Plant and process for obtaining clear must from grapes and for vinification

Abstract

A plant is described for obtaining clear must from grapes including at least one centrifugal separator device with horizontal axis that is arranged to carry out a first separating operation, through application of a centrifugal force, between the liquid phase or must and the solid phase from the grape berries in solid state, and at least one tank for settling and/or flotation, either spontaneous or possibly promoted through injection of gas, said tank for settling and/or flotation being arranged downstream of the centrifugal separator device with horizontal axis, said tank for settling and/or flotation being configured to receive the must from such a centrifugal separator device with horizontal axis and being configured to carry out a second separating operation between the liquid part of the must and the respective solid residue or tank bottoms. The plant also includes, upstream of the centrifugal separator device with horizontal axis, at least one tank operatively connected to at least one device for feeding at least partially intact grape berries to the plant. The tank is arranged to contain additives, in particular adjuvant and/or clarifying substances, that are added to the grape berries when such grape berries are still at least partially intact. A method for obtaining clear must from grapes using the aforementioned plant is moreover described.

1 . A plant for obtaining clear must from grape berries comprising:
 at least one centrifugal separator device with a horizontal axis that is arranged to carry out a first separating operation, through application of a centrifugal force, between a liquid phase or must and a solid phase from the grape berries when in a solid state; and   at least one first tank for settling and/or flotation, said at least one first tank being arranged downstream of the at least one centrifugal separator device, said at least one first tank being configured to receive the must from said at least one centrifugal separator device and being configured to carry out a second separation operation between a liquid part and a solid residue of the must; and   at least one second tank upstream of the centrifugal separator device, said at least one second tank being operatively connected to at least one device for feeding at least partially intact grape berries to said plant, said at least one second tank being arranged to contain additives that are added to the grape berries when said grape berries are still at least partially intact.   
     
     
         2 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said additives comprise adjuvant and/or clarifying substances. 
     
     
         3 . The plant according to  claim 2 , wherein said adjuvant and/or clarifying substances are selected from the group consisting of gelatine, proteins and cationic flocculants. 
     
     
         4 . The plant according to  claim 2 , wherein said additives consist of enzymes. 
     
     
         5 . The plant according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one second tank comprises a first container containing the enzymes. 
     
     
         6 . The plant according to  claim 5 , wherein the first container is operatively connected to a homogenizer device arranged between said at least one second tank and the at least one centrifugal separator device, wherein an addition operation of said enzymes to the grape berries while the grape berries are still at least partially intact is carried out inside said homogenizer device. 
     
     
         7 . The plant according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one second tank further comprises at least one second container containing the adjuvant and/or clarifying substances, which are added to the grape berries after the grape berries have come out from the homogenizer device and before the grape berries have entered into the at least one centrifugal separator device. 
     
     
         8 . The plant according to  claim 1 , further comprising a destemming or crushing-destemming device upstream of the at least one centrifugal separator device, said destemming or crushing-destemming device being capable of separating the grape berries from the stems or separating the grape berries from the stems and crushing the grape berries. 
     
     
         9 . The plant according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gas mixer arranged between the at least one centrifugal separator device and the at least one first tank, said gas mixer being configured to strip oxygen from the must. 
     
     
         10 . A process for obtaining clear must from grape berries in the plant according to  claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of:
 feeding the grape berries into the plant;   controlled addition of adjuvant and/or clarifying substances to said grape berries while the grape berries are still at least partially intact;   centrifuging said grape berries, in such a way as to separate the liquid phase or must from the solid phase;   extracting and collecting the solid phase in a respective storage container; and   settling and/or flotation of the liquid phase or must so that the liquid phase of said must and the solid residue are separated.   
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein said adjuvant and/or clarifying substances are selected from the group consisting of gelatine, proteins and cationic flocculants. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of controlled addition of enzymes to the grape berries while the grape berries are still at least partially intact, said step of controlled addition of enzymes being upstream of the step of controlled addition of adjuvant and/or clarifying substances to the grape berries. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of destemming or crushing-destemming to separate said grape berries from the stem or to separate the grape berries from the stem and press crush the grape berries, said step of destemming or crushing-destemming being upstream of the step of controlled addition of adjuvant and/or clarifying substances to the grape berries. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of fermenting said must, said step of fermenting being downstream of the settling and/or flotation step of the liquid phase or must. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the process is applied in the separation of the solid parts of the grape berries (skin and seeds) after the oenological processes that foresee a maceration step of white and red grapes. 
     
     
         16 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first tank for settling and/or flotation operates spontaneously or is promoted through injection of gas. 
     
     
         17 . The plant according to  claim 3 , wherein said additives consist of enzymes. 
     
     
         18 . The plant according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one second tank further comprises at least one second container containing the adjuvant and/or clarifying substances, which are added to the grape berries after the grape berries have come out from the homogenizer device and before the grape berries have entered into the at least one centrifugal separator device. 
     
     
         19 . The plant according to  claim 2 , further comprising a destemming or crushing-destemming device upstream of the at least one centrifugal separator device, said destemming or crushing-destemming device being capable of separating the grape berries from the stems or separating the grape berries from the stems and crushing the grape berries. 
     
     
         20 . The plant according to  claim 3 , further comprising a destemming or crushing-destemming device upstream of the at least one centrifugal separator device, said destemming or crushing-destemming device being capable of separating the grape berries from the stems or separating the grape berries from the stems and crushing the grape berries.