In winemaking, nitrogen plays a vital role in maintaining wine quality throughout the production process. From fermentation to bottling, it’s used to prevent oxidation, preserve aromas, and ensure a consistent flavour profile. If your winery still relies on cylinder nitrogen, it may be time to consider a more efficient and cost-effective solution: onsite nitrogen generation.
Nitrogen is Essential to Winemaking
Nitrogen’s inert properties make it indispensable for winemaking. It prevents oxidation, bacterial growth, and spoilage, all of which are critical to preserving the integrity of the wine. Unlike other gases, nitrogen does not alter the taste or aroma of the wine, ensuring that its quality remains intact from start to finish.
Nitrogen has several specific applications in the winemaking process:
- Flushing Equipment: Nitrogen is used to flush pipes, pumps, and vats before transferring wine between vessels. This displaces oxygen, preventing oxidation and ensuring the wine remains fresh.
- Wine Sparging: During fermentation and ageing, nitrogen sparging removes dissolved oxygen, reducing the risk of spoilage. This process is much more cost-effective when generated onsite.
- Blanketing Storage Tanks: Nitrogen is used to blanket wine vats during bulk storage, preventing oxidation by removing oxygen from the headspace. This allows wineries to pause the ageing process and store wine for longer periods before bottling.
- Bottling: Nitrogen plays a crucial role in bottling by flushing bottles both before and after filling, which helps to extend the shelf life and maintain the quality of the wine.
Why Choose an Onsite Nitrogen Generator for Winemaking?
Onsite nitrogen generators offer wineries a dependable and cost-effective solution that eliminates the inefficiencies associated with cylinder gas. With an onsite generator, you produce nitrogen on-demand, ensuring your winery always has a consistent supply of nitrogen without the hassle of managing cylinder deliveries.
Here’s why an onsite nitrogen generator can transform your winery operations:
- Cost Efficiency: Wineries can reduce their operational costs by up to 80% by switching to onsite nitrogen generation. This savings comes from eliminating delivery charges, tank rentals, and the administrative costs associated with managing cylinder gas.
- For further information on your potential savings, our partner Gas Generation Australia has created an ROI Case Study especially for the wine industry.
- Uninterrupted Supply: Onsite generation ensures that nitrogen is always available when you need it, eliminating the risk of delays or disruptions caused by cylinder deliveries.
- Precision Control: With an onsite generator, you can produce the exact amount of nitrogen required for your operations, minimising waste and improving the efficiency of your winemaking process.
Making the Shift to Onsite Nitrogen Generation
Transitioning to onsite nitrogen generation is simpler than you might think. Pneumatic Engineering offers a wide selection of nitrogen generators designed to meet the specific needs of wineries, from small boutique operations to large-scale producers.
Our nitrogen generators typically deliver a return on investment (ROI) in just 1-3 years, thanks to the significant cost savings and increased operational efficiency they provide. By investing in onsite nitrogen generation, wineries can future-proof their operations and maintain the highest quality standards for their products.
At Pneumatic Engineering, we supply nitrogen generators manufactured by Novair Noxerior, a trusted name in gas generation technology. Our generators are known for their innovative design, reliability, and low cost-of-ownership. Whether you need a membrane or PSA nitrogen generator, we have a solution that fits your winery’s specific needs.
Want to learn more about on-site nitrogen generation in the wine industry? Our partner Gas Generation Australia has created a webinar with everything winemakers need to know.
Switching to an onsite nitrogen generator can revolutionise your winery’s production process by reducing costs, ensuring an uninterrupted nitrogen supply, and preserving the quality of your wine. At Pneumatic Engineering, we work closely with our partners and clients to design and customise nitrogen generation systems that meet their exact requirements.
To learn more about how onsite nitrogen generation can benefit your winery, contact Pneumatic Engineering today and explore our comprehensive range of nitrogen generators.
