The holidays are almost upon us, and that means 'tis the season' for parties with co-workers, dinners with families, get-togethers with close friends and quiet nights by the fireside with loved ones.

The first stage in the wine making process is to crush the grapes. In days gone by the grapes would be loaded into a large vat and the wine maker(s) would gently tread on them to break the grapes' skins to release the juice.