Pneumatic Presses And The Wine Industry

We explore the importance of pneumatic presses in the grape processing phase of the wider wine making process. Firstly, we take a look at the history of wine and the history of wine specifically in England before going onto look at pneumatic presses and how they work.

Wine Is As Old As Mankind

Wine has a history that is closely linked to the history of mankind, tracing the great epochs of history from antiquity to the present day. If we are looking at the origins of wine, it is not an exaggeration to say that the history of human civilisation is also the history of wine and wine culture. From very early on, probably before the beginning of agriculture, man realised that the fermented juice of fruit had an intoxicating, pleasant effect.

History Of Wine In England

Quality English wine is an exotic product on the wine shelf. England’s grape-growing tradition dates back over a thousand years. The real history of wine produced on English soil begins with the Norman Conquest. From that time onwards, home-grown wine became very popular in England and, even today, many streets and place names show the widespread use of wine making.

The English climate makes growing grapes challenging. In the south, where most of the vineyards are situated, the climate is slightly warmer and drier. With a contribution from global warming, average annual temperatures are rising and the problems of ripening grapes that have long plagued winegrowers in England could soon be a thing of the past. But for the time being, the best regions for growing grapes are along the southern coast of England, from Cornwall to Kent, and they have similar climates, soil types and cool-climate grape varieties.

Pneumatic Presses

The most important stage of grape processing is grape pressing, which is why we go above and beyond to provide our customers with cutting edge grape pressing equipment. Vitikit Limited is partnered with Šraml, who is one of the very best manufacturers of pressing equipment throughout Europe. It is a delicate process that requires extensive knowledge and experience. In order to achieve a consistent quality of wine, many aspects must be taken into account during pressing.

Grape characteristics, such as degree of ripeness, stem to berry ratio and variety are all important in determining the press setting. Furthermore, the style (young, ageing, fruity etc.) and type (red, rosé, sparkling etc.) of wine to be made are also important criteria. As a result, the pneumatic press has become an indispensable tool in the wine industry.

How Pneumatic Presses Work

In the 1950s, the design that forms the basis of today’s pneumatic presses was introduced. The principle of operation is that a rubber bladder is placed inside a closed horizontal drum with drainage channels. The drum is filled with fruit and, as the drum rotates on its axis, air pressure causes the rubber bladder to expand.

This process of bladder expansion creates an essentially evenly distributed layer inside the drum and presses the grapes against the drainage channels. This technology is gentle so that the grape seed remains intact during pressing. After the process, the juice is collected and the solid particles remain in the drum.

A closed drum has the advantage of providing extra protection against unwanted oxidation. Pneumatic presses typically have a higher filling capacity and yield than basket presses. The design of the press allows the press to rotate intermittently during filling, so that any free-flowing juice is efficiently drained off.

The pneumatic grape press is made entirely of stainless steel, with a double central door for easy loading and unloading. The technology used allows it to manage every stage of pressing using the programmable logic controller (PLC) software that allows the machine to be used in an automatic mode, with 12 preset and 12 custom programs, alongside fully manual.

Available in perforated cylinder and closed canal versions, the pneumatic grape press comes with double central sliding doors, collection tank conical flow with inox valve and double fan for suction and inflation.

Order Your Pneumatic Press For Wine Making

Vitikit has the experience to get the most out of your operations, through the provision of our wine making equipment. If you wish to discuss your individual needs or you require custom machinery in any form, please do not hesitate to contact us via info@vitikit.com. Our team is here to discuss your current set-up and how you can improve your products in the future, so get in touch with our experts at your convenience.