Robust and accurate taste and aroma profiles are essential concerns for every wine producer and now a cost-effective, incredibly fast molecular diagnostic tool offers an onsite solution to testing for Brettanomyces bruxellensis.
Robust and accurate taste and aroma profiles are essential concerns for every wine producer and now a cost-effective, incredibly fast molecular diagnostic tool offers an onsite solution to testing for Brettanomyces bruxellensis.
Long a bane to producers of particular varietals, Brettanomyces bruxellensis can mask the natural aroma of grapes and result in spoilage. Saint Clair Family Estate senior wine maker, Hamish Clark says that before the winery had chosen to use Veriflow® Brettanomyces bruxellensis (BRETT), sensory perception – smell and taste were the tools used to know if their barrels were clean of Brettanomyces. “It (BRETT) increases spoilage rates, there can be cross contamination and it can be hard to get rid of. The threat is always there,” Hamish says.
“We used to use Ozone for sterilisation but barrels are porous so Ozone only touches the top surface. Brett can be between barrel staves and under blisters caused by toasting.
“One of my previous jobs was working in a DNA laboratory and I have a good understanding of the complexities of DNA. That sort of technology was incredibly expensive and could only be used by big wineries. Now that same technology is available in this bench-top platform. It’s a very user friendly end user suitable device,” Hamish says. “It performs DNA amplification very quickly. It’s exciting – they’ve used science to make it simple.
Since acquiring a Veriflow Brettanomyces bruxellensis (BRETT) platform last November Hamish says he now has peace of mind regarding the efficacy of testing. “It has given us a tool that gives us a clear indisputable result and we can be proactive with that result. If we have issues with a particular barrel we can quarantine it to avoid cross contamination. It is absolutely cost-effective as well and has removed any element of doubt whether any barrels tested have viable Brettanomyces cells, which gives us confidence.”
Veriflow Brettanomyces bruxellensis (BRETT) kits have fast become one of Invisible Sentinel’s more popular testing kits and have been embraced by wine producers throughout Australasia, South America, North America, and Europe.
In New Zealand Veriflow (BRETT) is distributed exclusively by NZMS Scientific.
For more information:
Email: [email protected]
Visit: www.nzms.co.nz
