The vessel automaceración INTA-ASSI which was developed in the framework of a technological linkage agreement with the company to optimize the process of maceration of the grapes tintas- recently received first prize in the IV Provincial Technology Innovation Competition 2007, organized by the Institute of Industrial, Technological Development and Services of Mendoza (IDITS) and the Association of Metallurgical Industries of the province. The project received funding from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation of Argentina (SECyT) and adaptive experimentation was conducted by a Technical Assistance Agreement between INTA and Bodega Ruca Malen. Its efficiency was evaluated through tests conducted by the Centre for Studies Enológicos INTA Mendoza. In this sense, comparative elaborations between the vessel and the traditional system and delestage overs, for which grapes of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot varieties used were made. It was found that the system surpasses traditional automaceración extraction efficiency anthocyanins, color intensity, color and copigmentado polymeric and total polyphenol index. For Merlot, the difference in polyphenol extraction reaches 20%. The vessel provides benefits other oenological like semiprensado which the marc by accelerating time decreases racking wine exposure to microbial contamination and oxidativos- processes and has other accessories such as a device to separate the seeds and a system for treating wood chips. Source: Wine Area
