Term (also pressing) for both the process of pressing grapes and the mechanical equipment required for this. Presses were already used in early antiquity, as evidenced by artefacts dating back several thousand years in many wine-growing regions. Among others, the Roman writer Cato the Elder (234-149 BC) reports on this in his works. After the grapes have been selectively harvested, possibly several times, they are transported to the press house as quickly as possible in shallow containers without mechanical stress. Only healthy and physiologically ripe grapes should be processed. The picture on the right shows a conventional manual harvest, which many producers regard as a prerequisite for high quality.
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