This weekend the weather was just perfect.

Perfect for pressing the grapes we recently picked and have been fermenting nicely.

Here is Casey getting the press ready to go.

Beneath that green mesh cover is a big metal round sieve that we have placed some fermenting grapes in.

In the very center is a rubber bladder that fills with water and expands pressing the grapes against the sieve squeezing out wonderful red juice. You can see it flowing into the bucket.  The green covering helps keep the juice from squirting out all over the place and keeps it flowing to the bottom and into the pail.

Below is another shot. 

Below is a pic of the inside of the press before it is activated.  You can see the soupy grape must around the bladder.  The juice flows out leaving just the grape skins etc to be pressed.

The next picture is the inside after the grapes have been pressed. See the expanded bladder in the center?

After multiple presses we fill stainless steel tanks with the juice to age.