Revolution in sulphur dioxide testing receives top innovation prize at SIMEI

FOSS is proud to receive a prestigious enological innovation prize from the premier wine event SIMEI-ENOVITIS.

The prize is for the WineScan™ SO2 - a new model of the popular WineScan analyser providing accurate measurements of free and total sulphur dioxide in parallel with many other quality parameters. FOSS will be presented with the award at the opening ceremony of the 24th edition of SIMEI event on 22nd November in Milan.

Considerable advance

A selection panel composed of technical specialists from wineries and university researchers chose the WineScan for its new and rapid way of measuring a vital parameter in the winemaking process.

Sulphur dioxide is the most commonly measured parameter in winemaking. Regular testing is necessary to achieve optimal dosage in the winemaking process, to comply with regulations and to minimise usage of the preservative.

SIMEI-ENOVITIS stated: “The development of the automatic, analytical system WineScan SO 2 by FOSS, based on the FTIR principle, allows the determination of free and total sulphur dioxide in wine in a very short time. Therefore, this is a considerable advance with regard to the analytical control of wines, in the production phase, as well as in those of refining, of bottling and of marketing. This innovation offers new and interesting perspectives for the improvement of wine quality, especially in the current situation of public awareness of ethical and health problems connected with the use of sulphur dioxide in enology. The availability of an extremely rapid and precise system for determining sulphur dioxide content is very advantageous, as it enables a targeted and controlled use of this important and historical antiseptic, essentially in the critical steps of the wine-making process, with the result of reducing the contents to the minimum necessary levels.”

Fast results

Wine sales manager Paolo Libralato said: “Ever since they saw the first WineScan, our customers have been asking: ‘Hey, can it also do SO2?’ We are delighted to say that now it can and excited to receive the SIMEI innovation prize.”

With a time-to-result of a minute and a half, the new WineScan compares favourably with around 15 minutes per test with existing routine methods or much longer for laboratory reference methods. The system is also considerably more convenient, reducing manual work and associated risks of operator error.

Results for free and total sulphur dioxide content are delivered to a computer screen alongside the many other (over 20) quality parameters provided by the WineScan analyser. This provides a convenient on-screen comparison against other parameters such as pH and ethanol of potential interest in combination with sulphur dioxide.

The ability to measure sulphur dioxide is provided as an option for the new WineScan making it a complete wine analysis solution providing rapid routine analysis of all main wine measurement parameters in one box.

Three other prizes were awarded:

“Cane Pruner VITECO”, presented by ERO,
“Automatic, integrated bottle handling system for filling”, presented by Gruppo Bertolaso,
“Dynamic, rotary cross-flow filter for filtering must and wine lees without filter aids” presented by TMCI Padovan co.

Source: FOSS