Day 14 | Cap Management

Guiding Extraction Through Punchdowns and Pump-Overs

Cap management involves the careful handling of the grape skins and solids that rise to the surface during red wine fermentation. By manipulating the “cap,” winemakers influence color, tannin, and aromatic extraction, ultimately shaping a wine’s depth and style. Techniques such as punching down and pumping over provide different levels of control, each …