As a winemaker working in a world where many consumers base their purchases off of looks alone, the right colour and clarity of your product can make or break your brand. Several steps are required to transform grapes off the vine to the crystal clear wines found on the shelves of Australia. Before shipping to the local market, wine is treated with fining agents, since unrefined wine is quite turbid and hazy. The turbidity is due to suspended solids produced during fermentation. This cloudiness is what winemakers refer to as protein haze, or haze for short. Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) and chitinases are the primary grape proteins responsible for haze formation. These positively charged proteins degenerate and stick together, resulting in undesirable flocculent clouds and visible haziness. Bentonite clay is used as a fining agent in wine.
Fining, or clarifying, is the process of removing substances that contribute to haze by binding them through adsorption. Bentonite is negatively charged and incorporated into the wine as a colloid (fine powder mixed with water). The negatively charged clay binds to the positively charged protein molecules. After treating the wine, the particulates settle out, transforming the beverage to the desired colour and clarity. This process also makes the wine more stable, meaning the wine’s signature taste, aroma and appearance won’t change appreciably while in storage.
It is important to know exactly how much bentonite to add to your wine because if added in excess it can actually strip the stock of colour and flavour. This is why many winemakers are looking for a means of analysing the protein present in their wine to approximate an equivalent amount of bentonite to add for fining. The Hanna Instruments HI83749 Portable Turbidity Meter and Bentonite Monitor can be a solution to their problem.
The HI83749 offers a quick test to verify the risk of future protein haze formation; therefore, allowing to confidently define the right amount of bentonite to add. The HI83749 includes a 1000 uL pipette to accurately dispense 1 mL of the bentonite check solution.
The reading obtained is accurate to +/- 2% of the reading plus 0.05 NTU. Reading can be logged and transferred to a Windows-compatible PC with a USB cable. Any customer will appreciate the convenience and completeness of the sampling kit. Everything necessary to perform the test is provided in a rugged and compact carrying case, including the calibration standards used to check and calibrate the meter.
To empower customers to achieve quality by supplying intuitive, accurate, and reliable analytical instruments with exceptional customer service and value.
We take pride in every product we build. From an original idea to a completed product ready for testing. We oversee every aspect of the manufacturing process. It is this level of attention to detail that sets us apart.
To empower customers to achieve quality by supplying intuitive, accurate, and reliable analytical instruments with exceptional customer service and value.
We take pride in every product we build. From an original idea, to a completed product ready for testing. We oversee every aspect of the manufacturing process. It is this level of attention to detail that sets us apart.
To empower customers to achieve quality by supplying intuitive, accurate, and reliable analytical instruments with exceptional customer service and value.
We take pride in every product we build. From an original idea, to a completed product ready for testing. We oversee every aspect of the manufacturing process. It is this level of attention to detail that sets us apart.