Fact Sheets

Bioprotection

BIOProtection consists in the addition of a living organism to occupy the ecological niche and thus limit the predominance of potentially undesirable indigenous microorganisms.

Loss of Aromas and Freshness in Your Wine?

Ageing in wine is caused by oxidation. In white wines, oxidation will often lead to browning, pinking, bitterness and a loss of aroma. In red wines, oxidation will typically result in the development of pruned fruit flavours, flattened palate and an increase of brown or orange hues.  

Perfecting Wines Naturally

Tannins and polysaccharides are important tools featured in winemaking—typically used to polish the wine and overall increase its quality. Tannin additions will help balance the taste of the wine through decreasing the alcoholic sensation. Tannins can also help improve the wine aroma by heightening elements such as oak, fruit and spice notes. Tannins and polysaccharides […]

Wine with low or Zero SO2Addition

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is often regarded as one of the most controversial additives within the winemaking industry. For this reason, winemakers have been trying for years to find alternatives to use that are healthy for human consumption. There are now safe and accurate substitutes when it comes to sulfur dioxide. Laffort provides a range of […]

What are Oak Alternatives?

Oak barrels have been used by winemakers for years to enhance sweetness, improve the aromatic profile and assist with colour stabilisation in wine. Oak barrels are still considered one of the superior methods when it comes to treating wines. Unfortunately, oak barrels come with many challenges for winemakers, including cost, storage space, ease of use […]

FAQ on Wine Fining

The fining process is a crucial stage in the production of all wine types. In winemaking, fining agents are used for a variety of different purposes including clarification, filterability improvement, haze prevention, sediment formation, organoleptic profile improvement, colour adjustment and removal of undesirable elements or flavors. Fining involves two very important reactions: flocculation and sedimentation. […]

Wine Maturation and Ageing

After the fermentation stage is complete during the winemaking process, the quality and taste is then evaluated to determine the destination for the wine. Common situations for wine to be categorised as include fresh and easy-to-drink wine, wine for long term ageing, oak-aged wine for early release and wine with faults. Each of these situations […]

Drinking Water Testing

Update: Now available – Water testing in Hobart, Tasmania. Is your rainwater safe to drink? Many gastrointestinal illnesses are caused by bacteria in drinking water. Whatever the age or size of your tank, the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) recommend regular testing to ensure it does not contain harmful levels of bacteria. Water from your […]

Patulin

PATULIN  What is patulin?  Patulin is a mycotoxin (a toxic fungal metabolite) that is produced by certain moulds such as Penicillium and Aspergillus. These moulds can grow on many fruits and are commonly found on apples. Patulin is often associated with storage diseases and there can be a higher risk in fruit from longer term […]

Livestock Water Testing

DO YOU KNOW THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIVESTOCK  WATER Water quality guidelines recommended for livestock consumption have been developed by the National Water Quality Management Strategy and are based on the Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters, November 1992 (ANZECC). The guidelines cover several water parameters that should be analysed to ensure […]

Bore Water Testing

What is bore water? Bore water is groundwater that has been accessed by drilling a bore into underground water storages called aquifers. An aquifer is formed when water from rain and rivers seeps through layers of soil and rock and fills spaces or fractures within layers of sand and fractured rock. Bore water may be […]

Winery Effluent Water Testing

Knowing your waste is the first step to developing and maintaining a wastewater management system that works for your winery. The composition of your wastewater will change during the course of the season (vintage to non-vintage), so regular monitoring is crucial to understanding its characteristics and to developing effective treatment strategies. Analysis of wastewater post […]

Care and Handling of Cuvettes

Proper maintenance of quartz cuvettes is an essential part of spectrophotometric analysis. The following notes are based on the recommendations of Australian Standard AS 3753-2001. Cuvettes in regular use should be stored either: a) in a box lined with a suitably soft material (possibly one supplied by the manufacturer); b) immersed in distilled water; c) […]