Method and apparatus for removal of grape seeds from grape skin

A method for treating grape must to separate grape seeds from grape skins and grape pulp in the grape must comprising:

• introducing grape must onto the first side of a plate having first and second sides and apertures there-through of a size and shape selected such that grape seeds, juice and skin can nominally pass through to the second side of the plate;
• driving said grapes across said plate by means of a blade having a grape contacting face disposed such that the clearance between the blade and the plate is less than the diameter of a grape seed;
• the motion and orientation of the blade relative to the plate being such as to apply forces to the grape that are both parallel to and normal to the plane of the plate such that the grape seeds and juice will pass through the apertures to the second side of the plate while retaining grape skin and pulp on the first side of the plate, and
• collecting said grape seeds and juice from the second side of the plate and grape skin from the first side of the plate.

An apparatus for separating grape seeds from grape pulp and grape skin in grape must comprising:

• a plate having a first side and a second side and apertures there-through with a shape selected such that grape seeds, juice and skin can nominally pass through to the second side of the plate;
• means for depositing grape must onto the first side of said plate;
• a blade having a grape contacting face disposed adjacent said plate the clearance between the blade and the plate being less than the diameter of a grape seed and the blade being disposed such that when it moves parallel to the plane of the plate it applies forces to the grapes that are both parallel to and normal to the plane of the plate such that the grape seeds and juice will pass through the apertures of the plate while retaining grape skin;
• means for driving said blade in a direction parallel to said plate to move grapes across said plate;
• means for collecting grape seeds and juice which pass through the apertures of the plate;
• and
• means for collecting grape skins and pulp which are retained on the first side of the plate.

A method for treating grape pomace to separate grape seeds from grape skins and grape pulp in the grape pomace comprising:

• introducing grape pomace onto the first side of a plate having first and second sides and apertures there-through of a size and shape selected such that grape seeds, transporting fluid and skin can nominally pass through to the second side of the plate;
• driving said grapes across said plate by means of a blade having a grape contacting face disposed such that the clearance between the blade and the plate is less than the diameter of a grape seed;
• the motion and orientation of the blade relative to the plate being such as to apply forces to the grapes that are both parallel to and normal to the plane of the plate such that the grape seeds and transporting fluid will pass through the apertures to the second side of the plate while retaining grape skin and pulp on the first side of the plate, and
• collecting said grape seeds and transporting fluid from the second side of the plate to the grape skin from the first side of the plate.

A method of producing wine comprising the steps of

• combining grape berries and a transporting fluid in an apparatus comprising a container and a means for generating shear;
• and applying a shear force sufficient to break open the skin of grape berries within the container to produce a mass comprising grape pulp, seeds, skin and juice wherein greater than 70% of said berries are opened, and
• separating the grape juice from the grape seeds in the mass according to a method comprising the steps of:
• introducing the mass onto the first side of a plate having first and second sides and apertures there-through of a size and shape selected such that grape seeds, juice and skin can nominally pass through to the second side of the plate;
• driving said grapes across said plate by means of a blade having a grape contacting face disposed such that the clearance between the blade and the plate is less than the diameter of a grape seed;
• the motion and orientation of the blade relative to the plate being such as to apply forces to the grape that are both parallel to and normal to the plane of the plate such that the grape seeds and juice will pass through the apertures to the second side of the plate while retaining grape skin and pulp on the first side of the plate, and
• collecting said grape seeds and juice from the second side of the plate and grape skin from the first side of the plate;
• separating said grape juice from said grape seeds and recombining the separated grape juice with all or a portion of the separated grape skin;
• and
• fermenting the recombined grape juice and grape skin to produce wine.