When your winery is ready to make a major expansion, it’s also probably time to invest in a large-capacity pump for transferring must from the crush pad. Peristaltic pumps have become a popular choice for moving must because the pumps don’t expose the berries to air, are self-priming, can run dry, are easy to operate and are gentle on the grapes. In addition to moving must, the pumps can also be used for pumpovers, tank transfers and barrel racking.

The peristaltic pumping action is created in a circular chamber, where two to three rollers apply pressure on a heavy-duty rubber tube. As the tube is continuously squeezed and released, it draws berries through the machine and out to wherever they need to go. Since the grapes don’t come into contact with any mechanical apparatus, peristaltic pumps are considered one of the gentler options on the market to move high volumes of must.

Richie Allen, winemaker at Rombauer Vineyards in Napa Valley, uses the pumps for moving must, pumpovers and racking wine out of barrels. He believes they’re the gentlest pumps on the market, and he also appreciates that they can run dry. While not the easiest pumps to move in the cellar, Allen said they’re useful for pumpovers when the cap hasn’t separated and for racking because the pump’s action doesn’t produce any foaming.

Jim Frost, owner and winemaker of AuburnJames winery in St. Helena, Calif., said he uses a peristaltic pump for moving grapes from the destemmer to the tank. “We whole-berry destem and do not use rollers to crush the grapes. The peristaltic is the only pump I have found that can retain the integrity of the berries to any extent. We get about 70% to 80% whole berries in the tank,” he said.

Suppliers typically offer an additional hopper with a screw auger as an option that is pretty much required if one wants to move must, pomace or lees. Berries fall from the crusher, destemmer or vibratory sorting table into the hopper that then meters a steady flow of processed grapes into the pump’s inlet opening.

A few suppliers said the pumps can only pump must a certain distance, and this can be further reduced if the fruit needs to travel along curves or gain elevation. The pumping action can also be less gentle at the upper ranges of each pump’s flow capacity. Prices vary by pump capacity and options, so it’s best to check with suppliers for current prices.

TCW Equipment
TCW Equipment offers a range of pumps produced by Ragazzini Rotho, which it describes as being unparalleled for gently handling whole berries. The smallest pump with 3-inch fittings for moving must is the MS2, with a flow rate of 8 tons per hour of destemmed grapes; the largest is the DR2, which can move nearly 200 tons of must per hour at 37 rpm. Price for the MS2 with the integrated hopper is $17,995.
tcwequipment.com

Criveller
Criveller sells Enoveneta’s PEV150 and larger pumps that feature a stainless steel pump body and 304 stainless steel stand. The PEV150 pump can push 1.5 to 10 tons of destemmed grapes per hour. Optional features include hopper, remote control, pressure switch, barrel-filling system and pump cycle timer. Price: Starting at $13,000.
criveller.com

Collopack Solutions
Collopack Solutions sells the Kappa PR18 and PR26 pumps that feature electronic speed control and a maintenance probe to detect weakness or failure of the inner tube. Optional features include the feeding hopper and a remote control. The PR18 can move about 1 to 7 tons of destemmed grapes per hour. The price for the PR18 with hopper is $19,900.
collopack.com

Prospero Equipment
Prospero Equipment sells CMA’s Pulsar 150 with a flow rate of 3 to 15 tons per hour of destemmed berries and 25 to 150 hl per hour of liquid. The pump’s body is made with 304-grade stainless steel, and options include the sump with screw feeder and stainless steel control panel. Price for pump and optional hopper: $17,900.
prosperocorp.biz

P&L Specialties
P&L Specialties offers pumps by CME that have a flow range of 2.5 to 260 gallons per minute with 316-grade stainless steel compensation chambers, a pressure regulation switch and electronic flow controls in a Nema 4/UL housing for better wet protection. The pumps can be equipped with a remote on a 25-foot tether as well as a feed hopper. Price: Check with the supplier.
pnlspecialties.com

Euro-Machines
The Scharfenberger 280 pump sold by Euro-Machines has a flow rate of 1,850 to 6,870 gallons per hour (gph) for wine and 1,050 to 5,000 gph for whole berries. Standard features include a stainless steel frame, variable-frequency drive, hopper with feed auger and expansion tanks. Price: Check with supplier.
euromachinesusa.com

Inoxpa
Inoxpa typically recommends the PVT 80, which includes a screw hopper, for must pumping. The pump has a flow rate of 12 to 25 tons of destemmed grapes per hour and an electrical control panel with a pressure sensor. Options include remote control, barrel-filling option, hose rupture sensor and cleaning kit. The company also offers the smaller volume PV-60 with a starting price of around $17,000.
inoxpausa.com

Della Toffola USA
Della Toffola USA offers a range of peristaltic pumps. The smallest is the PPD 60, which has a variable speed of 1 to 15 tons per hour. The pumps are equipped with an electric flow rate control, 316-grade stainless steel compensation chambers and a pressure switch. A screw-fed hopper as well as a wireless remote control are optional. Price: Starting around $10,000.
dellatoffola.us

The Vintner’s Vault
The Vintner’s Vault sells CWM’s PRST 120 and 260. The PRST 120 has a flow rate of up to 12,000 liters per hour, and the PRST 260 has a flow range of 3,000 to 26,000 liters per hour (or 15 to 30 tons of destemmed grapes per hour). The pumps are made entirely out of stainless steel, feature a variable-frequency drive and an optional w ireless or wired remote control. The pump’s rollers employ an indirect squeezing through a patented rocker system, and the rollers can also be quickly lifted off the hose through an automated system for storage. Starting price for the PRST 120 is around $20,000.
thevintnervault.com