Consider the practicality of Wine Shield, a convenient and easy-to-use antioxidant solution that integrates easily with established cellaring practices.
The rise of NSA winemaking
Low sulphite winemaking is a time-honoured tradition that dates back centuries. Today, market differentiation can be a strong advantage to low- or no-sulphites-added (NSA) wine producers. A growing consumer demographic finds appeal in more organic, more natural products like NSA wines. While consumers appreciate high-quality products, they prefer low-intervention production where the use of added chemicals is avoided. NSA winemaking is an ambitious endeavour. It requires careful attention to maintain the quality and stability of the wine. To consistently deliver their best wines, many winemakers look to alternative, natural solutions to protect wines from oxidation.
A combination of the right products and approaches can yield a unique NSA wine without requiring complex process changes. Due to the commitment NSA winemaking requires from winemakers, it is important for new products and technologies to easily integrate with their existing cellar management routines. This article will briefly explore NSA winemaking and emphasise the convenience of Wine Shield as a natural scavenger to protect wines from oxidation. The product integrates easily with established cellaring practices and delivers a convenient solution to protecting wine taste, aroma, and colour.
The wine-ageing paradox
In the world of wine, ageing can be important to the achievement of great quality, but it can also present an obstacle to sustaining said quality. The key to effective wine ageing lies in the management of decomposition over time.
On the one hand, winemaking is essentially the decomposition of grapes into wine. Moreover, the best wines are often ones that improve with age. On the other hand, age and continued decomposition can give rise to faults. If grapes decompose into wines, and this decomposition is not controlled, the wine’s decomposition may well progress towards vinegar. So, without the benefit of added sulphites, how can winemakers easily and conveniently effect a balance between necessary and excessive wine decomposition?
Delivering unique wines
NSA winemakers challenge themselves to express their unique style while also showcasing their expertise. To deliver wines that vibrantly express their fruit and terroir, NSA winemaking critically requires an attentive and preventive approach. Even conventional wines with added sulphites can experience an accumulation of acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, and acetic acid, spoiling their taste and aroma over time. Fortunately, Wine Shield has emerged as a convenient tool to support the flavour- and colour longevity of delicate low-sulphite and NSA wines.
Working with Wine Shield
Wine Shield is a convenient tool for all winemakers, especially when working with NSA wines. The oak-based antioxidant formulation protects the unique attributes that grant wines distinction in the market. With Wine Shield, winemakers can rest assured that the bona fide character of their wines is being protected, naturally.
“Wine Shield is easy to use and is supplied in a liquid form, and does not have any side effects when used in the wines.”
– Antonio Florencio Nieto, Technical Director of Cooperativa Manjavacas
Wine Shield offers both efficacy and convenience, because it is simple to use and flexible to a winemaker’s preferred processing methods. The diagram depicts the typical experience when working with Wine Shield, but processing can be tailored to meet the winemaker’s needs.
Practical advantages to using Wine Shield in the cellar
The advantages of Wine Shield in the cellar, from a practical perspective, are clear.
- Wine Shield is supplied as a ready-to-use liquid oak extract.
- It can be used with red, white, or rosé wines of any cultivar.
- It can be used in NSA as well as conventional wines.
- It is easily poured and blended into wines during most production stages, from fermentation through to bottling.
- It integrates seamlessly with established cellaring practices without triggering any processing complications.
- It will not discourage essential microbial activity and may, thus, be added as early as fermentation or malolactic fermentation.
- Wine Shield dosages can be incrementally increased so that wines are protected during the processing phases when they are at their most vulnerable to oxidation.
- Incremental addition is not strictly required. In some cases, a single dosage of Wine Shield can suffice.
- Wine Shield can be blended into finished wines a few days prior to bottling.
- Wine Shield does not contain potentially hazardous chemicals that can cause physical irritation to cellar workers.
Conclusion
NSA winemaking is gaining popularity. Wine Shield is a trusted tool for winemakers seeking to support the flavour and colour longevity of delicate wines. It is a convenient and easy-to-use antioxidant that can be added during most production phases. Furthermore, winemakers can target oxidative precursors at the times when wines are at their most vulnerable to oxidation, like racking. Wine Shield offers flexibility and control over the level of protection their wines receive.
To discover more about Wine Shield, please reach out to us via the links on this website. We can guide you through your first experience with the product and answer any questions you may have.
