South Africa Approves UV Treatment of Wines

They've been using it in the fresh cider business for years and I always wondered why it wasn't adapted for wine.

Following Government's legalisation of the use of ultra violet light energy for liquid purification in oenological practice last year, acceptance of SurePure's photopurification technology is gaining momentum, with many local winemakers having used SurePure's system, which results in less harmful chemical intervention decreasing the need to add sulphur and other disinfectant additives...

http://www.wine.co.za/news/news.aspx?NEWSID=17601&Source=News

Interesting. I was a little surprised at first as UV and blue light causes light strike, but presumably the exposure is limited to prevent that.

According to the company that developed the technology, they use a very narrow band of UV rays and limit the exposure, which, I assume is done by controlling the flow. http://www.surepure.net/

Since UV light is part of our enviornment, I wonder of the "natural winemaking" adherents consider UV as a "natural" practice.
Tom

Since UV light is part of our enviornment, I wonder of the "natural winemaking" adherents consider UV as a "natural" practice.
Tom

I thought about asking the same thing earlier this morning but figured you be along soon enough. Thanks.

Since UV light is part of our enviornment, I wonder of the "natural winemaking" adherents consider UV as a "natural" practice.
Tom

Well, gamma rays are a part of our natural environment, too, but what do you think the odds are that they'd approve of Co-60 irradiation of their wines? Depending on your answer, I may have a bridge to sell you.

Mark Lipton

Interesting. I was a little surprised at first as UV and blue light causes light strike, but presumably the exposure is limited to prevent that.

Steve, what's light strike? I'd rather ask here than simply Google it.

Interesting. I was a little surprised at first as UV and blue light causes light strike, but presumably the exposure is limited to prevent that.

Steve, what's light strike? I'd rather ask here than simply Google it.

Well, all my knowledge of light strike was gained via google rather than personal experience. But it is a wine taint cause by UV and the blue end of the visible spectrum of light. White wines are particularly susceptible, and brown bottles are most effective in filtering out the damaging parts of the light spectrum. Cristal is sold in an amber cellophane wrapping to protect it, as the clear bottle offers no protection against blue light.

This is the most useful source of information I found: www.wrap.org.uk/document.rm?id=5388

[David M. Bueker]

Well, gamma rays are a part of our natural environment, too, but what do you think the odds are that they'd approve of Co-60 irradiation of their wines? Depending on your answer, I may have a bridge to sell you.

Don't make me Cabernet. You wouldn't like me when I'm Cabernet.