Quality is everything when it comes to wine. The importance of nitrogen in wine production can't be overstated. Nitrogen helps prevent oxidation, bacteria growth, and spoilage, ensuring the integrity and quality of your product are maintained whilst increasing its shelf life.

Nitrogen is the perfect choice in winemaking because it doesn't affect the aroma or flavour profile; it is an inert gas that leaves no odour, taste or colour residue. Due to its abundance in the atmosphere, nitrogen is also the most economical method for winemakers to combat oxidation and unwanted bacterial growth. 

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How is Nitrogen Used in Wine Production? 

Nitrogen gas is used throughout the winemaking process. At each stage, nitrogen's role is to reduce exposure of the wine to oxygen and, in turn, limiting any spoilage. It plays a crucial part in the following techniques: flushing, wine sparging, blanketing and bottling. 

Flushing: This process involves flushing nitrogen through pipes, pumps and vats before transferring wine between vessels. Nitrogen displaces the oxygen and therefore prevents any oxidation. 

Wine Sparging: During the fermentation and ageing stages of wine production, oxygen dissolves naturally into the wine. Sparging the wine with nitrogen gas removes the dissolved oxygen and preserves the quality of the wine. It is the most cost-effective option when compared to argon. This process is made even more efficient by installing an onsite nitrogen generator which is not feasible with other gases, making nitrogen a superior choice compared to carbon dioxide and argon.    

Blanketing: Bulk wine vats and vessels are blanketed with nitrogen to remove the oxygen above the wine and stop the ageing process once the required maturity has been reached to allow longer storage periods before bottling. 

Bottling: Wine bottles get flushed with nitrogen both before and after bottling to remove oxygen and extend the longevity of the wine.

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What are the Benefits of an Onsite Nitrogen Generator for Winemaking?

An onsite nitrogen generator eliminates disruption associated with delivered gases not arriving on time, ensuring a constant nitrogen supply. In addition, onsite nitrogen generation provides winemakers with greater efficiency because you only generate the required amount of nitrogen and have more flexibility to meet peak demands. Gas Generation Australia has found that businesses often see an ROI within 12 months of installation and a significant reduction in operating costs. These costs and the environmental impact of gas generation are further reduced by using localised green energy. Read more on our blog: Top 5 Advantages of Onsite Nitrogen Generators.

There are two types of technology to consider with nitrogen generation: Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and Membrane technology. However, for winemaking, PSA provides higher nitrogen purity levels. This technology works with two adsorption vessels that contain a carbon molecular sieve to separate nitrogen from ambient air. Adsorption is alternated between the vessels to generate a constant flow of gas. Gas Generation Australia has selected high-quality European PSA nitrogen generators with patented technology that gives you the leading edge with your wine production processes. In addition, we can supply PSA nitrogen generators as a modular system that allows the capacity to expand easily and at a low cost. If you are new to gas generation technology and are unsure where to start, our experts can guide you through the entire process from design to installation, that’s the Gas Generation Difference! 

An onsite nitrogen generator improves the quality and lifespan of your masterfully crafted wine while delivering a more economical and efficient production process. Contact us today to learn how nitrogen generators can help your wine production processes.  

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About Gas Generation Australia 

Gas Generation Australia offers innovative onsite gas generation solutions to the Australian Winemaking industry. From packaged modular systems to custom-designed solutions, Gas Generation Australia provides onsite nitrogen for a range of food and beverage industries. Our wide range of PSA or membrane generators deliver optimal purity and reliable production volume.

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