Apparatus for mixing a solid botanical component with a liquid botanical component during fermentation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for mixing a solid botanical component with a liquid botanical component, the solid component rising above the liquid component during fermentation, the apparatus comprising:
- a shaft having a first end and a second end;
wherein the shaft is configured to be positioned above the solid component in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the solid component, the shaft configured to be operational in a first downward motion followed by an upward motion;
a first agitation blade attached to the shaft at a first location between the first end and the second end, the first blade disposed at a first oblique angle relative to the shaft; and
a first plate releasably attached to the first blade so that, in use, the plate is configured to first contact the solid component before the blade to at least partially submerge and horizontally relocate portions of the solid component under the liquid component during the downward motion to gently mix the solid and liquid botanical components together.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for: 1) the gentle, controlled mixing of solid and liquid botanical components during fermentation; and 2) the regulation of parameters in cap material and juice during primary fermentation to optimize attributes such as expressive organoleptic characteristics including bouquet, texture and flavor, while simultaneously and selectively monitoring and mitigating the deleterious effects of reduced sulfur compounds, harmful bacteria, multicellular fungi, and/or biogenic amines during the artisan creation of ultra-premium fine wines and other alcoholic libations according to a customized schedule.
32 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for mixing a solid botanical component with a liquid botanical component, the solid component rising above the liquid component during fermentation, the apparatus comprising:
-
a shaft having a first end and a second end;
wherein the shaft is configured to be positioned above the solid component in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the solid component, the shaft configured to be operational in a first downward motion followed by an upward motion;a first agitation blade attached to the shaft at a first location between the first end and the second end, the first blade disposed at a first oblique angle relative to the shaft; and a first plate releasably attached to the first blade so that, in use, the plate is configured to first contact the solid component before the blade to at least partially submerge and horizontally relocate portions of the solid component under the liquid component during the downward motion to gently mix the solid and liquid botanical components together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for use by a winemaker to manage a primary fermentation to create a wine, the fermentation including a pomace floating above a must, the apparatus comprising:
-
a rigid shaft having a first end and a second end; a blade affixed between the first end and the second end of the shaft, the blade disposed at an oblique angle relative to the shaft;
whereby the shaft is configured to be positioned in a substantially vertical orientation over a vessel containing the pomace and the must, and to be operational in a first downward direction and a substantially reciprocal upward direction;
wherein the blade is configured to contact the pomace and at least partially submerge and horizontally relocate a portion of the pomace during the downward direction to mix a portion of the pomace with the must; andat least one plate attached to the blade;
wherein the plate is configured to be located under the blade when the shaft is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation over the vessel such that the at least one plate contacts the pomace before the blade. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification