (registration as a tax payer).
• Documents that would confirm the accreditation of the laboratory that controls the quality of products (at the level of technology and chemical composition). Here you can also present a copy of the agreement with a third-party organization that will take on such functions. The package of documents must also include certificates confirming compliance with legal requirements and standards of the equipment used.
• A conclusion issued by the authorities, which must confirm the compliance of the premises (warehouses, workshops for production) with fire, sanitary, epidemiological and environmental safety standards.
• Papers confirming the payment of the full amount of the authorized capital by the participants of the LLC.
• Other documents (the exact list of papers must be clarified before registering a business).

In the process of wine production, it is important to take into account the current requirements for the quality of products. It is worth highlighting the following GOSTs (in relation to types of wine) - 52558-2006 (carbonated), 52195-2003 (flavored), 52404-2005 (special), 52523-2006 (table) and 51074-2003 (grape).

In the process of product certification, its quality is assessed for the presence of toxic elements, namely ethyl alcohol, sulfur dioxide, and others. Such actions are necessarily carried out before the admission of wine to mass consumption to protect consumers from low-quality goods.

room

At the initial stage, it is worth taking care of finding a place for wine production. It is important that the factory has a room for the manufacture and long-term storage of finished products. To produce a thousand bottles of wine per day, one processing line with a throughput of 500 kg / hour is required. To organize production, a bottling workshop, a storage facility for alcohol (if fortified wines are made), a warehouse for finished goods and an additional bottling room are needed.

You can not do without a cellar where branded spirits will be stored. The area of ​​the premises depends on the volume of production. Also, to communicate with clients and draw up contracts, you need an office with a good repair. The plant itself and the office space may be located in different locations. The first is on the outskirts or outside the city, and the second is closer to the central part. In the absence of such an opportunity, the office may be in the same building as the plant.

Equipment

The largest costs are for the purchase of equipment. When opening a large-scale business, the following is required wine production equipment:

• Grape press (pneumatic).
• Mezgopriemnik.
• Crusher for grapes. In such a device, a comb separator is immediately provided.
• Conveyor.
• Filter press.

In addition to equipment used directly for production, you will need a line that provides bottling of finished products:

• TCP transporter.
• Label applicator.
• Capping machine.
• Filling machine (example - ART-8 T).

Staff

When organizing large-scale production, you will need the help of qualified specialists. It is advisable to take into account information on personnel and additional costs in the business plan. The documents should reflect not only the number, but also briefly describe the duties of each employee involved in the work, as well as the amount of the monthly salary.

The number of personnel involved depends on the volume of wine production. A medium plant would require the following workers:

• Administration.
• Technologists.
• Workers who ensure the successful organization of the process at all stages of production.
• Cleaners.
• Security and other staff.

Sales Features

The success of a wine production business largely depends on the availability of buyers who are ready to formalize relationships for a long period. The best solution is to conclude agreements with retail chains and distributors. At the initial stage, you can work directly with large points (supermarkets, grocery stores). To get a stable profit and attract regular customers, it is important to set an affordable price.

The market for alcoholic beverages is highly competitive, and people prefer to buy goods from trusted brands. In order for the consumer to appreciate the quality of the product, he must be interested in something. At the initial stage, it will be a low price and high quality goods. If the outlet buys goods in bulk, a discount is required.

Advertising

One of the main stages of promoting a new product is its advertising. Promotion costs also need to be included in the wine production business plan. It is important for the buyer that the brand name of the liquor is familiar to him, and the price does not cause great suspicion in relation to quality. Therefore, when determining the pricing policy, you should not underestimate the cost, because this can cause the opposite effect on buyers.

The ideal option is the production of wine and its sale in branded outlets, where not only the purchase of wine will be available, but also its tasting in a relaxed atmosphere. A great option is to promote the brand through the tourism sector. Here you can even arrange a short tour, talk about the technology of wine production and give the best varieties for tasting. In some cases, you can work under a license from another country or under the trademark of an already successful brand (franchise). The advantage of such a business is the lower costs of organizing the production process, as well as assistance at all stages of registration.

With independent promotion of a trademark, it is worth using other methods of promotion - advertising on TV, radio, newspapers and the Web. The effectiveness of an advertising campaign directly depends on the amount of investment.

In the process of brand promotion, it is worth remembering competitors, which are most often foreign manufacturers. The main advantage of foreign goods is a large selection of wines, high quality, affordable prices and beautiful packaging. Despite the wide choice and fierce competition, there is also a place for domestic products on the shelves.

Financial plan

Before opening a business in the production of wine, it is important to work out the financial component of the activity. Capital expenditures:

• Equipment for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages - 500 thousand rubles.
• Bottling line - 900 thousand rubles.
• Raw materials - 1 million rubles. (one ton of grapes).
• Additional ingredients and materials (cork, alcohol, sugar, etc.) - 250 thousand rubles.

A separate item of expenditure is wages - 300-350 thousand rubles.

The total capital expenditures are about 2.6 million rubles.

The average plant provides the production of 8-10 thousand decaliters of wine per month.

You should also take into account the following elements of the financial plan:

• The total cost of work is 1.8 million rubles.
• The cost of the processing process is 600-700 thousand rubles.
• The cost of finished wine is 85 rubles. for a bottle.
• The selling price of one bottle with a 100% markup is 170 rubles.

The calculation of the profit (profitability) of a business deserves special attention. Thus, the sale of 8,000 decaliters allows you to get 1.4 million rubles of income. Net profit after the sale - 160 thousand rubles.

The profitability of production is on average 20-25%, which allows you to recoup the initial investment within 2-3 years, and then reach a net income. The above calculations are approximate and largely depend on the volume of production. Costs can be reduced by buying used equipment or by saving on rent (staff).

business at home

If you don’t have the above amount in your pocket, you can start making wine at home. The same technology is used here, but with the only difference that production volumes will be lower. The ideal option is to have your own vineyards, which will become the main suppliers of raw materials for making wine.

The principle of operation here is the following. To begin with, fruits are collected and stacked in large containers. If there is dirt on the grapes, it is wiped off with a clean cloth. You can’t wash your brushes, because because of this you can lose the bacteria necessary for fermentation. When mixing, it is better to use grapes of the same variety. To give a special taste, the addition of pitted cherries or other berries is allowed.

Next, the fruits are ground until a slurry is obtained. Winemakers used to work with their feet, but at home, you can use an electric harvester. The finished mixture is poured into containers, and mixed with water. It is recommended to wash and dry the bottles before use. This is essential to prevent acetic bacteria and mold from entering the wine. If you do not follow this advice, the product will deteriorate, and it will be impossible to drink it.

After filling the containers, the latter are covered with gauze to protect against insects and left for 3-4 days in a warm and dark place. After that, the juice is squeezed, bottled and sugar is added. Next, the finished product is again placed in a dark place, but for a month.

If the product turned out to be of high quality, you can sell it through your friends. The time spent on going through all the procedures, from the grape harvest to the filling of the bottles, is 7 hours. Volume - 80-100 liters. The price for 1 liter is 200 rubles. The total profit is 20 thousand rubles. At the same time, start-up costs are minimal.