JOHN LAGUARDIA - BIOGRAPHY

I have been bottling wine since 2001.  In all of my roles involving bottling lines, I have been responsible for maintenance, sanitation and sterilization, scheduling, travel arrangements, job preparation, customer service and sales.  I have developed my knowledge and skills by learning from my customers, equipment suppliers, other bottling line operators, winemakers, dry goods suppliers (glass, cork, capsules, and labels), and on the job experience.  I have bottled over 1.5 million cases of wine and countless different package combinations and daily changeovers.

My first experience with mobile wine bottling was with Mokelumne Mobile Bottling, a Lodi based line.  This line operated at a maximum speed of 50bpm.  The main equipment included a GAI monobloc with a GAI spinner and Kosme rotary pressure sensitive labeler.  This line was well laid out and small enough to get almost anywhere.  We worked for small boutique wineries all over Central and Northern California.  Travel and changeovers was the key to this business and I did that for sure.  The equipment and this line are still operating today in Napa, CA.

In late 2007, I went to work for Global Wine Group, a Mokelumne Mobile Bottling customer.  I was responsible for operating their 100bpm newly acquired standing line.  This line was purchased, used, from St. Supery Winery in Napa, CA.  It was rebuilt at Global Wine Group by September 2007.  We bottled all California’s Jewel label and several custom bottling customers were bottled on this line.

My current assignment with the Vaz Mobile Bottling line is, by far, my favorite experience.  I was able to participate daily with the building of this line from the loading of the equipment into the trailer to wiring all the electrical and connecting the conveyor and plumbing systems.  I was able to help with all modifications to the entire line, both from the original manufacturers of the equipment and in-house modifications done by Vaz.  I am very proud to be involved with the Vaz Brothers and this beautiful and functional high speed mobile wine bottling line.  Lodi’s wineries are truly lucky to have such a line available to them locally.