The delicate art of wine making Alfa Laval Foodec decanter centrifuges in the wine industry
Wine making is both a huge growth industry and a delicate, specialist art. It takes versatility to provide technology equally attractive to both ends of the wine-making spectrum. Alfa Laval Foodec decanter centrifuges are the only such equipment capable of meeting all wine makers requirements for clarification of the must and for wine recovery.
An art with built-in challenges Wine making is now a huge worldwide industry, yet the very best wine still depends on the skills of relatively few individuals. Wine making is therefore often considered more of an art than a science. But it is also a seasonal undertaking. Production can only take place within a limited period, due to the condition of the grapes. The equipment used for wine making must therefore be extremely efficient and highly reliable in order to ensure continuous processing during this limited period. Although factors that include temperature, acidity, solids content and fermentation time play a big part, it is the oxidation process that represents one of the greatest challenges in wine making. Alfa Laval is the world leader in such separation technology, with more than a century of experience. And the most recent advances in Alfa Laval separation technology have made it possible to finally tackle the oxidation issue effectively. Nevertheless, we recognize that our Foodec decanter centrifuges are ultimately only tools in the hands of the wine-making expert, providing him with significantly better tools with which to ply his craft and be even more creative. The process In order to produce the extensive variety of wines currently available, wine makers have developed special techniques for use with different grapes and in different geographical locations. Even though the details of the winemaking process are extremely difficult to master, it is essentially simple. After the fully ripened grapes have been picked and crushed, the must that results from this is thermally conditioned using a heat exchanger and then allowed to settle or ferment before entering the press. The mixture is then clarified prior to final fermentation. The new wine is then further clarified, stabilized, aged and bottled. The Foodec benefits for wine making include unparalleled sealing against oxygen intake, which minimizes oxidation excellent hygiene standards, which mean better product quality greater separation efficiency, which means faster processing meticulous control, which means greater process efficiency and better quality.
Wine making flow chart Red wine production Foodec decanter centrifuge Colour extraction and clarification Must heating Must cooling First controlled fermentation with colour extraction Grapes First fermentation Hat Wine extraction Young wine clarification To malolactic fermentation Collecting Temperature control Raw young wine Disc stack centrifuge Wine bottoms clarification Crushing Raw young wine Foodec decanter centrifuge White wine production Crio-maceration Must cooling Temperature control Must extraction Must clarification Young wine clarification Grapes To malolactic fermentation Collecting Must cooling Disc stack centrifuge First fermentation Disc stack centrifuge Crushing and destemming Must clarification Foodec decanter centrifuge The main difference between making red and white wine lies in the treatment of the grape skins and in the clarification process before, during and after fermentation. The skins provide red wine with colour and tannic acid, and fermentation therefore takes place before the press. White wine, however, is the result of fermenting clarified grape juice without the skins, stalks or seeds. This means that these must be removed prior to fermentation. The physical separation takes place in the clarification and recovery stage of the wine-making process. By removing the solid matter and pulp, and then clarifying the juice, the wine maker is able to control the colour, taste and finish of the wine.
Alfa Laval in wine making For all wine makers, quality and yield are the most important parameters. Separation processes play a major role in achieving the desired combinations of wine characteristics, and Alfa Laval Foodec decanter centrifuges are ideal for such separation purposes. Must clarification The grape skins, stalks and seeds have a direct influence on the colour, taste and characteristics of white wine. For good wine-making results, it is therefore important to remove this material effectively. The presence of oxygen also affects the overall character of any wine, red or white. The amount of oxygen in the operating environment of any winemaking equipment therefore needs to be stringently controlled. Alfa Laval Foodec decanter centrifuges are designed to handle large volumes of solids and have specially designed features that virtually eliminate oxygen intake during centrifugation. This allows wine makers the best possible control over any oxidation that may be taking place in the wine. Wine recovery During fermentation, the wine is allowed to stand in large tanks. Over time, any solids present settle to the bottom. The clear wine is then taken from the top of the tank, leaving behind a mixture of wine and solid material. This residue presents a challenge as regards both yield and handling of the waste. Alfa Laval Foodec decanter centrifuges have the solids handling capacity that, along with the special hygienic seal features, provides increased yield by ensuring the quality of the recovered wine. Extracting more liquid from the material at the bottom of the tank also means that the final waste product is extremely dry, so that waste handling is relatively easy. Benefit from Foodec decanter centrifuges in your wine-making processes The unique design of the Alfa Laval Foodec range enables you to virtually eliminate problems with oxidation, as well as maintaining high levels of hygiene and drastically reducing processing time. The built-in advantages of Foodec decanter centrifuges include advanced sealing features that limit any possible intake of air, and thus greatly cut down on oxidation advanced purging and CIP systems that make cleaning much easier, quicker and cheaper better solids transportation that greatly reduces processing time a new drive and control system that gives you even better control over the separation process, to help you boost the quality of the end product.
Alfa Laval in brief Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineered solutions. Our equipment, systems and services are dedicated to helping customers to optimize the performance of their processes. Time and time again. We help our customers to heat, cool, separate and transport products such as oil, water, chemicals, beverages, foodstuffs, starch and pharmaceuticals. Our worldwide organization works closely with customers in almost 100 countries to help them stay ahead. How to contact Alfa Laval Up-to-date Alfa Laval contact details for all countries are always available on our website at www.alfalaval.com PFT00113EN 0410 ALFA LAVAL is a trademark registered and owned by Alfa Laval Corporate AB, Sweden. 2004 Alfa Laval