Exclusive Expert Roundtable
Hydraulic Vertical vs. Pneumatic Horizontal Grape Pressing
On July 29, 2025, we had the pleasure of welcoming wine industry professionals to our premises. Winemakers, cellar masters, and operations managers came together to learn about the results of a series of trials on grape pressing.
The research was carried out by Ms. Anna Wind from the Wind Winery in Eschbach (Germany) as part of her bachelor’s thesis. The aim was to compare the effects of tank presses and basket presses on different red grape varieties. Academic supervision was provided by Prof. Dr. Dominik Durner, Professor of Food Technology and Oenology at the Weincampus Neustadt.
Following a technical introduction by Mr. Hofmann from our team, focusing on the Europress EV hydraulic vertical press, Prof. Dr. Durner presented an overview of the benefits of vertical presses and the current state of knowledge in the wine industry regarding basket presses. Ms. Wind then outlined her experimental design, methodology, and results.
For the comparison, four grape varieties were processed: Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir with Mitos, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The two pressing methods were evaluated based on parameters such as turbidity, color intensity, juice yield, and other quality indicators.
A highlight of the event was the blind tasting of eight red wines, where participants tried to identify the pressing method used for each. Almost all of the wines were correctly matched by the participants, who were impressed by both the wine quality and the professional presentation.
The event provided not only valuable insights into current research but also an excellent opportunity for exchange and fresh ideas.
