Introduction Accurate monitoring of Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is one of the most critical analytical parameters in red winemaking, but one that is commonly overlooked prior to bottling. We are often asked to investigate causes of red wine spoilage, and one of the first questions we ask the winemaker is “what was the malic acid concentration […]
Introduction Malolactic fermentation (MLF) can be one of the most problematic areas that a winemaker has to manage. The advent of commercial preparations of bacterial cultures for MLF has both simplified and improved this difficult area. Research is ongoing on MLF and the results of this work is helping to further improve these preparations and […]
Introduction The crushing or pressing of grapes may seem like one of the simplest parts of the winemaking process, however it is at this stage that problems may start which will affect the quality of the wine at a later stage. These problems are mainly related to the microbiology (and related chemistry) of what is […]
Introduction The amount of vineyards affected throughout South East Australia by Botrytis cinerea in vintage 2011 was very high. In this article we look at the effects this fungus can have on wine quality, how to test the impacts and what can be done to overcome these effects. What is Botrytis Cinerea? Botrytis cinerea is […]
Introduction The introduction of automated methods of testing in wine laboratories has been ongoing for many years. In this article the tests that can be easily automated and the types of instruments available are discussed. The benefits and the problems of installing automated equipment are also outlined. Why automate? One of the main aims of […]
Introduction Agricultural chemicals are used widely in the wine industry to ensure that sound grapes are delivered to wineries. The use of these chemicals is tightly controlled by government agencies. Limits are set for the amount of residual chemical that is allowed in wine and elaborate testing is available commercially to ensure that these limits […]