65 Wine Press of Thomas and Johanna Bauer
Designation: wooden beam wine press
Date of origin: 1841
Date of renovation: 1891
Original location: Oleksovičky (Slup, Znojmo District)
Beam length: 5 m
Weight: 2.6 t (including 1 t counterweight)
The National Agricultural Museum acquired this large wooden beam press in 2020 from the last cellar owner in Oleksovičky and restored it in 2023 with support from a Ministry of Culture grant.
This traditional beam press works by placing fruit in the basket (A). Wooden wedges transfer force from the main beam, which carries a counterweight positioned below floor level, onto the fruit. The construction uses various wood types: oak for the main structure, beech for the central side members and frame pegs, ash for the transverse beams supporting the original basket, fir for the wooden plate under the basket, pine for the screw, and spruce for the sides and reinforcements of the pressing plate.
Restoration began with complete disassembly and thermal treatment against wood-boring insects at the National Museum of Rural Life in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. Solakryl BMX acrylic resin in xylene was applied for reinforcement. The press is displayed here temporarily; in the upcoming exhibition redesign, it will be moved outdoors under shelter where fruit pressing can be demonstrated.
This wine press reflects the region's viticultural tradition during the Middle Ages and Early Modern period.
This wine press reflects the tradition of viticulture in our region during the Middle Ages and Early Modern period. Today, due to climate change, eight winemakers are registered in the Moravian-Silesian Region.