South Africa Wine Technical Yearbook 2025

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

SHUTTERSTOCK

Tips to avoid the most common cellar mistakes (Part 2) By Pieter Badenhorst

Tank lids and wine pumps When a pumping action is initiated on a tank with a closed lid, the tank can suck in and contract much like a Coke can pressed together. Preventing this from happening was identified by several winemakers consulted as the most important precautionary measure in a cellar. A good practical approach is to provide a checklist together with the job card when wine is pumped from one tank to another. The checklist can even be printed on the back of the job

card. It is an easy way to remind cellar assistants about the importance of and accuracy required for the actions they execute. Cellar assistants then check off the items on the list as they complete them and sign at each action to confirm completion. Checklists can be especially helpful during harvest time when the work days are long and people become tired. Completed job cards and signed checklists serve as a record that each action was completed correctly. This is very important for traceability.

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2025