Term used by low-ranking winery personnel responsible for treading the grapes in preparation of the mash for mash fermentation; see under treading.
An ancient process to prepare the mash for fermentation. The grapes are crushed with bare feet to break up the berries for better extraction of colour and tannins. Even in ancient times, this was an alternative to pressing. A wall painting in the tomb of Chaemwese in Thebes (Upper Egypt) from around 1450 BC depicts wine being bottled in amphorae (left) and probably grapes being crushed (right).
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