CROSSFLOW CLARIFICATION
TO REDUCE WINE LOSS
WINEMAKING CHALLENGE: LARGE VOLUMES OF WINE TO FILTER AND NOT MUCH TIME
Production schedules can press your filtration system and your staff for time. Filtration requirements come from many sources:
The filter is down again
Our goal is to create less waste
We are treating for smoke taint
We lose too much wine when filtering
- If your system is inoperable, you can miss critical bottling schedules.
- Many wine treatment options using reverse osmosis, including VA removal and smoke taint require pre-filtration.
- Diatomaceous Earth (DE) requires messy solids handling and hauling to a landfill.
- You spent a lot of money on fruit and barrels and each gallon to the drain is significant.
WINESECRETS CAN GUIDE YOU THROUGH THESE PROBLEMS.
Winesecrets utilizes cross flow filtration for solids removal and clarification. How does it work?
- Wine passes tangentially across a membrane. Pressure difference causes small materials to pass through.
- Solids do not pass through and are swept away in the tangential flow, keeping the filter surface clear.
- Wine is nominally filtered to 0.25 microns.
CROSSFLOW MICROFILTRATION (0.2µm)
Crossflow Clarification is the modern standard for preparing wine for bottling or further treatment. Unlike dead-end filtration, our tangential flow technology keeps membranes clean, allowing for single-pass clarification down to 0.2 micron (absolute) without stripping color or mouthfeel.
WHEN TO USE CROSSFLOW
- Pre-Bottling: Achieve sterile-grade clarity (0.2µm) in one pass.
- Pre-Treatment: Prepare wine for RO (Alcohol/VA removal) to prevent membrane fouling.
- Stuck Ferments: Remove yeast populations to stop spoilage risks immediately.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Metric | Winesecrets Crossflow | Diatomaceous Earth (DE) |
|---|---|---|
| Pore Size | 0.2 micron (Absolute) | Variable / Nominal |
| Waste & Safety | NO DE Dust (Safe for staff) | Inhalation Hazard (Silica) |
| Wine Recovery | >99% Recovery | High losses in filter cake |
Your cross-flow filtered wine is:
- Ready for bottling on schedule.
- Clean enough for taint removal.
- Filtered with no loss of volume or solids handling.
Winesecrets has been filtering wine with cross flow for 10 years. Your benefits of choosing to work with us include:
- Technological: Della Toffola’s industry leading ceramic membranes provide fast, effective filtration and requires minimal stoppages for cleaning.
- Lightest Touch: Smallest impact on treated wine in the industry with no landfill requirement.
- Estate Service: Don’t want to ship your wine until it is safely in the bottle? No problem. Winesecrets mobile cross flow technology is easily portable, allowing us to come to you.
Winesecrets has conducted cross flow filtration on over 1 million gallons of wine throughout North America. Our highly trained, professional staff can filter your wine at your winery or at our central location in Sebastopol, CA.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is crossflow filtration sterile?
Our crossflow units filter down to 0.2 micron absolute. While this removes yeast and bacteria significantly effectively, we recommend a final membrane check at bottling for certified sterility.
Does it strip color or mouthfeel?
No. Unlike pads or DE which can adsorb colloids and color compounds, crossflow membranes are inert. They clarify the wine physically based on size exclusion, preserving the wine's original body and color.
Do you use Diatomaceous Earth (DE)?
No. Our process is 100% DE-free. This eliminates the risk of silica dust exposure for your cellar crew and reduces hazardous solid waste disposal costs.
Ready to take the first step? By filling in the request below, we will begin the process of preparing a customized solution to your winemaking challenge. Our team of professionals is ready to share decades of wine production knowledge with you. We love a challenge! And will do our best to ensure you are realizing superior results.