The (Not So) Secret Science of Wine

Along with an ideal climate, minerally rich soil, and high-quality grapes, science also plays an important role in making sure every glass of wine is balanced and memorable

For those who enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or spirits, it might not be obvious how important scientific testing is to successfully develop and manufacture your favorite brand of Pinot Noir, IPA, or whiskey.

METTLER TOLEDO clients in the beverage industry fully embrace the measurement and quality control instruments the company provides to help ensure every batch meets their – and their customer’s – exacting standards.

For one winemaker and long-time METTLER TOLEDO client, their quality journey starts at the vineyard and continues into the laboratory.

As one of the largest wine producers in the United States, the client upgraded their T90 Autotitrators with the latest model, the Titrator Excellence T9, complete with the InMotion Autosampler.

For the client, the most important analytes measured in their wine include total acidity and sulfur. The new units perform both parameters simultaneously, allowing them to run hundreds of samples every day.

The amount of these components present in the samples must meet their exacting tolerances, which equate to the wine’s overall taste and smell. The T9s also save them about 10 minutes per sample versus doing this test manually, so you can see how much of an asset this instrumentation is to their quality control process!

Another parameter that is vital to wine is color. Imagine if a glass of Syrah was a pale red or light pink! 

Impressed by the METTLER TOLEDO Spectrophotometer UV5, the client ordered the latest model with a CuvetteChanger to assess the consistency of their wine color according to the CIELAB color scale, ensuring each batch is the perfect shade of red. The UV5 Spectrophotometer can even detect micro-changes in color that may not be visible to the naked eye. These changes in color indicate possible issues such as oxidation or related quality concerns, which are important to keeping wine drinkers safe and satisfied.

In order to support their new T9, UV5 and InMotion instruments, the client also upgraded their LabX^TM software. This allows them to monitor their data in real-time so that quality is constantly being assessed, and processes can be immediately adjusted if an incorrect value or trend in the data is flagged.

METTLER TOLEDO solutions go beyond wine, with products that also support the beer, spirit, and non-alcoholic beverage industries.

From precision measurements such as pH to ensure optimal enzymatic activity, polyphenols, and fermentation density to industrial food scales and more, METTLER TOLEDO has a comprehensive suite of products that helps the beverage industry bring their quality products to individuals around the world.

This includes the trucks and railcars that travel from the vineyard, brewery, or distillery for manufacturing; to the bottler for packaging; and ultimately to the store to be purchased by consumers. METTLER TOLEDO truck and rail scales ensure accurate freight weight and load balance for our esteemed clients. 

You can find a great team of METTLER TOLEDO associates at major industry conferences, such as the annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, the largest wine and grape conference in the United States.

Whether attending one of these great events, or reaching out to your local METTLER TOLEDO sales representative, the team is happy to answer any of your questions about how the company’s portfolio of high-quality instruments and solutions can help ensure every batch, bottle, or baguette delights your customer. This is something we can all raise a glass to!