It doesn't really sound excessive so much as it sounds obsessive or
cumplusive. I bet you are new to wine making. But, dang, if we were not
all obsessive we would not be paying so much attention to this site.

I don't see how you could be doing any damage as long as you are not mixing
too much air into the must. As far as breaking the skins too much, I was
taught to squeeze the grapes with my hands as I punched down to be sure that
all the grapes were really broken. That is a matter of style I guess.

Ray

"Dan Emerson" > wrote in message
om...
> Can you punch the cap too much? I work at home and have access to my
> fermenting must 24X7. I find myself punching the cap every couple of
> hours while awake. Is this too much? It has a pretty heavy cap at
> the moment and really need punching. What is the norm?
>
> Dan