Australian Wine Research Institute introduces revolutionary wine-making tool: a calculator for enologists

In a time where authenticity and additive-free products seem to increasingly top consumer preferences, the wine industry stands at a crossroads. The simplistic notion that "wine is merely the outcome of fermented grape juice" crumbles when the complexity of its production process comes under scrutiny.

While the notion of a pure wine, the simple product of fermented juice, is enticing, the reality of wine production is significantly different.

A wine resulting merely from the fermentation of grape must would likely be unbearably acidic and exceptionally difficult to drink, bearing a closer resemblance to vinegar than wine. To attain palatable, or at the very least drinkable, wines, producers have the ability to add a wide range of additives. From yeasts or enzymes to acids, tannins, mannoproteins, polysaccharides, nutrients, clarifiers, antioxidants, and preservatives - the list goes on. Depending on the country of origin, a wine can have hundreds of additives available for addition to the must or wine.

Though the ideal scenario would minimize additive use, they are, in fact, fundamental to the production of wines. Consequently, institutions like the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) have dedicated resources to assist enologists in the task of additive addition, aiming to at least minimize their use.

Determining the precise dosage of various additives and winemaking aids is a complex task that requires technical knowledge and time, representing a potential source of error.

To assist enologists in this demanding task, AWRI has developed a free tool available on their website. It allows for various calculation operations, including the addition of additives and winemaking aids such as sulfur dioxide, bentonite, gelatin, among others. It also offers conversion units and sensory analysis tests.

This tool is a valuable resource for the wine industry, freely available on AWRI's website. It serves as a game-changer, providing much-needed precision to an industry steeped in tradition yet navigating the demands of the modern consumer landscape.

As the wine industry seeks to balance authenticity with the technical necessities of wine production, this groundbreaking calculator comes as a much-needed aid. It stands to not only improve wine quality but also increase the transparency of the wine-making process, keeping the industry in step with the rising trend of informed consumerism.

The wine-making calculator can be accessed for free at AWRI's website via this link: https://www.awri.com.au/industry_support/winemaking_resources/calculators/ It marks a significant stride in wine-making technology, promising a future where the romance of wine can coexist with the precision of science.