South Africa Wine Technical Yearbook 2025

APRI L

SHUTTERSTOCK

Post-harvest cleaning of equipment By Pieter Badenhorst One of the most important cellar activities regularly neglected due to time pressure is the cleaning and servicing of harvest equipment post-season. Ideally, the equipment should be stored away as soon as possible after use in a clean, dry condition and away from the sun. Moving parts should be greased or oiled, as this helps to prevent the parts from rusting while standing idle for months until the next season. The following article provides a few tips for cleaning the most important harvest equipment.

Sugar-sampling auger Few things are as sticky as grape juice that has dried in the warm summer sun. • Dismantle the whole auger as far as possible so it can be properly cleaned. Pay particular attention to the difficult to-reach nooks and crannies where juice can often remain. • Remove the flexi pipe and replace it at the start of the new season. The pipes tend to become brittle after a year’s use in any case. This causes leakages and can ultimately result in the pipe breaking during the next season. • Store the unit in a safe place. Receiving bins • Make sure that all grapes have passed through the screw conveyor. • Spray the sides thoroughly with water and ensure that all sticky juice has been washed off. • If possible, cover the bin with a canvas which keeps dust, leaves and even pigeon droppings out of the container. This will simplify the next pre-harvest cleaning. • There is usually also a juice draining compartment covered with mesh at the front of the grape bin. Make sure that this compartment and the pipe connecting it to the mash pump are open and clean.

Crushers • Ensure that all side doors of the crusher are opened. • Remove the basket and spindle and move out the rollers. Clean thoroughly and dry. • Lubricate as required with food-grade grease and reassemble the crusher. Stalk belt conveyor • If belt conveyors are exposed to the sun, it is best to remove them and store away, as the material will become brittle from prolonged exposure to UV light. • If they are standing in the shade, release the pressure on the belts, which will prevent them from shrinking over time. If this happens, it is difficult to work with the belts again the next season. • Use the opportunity to grease the rollers and replace broken rollers. Mash coolers • Tartrate crystals build up on mash coolers and must be washed off properly at the end of the season with a calcium hydroxide solution. A solution of 1 to 2% is usually adequate.

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TECHNICAL YEARBOOK 2025