WSET

Basket press ASMR 🍇 🎧

Freshly harvested Viognier grapes being gently pressed in a mechanised basket press.

As the pressure gradually increases, the first juice to emerge is typically the gentlest. Winemakers can carefully control both the pressure and the length of the press cycle, balancing juice yield against the extraction of phenolics from the grape skins and seeds. 💦

Although basket presses have been used for centuries, many are now mechanically operated like this one. They work in batches and are slower and more labour-intensive than many modern presses, but some winemakers still favour them for the gentle extraction they can provide.

📹 Credit: 🇦🇺

Curious about the equipment and techniques that shape a wine before it ever reaches the bottle? That’s exactly the kind of production decision explored in WSET wine qualifications.