College offers wine analytical service

Technical Officer Jennifer Costanzo and Assoc. Prof. Rob Learmonth discuss the Easy Chem analyser with USQ's Scott Kershaw and Nick Matthews from Analytical Solutions

The Queensland College of Wine Tourism has broadened its support for the Queensland wine industry with the commencement of a grape and wine analytical service from 18 February 2008. The service is a collaborative initiative between the College and the University of Southern Queensland (Faculty of Sciences) with the aim of providing a service to the wine industry.

The service will operate from the QCWT laboratories. The College has augmented the existing laboratory equipment with an 'Easy-Chem' enzymatic analyser in order to be able to offer a comprehensive range of analyses. The service is conducted primarily by Jennifer Costanzo who has been appointed to the position of Grape & Wine Technical Officer. Jennifer is an experienced scientist with considerable proficiency in enzymatic analysis and a family connection to the Queensland wine industry. She will be supported by Associate Professor Robert Learmonth and USQ technical staff.

Initially the service will offer the following analyses:

• Acid analysis
  - pH
  - TA
  - Acetic acid
  - Malic acid
• Sulphur dioxide (free and total)
• Alcohol
• Sugars
  - Glucose/fructose
  - Baumé
• Wine spectral measures
  1. White: total phenolics, hydroxycinnamates, flavonoids and estimate of brown pigments
  2. Red: colour density and colour hue

Additional analyses including anthocyanins, tannins and yeast assimilable nitrogen will be offered in the near future.

The College is committed to providing a timely, accurate service at reasonable rates. Samples forwarded will be processed expeditiously, with a same-day-service provided in many cases.

Full details will be available on the QCWT website www.qcwt.edu.au or from the College office.

Contact: John Neville, Chief Executive Officer (Queensland College of Wine Tourism), +61 7 4685 5050