Nomacorc, the world’s leading producer of alternative wine closures, today announced that it has initiated an in-depth three-year project with Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim (Geisenheim Research Center) in Germany. The research will explore the development of the Riesling varietal under varying amounts of oxygen and evaluate the influence of different bottling conditions with an emphasis on headspace variations.
“Riesling was selected for these trials because it is the most highly produced, prestigious grape in Germany and is well respected and enjoyed internationally,” said Dr. Rainer Jung, scientist and vice chair of the section of enology and wine technology at Geisenheim Research Center.
Dr. Jung will lead the Geisenheim research team, which will evaluate the influence of different bottling conditions on Riesling wine development by conducting sensory and chemical analyses. Research will investigate the effects of bottling conditions including different fill heights (resulting in varying headspace volumes), the use of inert gases to flush the headspace, and filling under vacuum vs. ambient pressure conditions. “By partnering with independent institutions like Geisenheim, we can make significant progress in understanding how oxygen transfer through closures affects wine evolution, taking into consideration the varietal and associated winemaking style,” said Dr. Olav Aagaard, director of global research for Nomacorc1. “This research will allow us to develop closures that provide optimum oxygen management for the Riesling varietal while broadening our overall knowledge of post-bottling wine chemistry.”
The study begins in July 2008 and will be completed in mid-2011. The project will also consider the treatment of the wine before bottling using filtration and pasteurization techniques; how the degree of compression in the corking jaws and the associated stopper introduction affects sealing properties; and the effects of post-bottling storage conditions, particularly temperature
fluctuations.
“This project will provide new insights into the kinetics of oxygen consumption and the oxygen needs of Rieslings,” said Dr. Stéphane Vidal, enological research manager for Nomacorc. “In addition, it will illustrate how bottling conditions influence the oxygen introduction to the wine and the relative impact of so-called bottle shock compared to the slow delivery of oxygen transferred through the closure.”
The trials will be similar to those in progress with previously announced partners UC Davis in California; the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) at Montpellier; and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). Each institution is evaluating different varietals and variances in bottling conditions.
- About Nomacorc
Nomacorc is the worldwide leader in the growing alternative wine closure
category. Dedicated to technological innovation, Nomacorc manufactures its
portfolio of products using a patented co-extrusion process. As a result,
Nomacorc closures provide consistent, predictable oxygen management and
protect against off-flavors due to oxidation, reduction or cork taint.
Nomacorc products are available through a vast network of distributors and
sales agents on six continents. With more than 400 employees worldwide
and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the United States, Belgium
and China, Nomacorc currently produces closures at the rate of nearly 2
billion annually. For more information, visit nomacorc.com. [↩]
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