A Publication for West Coast Alumni and Friends
Vol. 2, No. 2 / August 2003

WPI Students Help Leading California Winery

Four WPI students recently completed a Major Project at the E. & J. Gallo Winery in Modesto, Calif., where they studied the filtration processes employed by one of the world's largest winemaking operations and made recommendations for its improvement.

The eight-week project was made possible through the initiative of Gallo's Kristi Marsella and John Munroe. It was advised by Henry W. Nowick '56 ('58 M.S.), adjunct assistant professor, and David DiBiasio, associate professor, in the Chemical Engineering Department.

Senior chemical engineering majors Keith Hammerschlag, Nathan Starbard, Anthony Zinno and Tom Sulewski made a number of recommendations, including some capital investments. These related to the efficiency of the filtration equipment and systems affecting the storage of wine, among other factors in the cellar phase of winemaking.

The students' onsite mentor at Gallo, Brian P. French, technical manager of the Modesto cellar, says that the project "helped us drive process improvement and allowed us to evaluate some potential employees In fact, Nathan has already begun work in a management position at Gallo's Modesto winery. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these bright young students and look forward to a continued relationship with WPI."