The two 50-ton grape presses came from Italy and fit perfectly when put in place on the concrete pad. Photo by Melissa Hansen The idea for the new Zirkle Wine Company custom crush facility in Prosser, Washington, evolved over several years, Mark Zirkle says. “The idea for a winery was slow recognition that the state doesn’t have enough processing capacity,” Zirkle said. “It takes a lot of capital to put in crush equipment and fermenting tanks and ­storage. All that is difficult for small wineries to absorb.” The Zirkle family is a major player in Washington State’s tree fruit industry […]