Nitrogen Can Generate Great Tasting Wine
Some winemakers are dedicated to producing wine through artisan techniques however, nitrogen generators help create great wine making this new technology hard to overlook. The shift to automation can propel a winemaker to the next level, especially when dealing with so many modern challenges such as labour shortages and climate change.
Technology is available for automating the process from vineyards to wineries, requiring less manual intervention, but what do you need to guarantee the quality of the end product? A constant supply of nitrogen is the key to preservation, dispensing, freshness and extending shelf life, says Oxair Gas Systems Ltd.
Oxidation, bacteria and spoilage are a winemaker’s worst enemies, threatening profits and sales – and of course, reputation. One bad experience may not deter a consumer, but more than that? That’ll be one customer buying a competitor’s wine next time. Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) nitrogen generators and membrane systems help prevent oxidation, which occurs when wine is exposed to too much oxygen. The use of nitrogen throughout the winemaking process helps preserve colour, flavour and aroma of any wine prior to corking or capping the bottle.
Having this colourless and odourless gas on tap 24/7 does not cause discoloration to bottles or have a negative impact on the product’s taste. With a zero tolerance for error, nitrogen generators are ideal for flushing during transfer and bottling of any wine to help minimise waste, save money, increase employee safety and reduce environmental impact.
The costs associated with setting up on-site nitrogen generation equipment are just a drop in the ocean when compared with payback that can be achieved many times over in the long term. Nitrogen can prevent wine from leaving a sour taste in the mouth during the three specific stages of the production process – flushing, sparging and blanketing.
Winemakers of all sizes can benefit from cutting down on waste caused by oxidation and spoilage. Nitrogen generating technology ensures the product leaves the winery in the best possible condition and tastes as intended a few months, years or even decades later! Using the gas squeezes oxygen out of the entire production process from fermentation to bottling and storage.
A nitrogen generator provides self-sufficiency as well as cost benefits against handling of liquid nitrogen tanks, allowing producers to turn supplies on and off as and when required. This means they can accommodate seasonal or fluctuating production schedules, such as the surge in demand seen during pandemic lockdowns and the effects of climate change on wine-growing regions.
Oxair provides solutions that are tailor-made for wine producers anywhere in the world. Process temperature control makes PSA generators very stable. This technology ensures reliable supplies of pure nitrogen, while a compact, robust design makes the equipment ideal where space in the winery is limited.
Self-contained nitrogen membrane systems also meet the needs of large-volume users. Flexible, cost-effective and cheaper to run compared to liquid nitrogen tanks, high-flow membrane nitrogen systems are up and running within minutes of installation. Along with a quick start-up they offer a smaller footprint and minimise power consumption.
Switching to nitrogen generating equipment is an efficient and cheaper way to ensure wines from the cellar meet customer expectations. Nitrogen generators and membrane units are safe, reliable, easy to operate and never run out of gas.
Oxair Director David Cheeseman, sums up: “Nitrogen generators and membrane units give winemakers complete control of a permanent supply of nitrogen rather than being at the mercy of deliveries, which can be affected by poor transport connectivity and extreme weather events. Using the equipment eliminates oxygen ensuring fabulous tasting wine from every harvest.”
