Les grands pressoirs bourguignons pré-industriels : essai de chrono-typologie

Abstract

Chronotypology of the important preindustrial Burgundian wine-presses of Burgundy. This article is part of the research undertaken by the Inventaire Général and Ethnology departments at the Direction régionale des Affaires culturelles of Burgundy on the Burgundian viti-and vinicultural heritage. Two studies have already been published; the first in 1996 about architecture, tools and traditions in the Tannay area (Nièvre); the second, in 1999, about the history, archeology and ethnology of the vats and wine-presses at the Clos de Chenôve (Côte-d’Or), they have shown that a significant percentage of important wine-presses of the industrial era still exists in Burgundy. Several have been recently registered as important cultural properties (Inventaire suppl. des Monuments historiques). Our object here is to list briefly these wine presses, to draw up a typology and to understand their evolution. Three main types can be described: wine presses with lever, with lever and shaft and with a central screw. Variations are also to be considered and have been used from the Middle Age until 1950. This study raises questions about the preservation of such machines but also how to date them, since the only sources available are difficult to exploit, hence, dendrochronological analysis is often the most reliable method.

Keywords

• Bourgogne
• vin
• vigne
• viticulture
• pressoir à levier
• pressoir à grand point