Summary
Grape or wine press known as a Torchio, made circa 1960s. This grape press was used in domestic wine production by the Di Benedetto family at their home in Thornbury, from the 1960s to 1991. In the early years the wine making was very much a family affair, with everyone contributing to the annual ritual. As the family dispersed, Vito di Benedetto continued to make wine once every three years, with the assistance of Maria and often his daughter Angela, until his death in 1991.
Physical Description
Wooden slatted container with metal hoops and rope on top of a metal 3 legged stand (detaches to 2 pieces). Container unhinges and opens out for cleaning, vertical steel pole attached to turning mechanism which compresses grapes. It contains around 10 pieces, used with grape press, including steel poles which slot through vertical pole as a handle; 4 wooden compression plates; 2 metal compression plates; 2 strainers (attach to external pourer for secondary straining)
More Information
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Collecting Areas
Home & Community, Migration & Cultural Diversity, Sustainable Futures
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Angela di Benedetto, Maria di Benedetto, 21 Nov 2004
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User
Vito di Benedetto, Thornbury, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1960s-1990s
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Classification
Agriculture & rural life, Viticulture & wine making, Grape presses
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Object Measurements
89 cm (Width), 165 cm (Height)
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Keywords
Domestic Technology, Italian Communities, Italian Immigration, Viticulture & Winemaking, Wine, Winemaking Equipment, Wineries
