06/18/2026
During fermentation, carbon dioxide pushes grape skins and pulp to the surface, forming a thick layer known as the cap. 🧢 🍇
Left floating, relatively little colour, flavour or tannin would be extracted from the skins. That’s why winemakers use cap management techniques such as punch downs, pushing the cap back beneath the fermenting wine.
The frequency and intensity of these punch downs can influence extraction and help shape the colour, structure and character of the finished wine.
Here, the cap is being managed entirely by hand, though many wineries use specialised tools or mechanised systems to achieve the same effect! 🍇 🧢 💦
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