Microbe Management in Winemaking: How to Avoid Contamination
Microbial contamination can have major negative effects on wine quality. You can now avoid them with EnartisStab Micro and Micro M.
Wine is an alcoholic beverage with low pH which limits the number of potential microorganisms. However, it can be affected by two large types of microorganisms: bacteria and yeast. They come from grapes and can contaminate wine via equipment, poor sanitation or other ways.
Why are we so concerned with wine microbes? Why do we want to manage microbial activity in wine? What are the risks if microbes are not controlled? Here are some answers:
- Visual defects
- Stuck fermentations
- SO2 binding molecules
- Acetic acid
- Acetaldehyde
- Ethyl acetate
- Sulfides
- Volatile phenols
- Isovaleric acid
- Diacetyl
- Mousiness
- Biogenic amines
How to manage microbes: Use of Activated Chitosan
Produced from the partial de-acetylation of Chitin (extracted from Aspergillus niger), chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide that interacts with a wide spectrum of microorganisms, alters their cell wall permeability, inhibits cell growth and leads to cell death. The antimicrobial activity of chitosan is attributed to its positive charges (NH3+ groups) that interfere with the negatively-charged residues of macromolecules on the microorganism’s cell membrane surface. Enartis’ production process is focused on improving the efficiency of chitosan by increasing the molecule charges, solubility and surface contact.
Chitosan-based products, EnartisStab Micro M and EnartisStab Micro are selective, allergen-free fining agents that eliminate populations of a large number of unwanted microorganisms, such as Brettanomyces, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria.
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EnartisStab Micro & EnartisStab Micro M
EnartisStab Micro M (activated chitosan and purified yeast hulls) is specifically developed to control spoilage microbe populations in turbid environments such as juice, fermenting must and press fractions. It is used to manage bacteria populations on compromised fruit, limit non-Saccharomyces yeast development during cold soak and to delay or stop malolactic fermentation after alcoholic fermentation as an alternative to lysozyme.
EnartisStab Micro M is the only chitosan activated through a patented process that increases the positive charge and contact surface amplifying the antimicrobial action.
EnartisStab Micro (activated chitosan) is highly effective in controlling spoilage microorganism development in aging wines after malolactic fermentation. Use EnartisStab Micro as a treatment to remove high levels of contamination with a 20 g/hL dose or as a preventative to remove potential contamination with a 2-4 g/hL dose during racking after MLF.
Applications for EnartisStab Micro M and EnartisStab Micro
• Prevent volatile acidity production during cold soak
• Vegan and allergen-free alternative to lysozyme
• Control, delay or avoid malolactic fermentation
• Alternative to SO2 for antimicrobial control
• Prevent spoilage microbes development throughout the winemaking process
Related resources from our website
ENARTIS NEWS REASONS TO USE ACTIVATED CHITOSAN DURING HARVEST
Activated chitosan can perform various activities that make its application during harvest particularly beneficial for wine quality.
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Contact us by filling out the form to receive information about the product, delivery times and prices.