WINE KNOWLEDGE

2 Vintage
Vintage refers to the plucking of grapes. This is done manually, often
using special scissors. The grapes are collected in conical cane baskets and
taken to the wine press. The grapes are then sorted and graded manually; all
rotten, damaged and raw fruit are discarded. The fruit is then shifted to the
destalking machine to remove the stalk from the grapes (as stalks contain bitter
oils)
3 Wine Press
Grapes are crushed to yield Must (fresh grape juice), by four methods
(i) Trodening
Trodening refers to the crushing of grapes by treading on them. For this,
the grapes are placed in a large, shallow tank and the people treading the grapes,
wear boots with spikes, which prevent crushing of pips(as pips contain bitter
oils).
(ii) Balloon press
The balloon press consists of an expandable balloon, which is fitter in a
tank filed with grapes and equipped with an outlet for the Must. On being filled
with air, the balloon expands, crushing the grapes against the sides of the tank
and squeezing out the juice.
(iii) Manual press
The manual press works on the principle of hydraulic pressure. As the
central disc descends, it crushes the grapes.
(iv) Electrically -operated press
This press consists of a roller with a plate fitted all around it. The grapes are

crushed between the roller and plate.