Grape Processing Equipment    All of our grape processing equipment is considered seasonal meaning that supplies are limited.  You should place your order now to reserve the items you want.  We will not process your credit card until your order is ready to ship.    All of this equipment must be shipped via truck freight.  When placing your order please specify where the product should be delivered.  We need to know if the address is a business or residence, can a semi deliver your order or do we need to send a straight truck, is a loading dock available or is a lift gate needed.  We will contact you via email to confirm the delivery method and quote the final cost for your approval.   Grape Crushers & De-stemmers MANUAL CRUSHER with painted steel hopper $239 The crushing rollers are made of persion cast aluminium.  Crushng gap is adjustable.  The hopper opening is 21" x 24".  Power is supplied by a painted steel hand crank.  Stand sold separately. MANUAL APPLE & FRUIT CRUSHER $457.00 The crushing rollers are made of persion cast aluminium.  Crushing gap is adjustable. Instead of paddles, rotating knives chop fruit before crushing.  Stainless steel hopper is 21" x 24" with hand crank. Use for fruits including apples and grapes. MANUAL CRUSHER DE-STEMMER $485 Painted steel hopper is 500 x 950 mm with paddle style auger.  Maximum production rate of 3,300 LB. per hour is limited to your ability to crank.  DOWNLOAD OWNER'S MANUAL HERE MOTORIZED CRUSHER DE-STEMMER $895 Painted steel or optional stainless steel hopper is 500 x 950 mm with paddle style auger.  One horsepower electric motor with a production rate of 3,300 LB. per hour. DOWNLOAD OWNER'S MANUAL HERE PAINTED METAL STAND $195 Works with all the crushers and crusher de-stemmers listed on this page.  Full length collection tray and run off shoot.  Constructed of all painted heavy gauge steel.  Stands 28" tall.  Assembly required. Grape Presses ALL METAL TABLE TOP PRESS $229.95 Aluminum frame with stainless steel pressing basket and pail, with an attached drainpipe,  suited for pressing grapes and soft fruits.  The basket is 8" round by 6.5" tall.  To use, rinse and sanitize, turn the handle counter clockwise to raise the pressing plate, put in the fruit and turn the handle clockwise to press.  Rinse with warm water after using.  Shipped fully assembled and ready for use.  No. 20 STEEL FRUIT PRESS $289.95 Painted steel frame and bowl with a stainless steel basket.  Solid state construction is ready to use right out of the box.  Overall size is 45 x 45 x 70 cm.  The basket holds about 2.5 gallons. No. 25 FRUIT PRESS $299 SHIPS UPS Basket is 10" dia x 14" ht capacity 50 LB.  No. 30 GRAPE PRESS $430 Basket is 12" dia x 16" ht capacity 80 LB.  No. 35 GRAPE PRESS $499 Basket is 14" dia x 18" ht capacity 100 LB.  No. 40 GRAPE PRESS $545 Basket is 16" dia x 22" ht capacity 150 LB.  No. 45 GRAPE PRESS $670 Basket is 18" dia x 24" ht capacity 200 LB.  CLICK HERE FOR PRESS OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS SOLD OUT FOR 2008 No. 80 WATER POWERED BLADDER PRESS $1,600 CAGE: 16.5” x 2.83” CAPACITY: 21.13 gl. OVERALL:  27.6” x 42.3”  WGT: 80 LB. The bladder press was designed to improve the traditional wooden-basket ratchet-style press.  A rubber bladder expands from the stem outward using water pressure to press the fruit against the sides of the cage.  This style of pressing is much more subtle and softer on the fruit, and doesn’t allow bitter tannins to be extracted from cracked seeds.  Water is recommended to inflate the press rather than air; no more than 30psi is needed for most fruits.  Both models have a stainless steel cage with painted lid and basin.  APPLE CRUSHER $245    Made with heavy-duty, cast iron construction our new Vintners Best Apple Crusher includes a wooden mounting base that can be mounted horizontally on a table or vertically on a corner wall.  The wood drum has stainless steel crushing blades and stainless steel chute.    An easy-to-turn handle makes crushing large quantities of fruit quick and effortless.  The crusher measures 16” x 12.8” x 18” and is backed with a limited one year manufacturer's warranty. APPLE CRUSHER AND FRUIT PRESS $554.95 YOU SAVE $22.35 AND WE  WILL SHIP VIA UPS ! This deal brings you a total package.  The No.25 Fruit and Grape press is just the right size for pressing out 5 and 10 gallon batches of cider as well as any other fruit including grapes.  Includes re-usable pressing bag.  Basket is 10" x 14". copyright 2007 J.R.Leverentz HOME  |  WHAT'S NEW  |  ABOUT US  |  POLICIES  |  CONTACT US  |  SITE MAP  |  SHOPPING CART

 
 
 
 
 
 

Crusher-destemmers are used for bulk processing of grapes during harvest in preparation for pressing or primary fermentation.  The crushers utilize a set of aluminum rollers that crush & break the skins to release the juice & allow the breakdown of the remaining pulp.  A screw feeder moves the grapes to the rollers to begin crushing, dropping the skins & pulp onto a perforated grid, while a shaft with paddles causes the stems to be separated from the grape clusters which are then expelled to the side of the crusher.       The rollers should be adjusted to properly crush & break the skins while avoiding bruising or abrading the skins which would release phenols & excess tannin, thus adding astringency to the must & the final product.  White grapes are crushed before pressing, while red grapes are crushed for immediate fermentation to maximize yield of tannins & flavors, then pressed after the skins & pulp are broken down by the fermentation process. SETUP & USE Before using the crusher-destemmer, thoroughly familiarize yourself with the operation of the unit.  With the power disconnected, wash & sanitize the unit including all metal components that will come into contact with the grapes or must.  Inspect the unit for loose bolts, debris or items which may hinder the crushing operation.  Lubricate all moving parts with petroleum jelly or food grade lubricant & replace all guards & panels before use. The unit is provided with handles for two persons to move the unit.  For safety, it should be only moved by two persons.  Place firmly on stand if provided, or use a stable base. Place a sanitized vessel (bucket or bin) below the drain to collect the skins & juice.  Adjust the rollers to allow the grape skins to be broken & gently squeeze the fruit to release the juice.  The adjusting bolts for the rollers should be adjusted uniformly to maintain parallel alignment of the rollers, that is, each turn of the bolt on the right side should be matched with a turn of the bolt on the left side. Connect the unit to an adequate power source & start the machine.  Remove all vine leaves before crushing.  Feed the grapes into the hopper at a uniform rate.  Do not over fill the hopper, as the stems may be forced through the rollers into the must. Work in a steady & continuous pace to allow the stems to be expelled from the hopper & to minimize the risk of oxidization to the final processed juice.  Sulfite as recommended for the correct volume of must. Do not put hands or other objects into the hopper while the machine is running or connected to a power source, as severe injury may result.  If clogging occurs in the stem discharge chute, remove power & carefully remove debris from the chute. The unit should be washed after the end of each day’s run.  After final processing, thoroughly wash the unit in clean water.  Allow to thoroughly air dry prior to storage. Lubricate all moving parts with petroleum jelly or food grade lubricant. Cover & store in a dry environment. General Instructions for Wine Presses      Unlike tabletop & fruit presses that use a moving screw & plate, these presses use a stationary threaded shaft with a ratcheting head to do the pressing with a greater amount of torque & capacity.  Select a press that will meet your pressing requirements.  Generally, 2 cases of grapes will yield 6 gallons of wine.  Each case of grapes weighs approximately 36 pounds.  The #30 press will readily accommodate two cases of grapes at one pressing. Wine Press includes:   A pressed steel base with threaded shaft & drain pan.   Split wood basket with metal bands, hinges & pins.   Wood pressing plate & wood blocking.   Ratcheting head with metal knives or keys.  SETUP & OPERATION      Before use, disassemble the basket by removing the pins; clean & sanitize along with any other components which will come into contact with the grapes or juice, including wood press plates & wood blocks.       Lubricate all moving parts & hinges with petroleum jelly or a food grade lubricant. Assemble the basket onto the metal base & secure with hinge pins. Place a clean sanitized container under the spout to catch the juice. Wood blocking      You may choose to line the basket with a nylon bag to contain large particles or pulp as a result of the pressing. Fill the basket with grapes to within one inch of the top. Place the pressing plate on the top of the grapes, followed by wood blocks placed at right angles to the plate halves. Thread the ratcheting head onto the threaded shaft, set the ratchet keys to allow clockwise operation as shown, & lower onto the wood blocks. Ratchet key (clockwise)      Apply pressure on the head & begin pressing by turning 2-3 turns in a clockwise direction. Pause until the juice no longer runs, then continue pressing in 2-3 turn intervals.  Stop when the head reaches the top of the basket. Ratchet key (counterclockwise)      Reverse the ratcheting head as shown & raise to add more wood blocks at right angles to the previous ones.      Lower the head to the blocks & repeat the pressing operation until all of the grapes have been reduced to 1/3 of the original volume or the ratchet turns with excessive resistance.  To prevent damage to the press do not use levering devices longer than supplied with the unit. Raise the ratcheting head & remove the wood blocks & pressing plate from the basket. Remove the hinge pins, open the cage & remove the pomace.       If you wish to do a second pressing, place the pomace in a sanitized large container & break up with a ladle or large spoon & place back into the cage.  Repeat the pressing cycle until all juice has been satisfactorily removed.  This step is sometimes called the second run or pressing.  The second pressing should be avoided if you are making wine for quality over quantity.  The second pressing is of lesser quality, since some oxidization occurs & excessive tannins & harshness from the skins & pulp will be pressed into the wine. Large Ratchet Head      The larger presses #40 & #45 are supplied with a two slot ratcheting head which will operate fast (key in inner slot) or slow (key in outer slot).  More pressing torque is available at the slow setting.      To keep the press in proper operating condition & provide long reliable service, perform the following procedure after completing pressing for the season: Clean all components with water & allow to dry thoroughly.   Re-lubricate all moving components of the ratchet head & basket hinges.   Tighten any loose bolts.  Service & replace any damaged or worn parts.   Cover & store the press in a dry environment.  copyright 2004 J.R.Leverentz