Pumping Over

Pumping over (see Remontage) is used by winemakers to increase extraction of tannins, colours, and aromas. The winemakers pump wine fermenting must from the bottom of a tank and pump it into the top of the same tank. The skins are submerged thus making the mixture in the tank more consistent and by transferring the fermenting must from the bottom of the tank, the cap in the same tank is soaked. Doing this prevents the cap from drying out thus preventing the formation of bacteria and mould on the surface.