ensuring longer lasting fresh and bright wine
Physical stabilisation is the process of preventing hazes and deposits from forming after
the wine has been packaged. This can be achieved by removing constituents that will
eventually lead to haze formation, such as certain proteins and polyphenols, or by
accelerating the formation of hazes and deposits so that they can be removed prior to
packaging.
Typical methods of removing haze precursors are the addition of fining agents, the use
of adsorptive powders such as diatomaceous earth (DE) or polyvinylpolypyrrolidone
(PVPP). The porous screens, sheets or candles that are used to support the powder will
always allow some powder through, and trap filters should be positioned downstream
to prevent this powder from reaching final storage and packaging. Alternatively, the DE
and PVPP may be incorporated into a cellulose fibre matrix that is then cut into
preformed sheets or assembled into stacked disc, (or lenticular), cartridges. This may be
a more convenient method of stabilisation and produces a higher degree of clarity to
the wine.
Potassium bitartrate and calcium tartrate crystal are naturally occurring precipitates.
These form non-hazardous glass-like crystals in the wine. Their presence in wine for
short-term consumption is not desirable, and during production, the wine can be
chilled and 'seeded' with a smaller quantity of crystals to accelerate the process.
The crystals can then be removed using a combination of centrifugation and filtration,
or filtration only. Trap filtration and crystal removal is usually achieved using
clarification filters with retention ratings between 5 μm and 15 μm. Medium and fine
grades of sheet and lenticular filters will provide high product clarity and good
physical stability.
Once the wine has been physically stabilised, further treatment usually involves
assuring microbiological stability and polishing to provide bright clarity.
- Trap filters remove small quantities of powder released from
upstream processing and protect the process in the event of
major bed collapse.
- Cleanable filter cartridges are used repeatedly for the removal
of tartrate crystals.
Product Selection for Physical Stabilisation
Peplyn HATwo ways to increase the lifetime of a filter are to increase the amount of contamination it can handle or to improve the effectiveness of cleaning pr
Peplyn HDThe two ways to increase the lifetime of a filter are to increase the amount of contamination it can handle, or to improve the effectiveness of cleani
