TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Job: Head winemaker
Where: TarraWarra Estate
Why is it important?
Winemakers use a pump to move wine around the winery, in and out of barrels, or when we are pressing or draining. We use the pump for all wine movements: we have to pump it from tanks when we press it and then into a barrel. When it's finished its maturation, we pump it from the barrel back into the tank.
Some winemakers use pumps called mono - but they have quite a beating effect on the wine and the wine gets mucked around by them.
Bella is called a load pump and it's very gentle on the wine. It has a variable speed operation so you can slow it down and be really gentle on the wines. We make mostly chardonnay and pinot noir: Bella is perfect for the pinot. It's such a fragile variety and is more prone to getting knocked around by pumping than any other variety.
What do your colleagues think?
There's no trick to using it, but when we're all working at the same time we all fight over it.
Unusual moment?
Bella is an Italian model. When we first got it and turned it on, a message came up saying "Ciao".
How much does it cost?
$16,000.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Bella is a load pump used at TarraWarra Estate to move wine around the winery. It handles transfers in and out of barrels, during pressing or draining, and when moving wine between tanks and barrels. Its gentle action helps protect wine quality during these routine winery operations.
Winemakers use pumps to move wine from tanks when pressing into barrels, to transfer wine between barrels and tanks, and to drain or fill equipment during pressing. Pumps are essential for all wine movements throughout maturation and production.
Bella has variable speed operation so it can be slowed down for very gentle pumping. That reduces physical agitation compared with some mono pumps, which can have a beating effect and ‘muck’ the wine around.
Pinot Noir is a fragile variety that’s more prone to getting knocked around by pumping, so a gentle load pump like Bella helps protect delicate flavours and structure. Chardonnay also benefits from careful handling during transfers.
According to the article, the Bella load pump costs $16,000.
Yes — the pump is straightforward to use, but when everyone is working at the same time staff often end up competing for it, so availability can be an operational bottleneck during busy periods.
There’s no trick to using Bella — it’s user-friendly. A memorable moment was that it’s an Italian model and when they first turned it on a message popped up saying “Ciao.”
Variable speed control allows winemakers to slow the pump down so wine is moved gently, minimising agitation and physical stress. That gentler handling reduces the risk of damaging fragile varieties and helps maintain flavour and texture.
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