Gyropalette

Gyropalette

Gyropalette is a specialized piece of equipment used in the production of sparkling wine under the Méthode Champenoise. It is designed to facilitate the process of riddling, a step in the traditional method of sparkling wine production.

History

The Gyropalette was invented in the late 20th century as a mechanized alternative to the labor-intensive process of manual riddling. Prior to its invention, each bottle of sparkling wine had to be individually turned and gradually tilted ("riddled") over a period of several weeks to consolidate the sediment in the bottle towards the cork.

Function

The Gyropalette automates the riddling process. It holds a large number of bottles, often several thousand, in individual holders that can be mechanically rotated and tilted. The machine is programmed to carry out the rotations and tilts at specified intervals, replicating the actions of a human riddler but on a much larger scale and with greater precision.

Impact

The introduction of the Gyropalette has significantly reduced the cost and increased the efficiency of sparkling wine production. It has also made it possible to produce large volumes of high-quality sparkling wine in regions and wineries where the traditional method was previously impractical due to labor constraints.

See also

• Sparkling wine production
• Méthode Champenoise
• Riddling