The next ERBSLÖH Juice and Fruit Wine Seminar is just around the corner and there are still a few places left!

From Thursday, 21 March to Friday, 22 March 2024, the ERBSLÖH Juice and Fruit Wine Seminar will take place in Rotenburg an der Fulda (Germany) – this year in cooperation with Bucher Unipektin AG!

ERBSLÖH Geisenheim GmbH is a medium-sized and internationally active company in the Rheingau. Since 1964, the company has focussed on beverage technology. With its innovative products and processes, ERBSLÖH focuses on the needs of its customers. In addition to the fruit juice processing sector, the company also offers solutions for the wine, beer and spirits industries. Yeasts, nutrients or enzymes – ERBSLÖH is up to any challenge.

Bucher Unipektin AG is a competent partner and supplier of individual machines and complete systems for solid-liquid separation, filtration, juice treatment and concentrate production. The beverage technologies are mainly used for the production of fruit juices and purees as well as in beer filtration.

The seminar’s lecture programme will cover various interesting topics, with experts from theory and practice talking about their experiences in the industry. Among others, Dr Michael Welte from Bucher Unipektin AG will report on dealcoholisation technology. Stefan Wenghoefer from ERBSLÖH Geisenheim GmbH will give an overview of plant proteins as a gelatine alternative. Dr Christof Steingaß from Hochschule Geisenheim University will speak about the production of pineapple juice using innovative technologies and Petros Kapasakalidis from Hellenic Juices will talk about the different quality aspects in the production of citrus essential oils.

The full programme, all information about the two-day seminar and the opportunity to register can be found on the ERBSLÖH website at www.erbsloeh.com

100 % grape must suppliers for entire MARTINI portfolio certified sustainable

After decades spent pioneering sustainable practices, MARTINI, the world’s number one Italian sparkling wine and vermouth from family-owned Bacardi, has reached a sustainability milestone – 100 % of the wineries for the entire MARTINI portfolio are now certified sustainable.

Every drop of grape juice used in the production of MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, including MARTINI Fiero and the new MARTINI Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo range, is now sourced from wineries certified according to the standard set by Equalitas, the most comprehensive sustainability standard in Italian wine making.

With the sugarcane for BACARDÍ^® rum and the 10 botanicals for BOMBAY SAPPHIRE^® already 100 % sustainable sourced, this news is another major step towards Bacardi achieving its 2025 goal of sourcing 100 % of its key ingredients from sustainably certified suppliers.

Established 160 years ago next year, MARTINI has long pioneered doing the right thing for the environment. In 1987, L’Osservatorio MARTINI – the MARTINI Observatory – was established in Northern Italy as a center dedicated to promoting sustainable farming methods, first for its wines and, more recently, the many botanical ingredients used to craft its iconic vermouths and non-alcoholic aperitivo range.

About Equalitas
Equalitas is an Italian-born sustainability initiative promoted by Federdoc. Federdoc is the Italian Confederation of Voluntary Consortia for the Protection of the Designations of the Italian Wines. In 2015, Federdoc began several initiatives in the Italian wine value chain including the promotion of one main, certifiable, sustainability standard for companies in the wine sector. Equalitas is a so called “standard owner”, and it has issued the SOPD Equalitas standard, a set of good practice requirements and sustainability indicators. Through an audit made by third party Certification Bodies, wineries can certify against SOPD Equalitas.

Beviale Moscow will take place in the Main Stage Event Hall in Moscow from 16 to 18 March 2021. This makes Russia’s first trade fair for the entire beverage production chain one of the few events that allows the sector to come together in person in the spring of 2021. The organisers are responding to explicit requests by Russian exhibitors and visitors who can now look forward to a well-designed and attractive event concept. Numerous event partners and associations are helping to create the high-quality supporting programme. Naturally, all the measures prescribed by the local authorities will be strictly implemented at Beviale Moscow 2021. This special round of the event will pave the way for the next chapter of the Beviale Moscow success story in 2022, which is already attracting a lot of interest, especially from exhibitors unable to attend this year.

Thanks to its timely relocation to the Main Stage Event Hall, Beviale Moscow was able to allow its customers to plan with certainty in what is a precarious environment with underlying conditions that are constantly changing. This location is ideal for this special round of Beviale Moscow this year. Around half of the exhibitors who had registered for the subsequently cancelled 2020 fair, and most partners, will be taking part in Beviale Moscow 2021. Some 80 percent of exhibitors come from Russia, but it is also worth mentioning the around 20 percent of international exhibitors who have committed to the event despite the difficult circumstances.

Comprehensive safety and hygiene concept

“The huge response and extensive support from the sector are a clear indication that our concept has paid off and that Beviale Moscow is the most important platform for the Russian beverage industry,” says a delighted Thimo Holst, Project Manager Beviale Moscow at NürnbergMesse. “We have therefore done our utmost to offer our customers and partners a modified yet high-quality concept under the current circumstances.” This includes a comprehensive safety and hygiene plan. As well all the regulations imposed by the local authorities, like measuring temperatures at the entrance and the wearing of face masks and gloves, Beviale Moscow 2021 is implementing other measures: Sufficient distances are ensured on all special display areas, entrances and exits are separate, numerous hand sanitising stations are provided around the hall, and the air is being continually filtered.

High-quality supporting programme as in previous years

In respect of content, the fair will be on a par with the event planned for 2020. Almost all partners and associations are continuing to support Beviale Moscow this year again and are helping to create an extensive, high-quality supporting programme. At the “Conference on wine production in Russia”, the partnership with the “Vinitech Innovation Tour” will take effect for the first time. Russian wine experts will introduce the peculiarities of the market, while French experts will hold presentations on technology and innovation, giving conference participants a comprehensive overview of the wine market and its future. In Russia, milk production and processing are key issues for the beverage industry. An overview will be provided by the Russian industry portal “The Dairy News” under the heading “The New Milk Retail in Russia”. In collaboration with Coca-Cola, Beviale Moscow will for the first time host a conference on the trend towards healthy drinks. Other items on the programme agenda familiar from previous years are a conference on the Russian beer market conducted by the ABBM, Association of Beer and Beverage Market, the conference on beverage packaging by the National Packaging Confederation NCPack, and the Craft Drinks Corner.

Given the circumstances, the representative Bavarian Pavilion with four Bavarian firms taking part in Beviale Moscow 2021 is particularly worthy of mention. “We are delighted by the unequivocal support of Bayern International, which was impressed by the event following the success of the first pavilion in 2019 and is continuing to back us this year as well,” says Holst. “We are especially pleased that Roland Weigert, Deputy Minister of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, will provide a welcoming address by video at the opening of the trade fair.” The continuity of the Bavarian Pavilion underscores the extremely strong economic relations between Bavaria and Russia. In addition, the Representative Office of Bavaria in the Russian Federation will offer a symposium at this year’s Beviale with the title “The latest information and trends in the brewing industry in Bavaria and Russia”.

Unique floral notes, mellow tartness and bright color offer citrus appeal for beverages

Oregon Fruit Products LLC released Meyer Lemon Puree, an intensely citrusy and brightly-colored Fruit for Fermentation offering that can be incorporated into a variety of beer, wine, cider, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Favored for its unique floral notes and mellow tartness, Meyer lemons are more seasonal and not as widely available as conventional lemons. With Oregon Fruit’s aseptic packaging, beverage makers can take advantage of having shelf-stable Meyer Lemon Puree ready to use any time of year, saving valuable time and money on fruit sourcing and preparation.

Oregon Fruit Meyer Lemon Puree’s smooth consistency, low viscosity and more rounded malic acid profile makes for easy integration into the fermentation process and has proven to be a successful formula with the company’s other citrus offerings.

“As we saw with the demand for our Key Lime Puree, the consumer is constantly seeking new flavor experiences and is more open to trying new types of citrus than ever before,” says Chris Hodge, director of brewing sales at Oregon Fruit. “We expect the Meyer Lemon Puree will offer a similar point of difference in flavor and sourcing for beverage makers to convey in their own marketing.”

Like all Oregon Fruit Purees, Meyer Lemon Puree has no added sugar or preservatives, and is minimally processed to ensure the best fresh fruit flavor and color. The puree’s aseptic packaging allows for a shelf life of five months in ambient temperature.

Oregon Fruit Meyer Lemon Puree is now available in 42 lb. bag-in-box. The product is certified kosher, made in the U.S.A., non-GMO, gluten-free and vegetarian. Oregon Fruit Products does not use, nor does it allow, any of the eight major allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat) in the products or processing areas.

Oregon Fruit Products LLC
Founded in 1935, Oregon Fruit Products offers a complete line of canned, frozen and shelf-stable premium fruit for consumers, foodservice operators and ingredient sales. The company is located in Salem, Oregon (USA).

Following their successful 70^th anniversary Juice Conference in Mexico last year, the IFU are now looking forward to the 2020 international conference which will take place over two days in the famous Stellenbosch wine region of South Africa. This event will be held in conjunction with the South African Fruit Juice Association (SAFJA) and will be combined with their annual meetings. With an expected attendance of over 200 participants, the conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet and engage with other juice industry professionals from around the world.

It will be held at the Spier wine farm and conference hotel near Stellenbosch which is one of the oldest wine farms in the region, with a recorded history dating back to 1692. It is home to one of the largest collections of contemporary South African art and its wines are among the most awarded in the country.

Well-known speakers will give presentations covering a variety of informative and interesting topics relevant to the global juice industry, as well as the African market, including the following:

• Global Juice Market: focusing on Europe, the USA and Asia and the complexities of exporting into Africa
• African Juice Market: Flavour matters; Deciduous and Citrus in Africa; Making juice in Senegal
• Supply Chain: Tropicals in Africa; Global transportation issues including Africa; Global apple juice market (including AJ used for cider)
• Quality & Technology: Thermal and non-thermal juice stabilisation technologies overview; Supply chain QA including the detection of lemon & lime; Rapid microbiological methods; Future of authenticity testing; Juice and more – how to create best value from citrus; Enzymatic methods of analysis in fruit juice
• Health & Nutrition: Juice PR; Plant based nutrition; The power of industry collaboration to help reach sustainable development goals
• Sustainability: Use of by-products; SIG on sustainability; Recycling and circular economy

On both evenings, participants will have the chance to network at a welcome dinner on day one and over drinks and canapés on day two.

There will be also an opportunity to take part in an exclusive wine tasting event the day before and visits to local producers in the area have been arranged for the day after the conference.

For more details about attending this exciting event and to experience South African hospitality, visit the IFU website.

Erbslöh Geisenheim GmbH has issued an invitation to the latest International Juice and Fruit Wine Seminar in Rotenburg an der Fulda (Germany) on 26 and 27 March 2020. For the third time the Göbel’s Hotel Rodenberg will provide the perfect setting for specialist presentations on beverage research and process technology in fruit and vegetable processing. More than 120 experts from the fruit juice and cider industries are expected. The Rheingau company is organising the seminar in cooperation with leading processing industry suppliers and renowned applied research institutions. The programme includes a wide range of presentations on topics such as “Processing of particularly difficult apples”, “New research and analysis findings”, “Filtration”, “Fermentation”, and “Sensory aspects when manufacturing purées and citrus products”. The event will end with a moderated tasting of innovative, premium quality fruit wine products.

2019 broke records again for the number of food and drink transactions around the world, with 789 registered on the Zenith Global mergers and acquisitions database, an average of 15 each week.

The total is 12 more than in 2018 and 41 % higher than 5 years ago. The number has increased every year since a dip in 2013.

The most active sectors were ingredients on 65, dairy on 63, soft drinks on 57 and packaging on 49. Beer on 38 was ahead of spirits on 35 and wine on 28.

The top 15 sectors were the same as 2018, with the exception of CBD replacing confectionery. The combination of plant-based (15) with dairy-free (14) and meat-free (11) totalled 40. Bottled water and water coolers added up to 23. Vertical farming was a newcomer with 8.

The biggest increases were for CBD (+19) and beer (+15). Many of the main categories saw declines, led by services (-19), confectionery (-18) and wine (-9).

Over 30 international journalists from 20 countries attended the Geisenheim Conference on Climate Change

A Media Summit with a strong international attendance took place in Geisenheim on November 21, 2019. The Summit featured the publication of the third ProWein Business Report on the special topic of climate change, prepared by Hochschule Geisenheim University. Over 30 journalists from 20 countries attended nine presentations by international speakers on the effects of climate change on the wine industry, as well as adaptation and sustainability strategies. Two Geisenheim professors Prof. Dr. Hans Reiner Schultz and Prof. Dr. Claudia Kammann kicked things off by addressing the causes and existential significance of climate change for humankind.

In a live stream from Australia, Prof. Dr. Markus Herderich and Dr. Mardi Longbottom from the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) reported on the impact of climate change on Australia’s wine industry, the adaptation strategies that have been in place there since 1980, as well as Australia’s sustainable wine-growing program. The presentation of the ProWein Business Reports on Climate Change by Prof. Dr. Simone Loose was streamed as a webinar to journalists worldwide. In underlining the significance of the report, Loose said: “this is the first time the ProWein Business Report has quantified the extent to which the various players in the international wine industry have already been affected by climate change, the comprehensive measures that have been taken to respond to it, as well as those that will be necessary in the future.”

Dr. Cristina Carlos from the Association for the Development of Viticulture in the Douro Region (ADVID) gave a very vivid account of the extent to which the winegrowers in Portugal are already suffering from water shortages and heat stress and the adjustments that are currently being made in order to sustain winegrowing in the region. Dr. Lukas Egarter Vigl of EURAC Research in Bolzano gave a talk on the systematic shift by South Tyrolean winegrowers to higher and cooler vineyards. Dr. Hervé Hannin from INRA Montpellier said France is thus far the only country to have systematically discussed local strategies for adapting to climate change with its winegrowers, which it intends to transform into a national strategy. The ecological sustainability of the wine industry was the focus of the two concluding lectures. Marcus Ihre from Systembolaget explained the role sustainability standards play in the purchasing of wines by the Swedish state-run retailer monopoly for alcoholic beverages,and how these standards are set and monitored. Keith Ulrich highlighted the fact that Fair’n Green is the only German standard in the wine industry to date to encourage members to make continuous improvements in all three areas of sustainability. As a member of Fair’n Green, winegrower Jochen Schmidt from the Palatinate region spoke about the measures he has successfully taken to make his winery CO² neutral.

The three-day Media Summit was rounded off by a tasting of sustainable wines presented by Stuart Piggott and Paula Sidore in the Geisenheim wine cellar, a tour of the Geisenheim FACE facility, a dinner at Schloss Vollrads, a demonstration of steep-slope viticulture in the Assmannshausen domain and a visit to the Steinberg cellar.

An Austrian winery with 160 years of tradition has launched a spritzer in a can. ‘Kiss Me’ white wine spritzer, from Weingut Johann Müllner, comes in an on-trend slimline can with a stunning contemporary design. However, in the perfect marriage of modern and traditional, the Sauvignon at the heart of the drink comes from a Krems estate which has produced fine wines since the 19th century.

Spritzer is second only to beer on the chart of Austria’s favourite beverages, but until now it has not been available in such a portable, convenient and sustainable format. Weingut Johann Müllner has chosen Ardagh Group’s 250ml aluminium wine can to extend its packaging formats beyond the bottle and thereby bring the spritzer to new markets. In a can, Kiss Me will particularly appeal to discerning consumers who appreciate the importance of tradition and quality in their wine, but are looking for a light, convenient single-serve beverage they can drink on the go.

The can’s head-turning design is based on a multicoloured illustration by pop artist Oxana Prantl, sophisticated modern branding which reflects the premium product. Two of Ardagh’s range of finishes, Matte Impact and Premium Print 1.0, raise the aesthetic to the next level. The matte finish offers both visual and haptic enhancement, making Kiss Me stand out against the standard glossy can on the shelf, while Premium Print 1.0 brings crisp detailing and colour contrast to the artwork. The overall look is sharp, modern and unique, perfect for Kiss Me’s status as the only canned spritzer in Europe.

The Grüner Veltliner at the heart of Kiss Me is a delicate Sauvignon, the product of the cool microclimate of the Kremser Berglagen. Dry, fruity and light with the classic, delicate Veltliner spiciness, it has notes of green apple and citrus with a background of minerality that is pleasantly fresh. Carbonated water is added to this premium wine to bring an exciting sparkle and reduce the alcohol content to a light and refreshing 5.5% ABV. In a spritzer, the carbon dioxide carries the taste, which makes it essential that the packaging is completely airtight. The aluminium can guarantees this and is also lightproof, further preserving the exceptional taste and providing a minimum shelf life of one year.

Johann Müllner represents the fourth generation of Müllners to run the company. He says, ‘Since our estate is steeped in tradition, we are extremely proud to offer the famous Austrian national drink in a can. Recognition of our premium spritzer is essential, so we’re really happy that the superior design and finish of the wine can upholds our brand, as well as helping us achieve sustainability by being fully recyclable.’

Ardagh’s wine can range comprises single-serve sizes of 200ml, 250ml, and a new 187ml format which represents a quarter of the standard 75cl bottle. Beverage cans are light to transport and easy to fill, stack and store, as well as being infinitely recyclable.

Kiss Me is currently available in Krems, in Vienna, and in a rapidly expanding range of outlets throughout Austria, including petrol stations, souvenir shops and transport hubs, as well as from trade beverage suppliers. Tie-ins with major Austrian sporting events and ski resorts are planned, and export to international markets will follow.

Following a stellar 2018, in which BeatBox Beverages, LLC showed YOY growth of 108.5 percent in revenue, 310.7 percent in depletions and 446.7 percent in points of distribution, the company is adding Fresh Watermelon to its Party Punch range, joining Pink Lemonade, Fruit Punch, and Blue Razzberry.

Available now for order in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas, BeatBox Beverages President Mark King anticipates shelf-presence this month. Trademarked “The World’s Tastiest Portable Party Punch,” the flavored, wine-based Fresh Watermelon Party Punch is offered in a 500 mL single-serve resealable Tetra Pak (SRP: $3.99; 12 per case; ABV 11.1 percent). In 2018, Tetra Pak sales were up 14.2 percent, with volumes up 13.2 percent (Wine & Spirits Daily), and both RTD and single-serve buying trends grew by more than 20 percent each.

About BeatBox Beverages, LLC
United through a love of music and inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of Austin, Texas, in 2013 the founders of BeatBox Beverages set out to create something that could help everyone #PartyBetter. By 2014, they ended up on Shark Tank with their Party Punch, walking away with a million-dollar investment from Mark Cuban, the biggest investment the show had ever made. With a proven track record and ongoing mission of creating products that drive incremental profit in high-growth categories – and a team of industry veterans with experience in developing, launching and quickly growing brands – BeatBox Beverages is broadening its portfolio across brands and categories at a steady rate.

INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA to feature a Distillers’ Forum for the first time / Talks, sensor technology seminars and tastings

INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA, International Technology Trade Fair for Wine, Fruit Juice and Special Crops, will be held in Stuttgart from 4 to 6 November 2018. The varied accompanying programme will also contain for the first time a Distillers’ Forum with an associated tasting area. Starting at 10.00 on Sunday, 4 November 2018, sensor technology seminars and talks on liqueur, gin and fruit brandy will each be held in succession in the Oskar Lapp Hall (Hall 6). The length of these moderated seminars and talks will be between 45 and 60 minutes. Suitable marketing strategies will also be discussed based on well-known campaigns. The seminars and talks are being organised by well-known distillers such as the KOVAL Distillery from Chicago and Manufaktur Geiger, as well as recognised experts such as Dipl. Lebensmittel-Ing. Dr. Klaus Hagmann. Pre-registrations are required for the sensor technology seminars which are subject to a charge and have a limited number of participants. You can find all the programme information and registration formalities at: www.ivifho.de/rahmenprogramm. Fruit brandies, gins, whisk(e)ys and liqueurs can also be sampled in the tasting area on all three days of the trade fair.

About INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA
INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA HORTITECHNICA takes place together with the International German Winegrowers’ Congress every two years at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre. As an international technology trade fair for wine, fruit juice and special crops, it covers the entire process chain from cultivation and harvesting technology, processing and process control, and filling and packaging technology through to organisation and marketing. The German Winegrowers’ Association (DWV) acts as the professional supporter of the INTERVITIS INTERFRUCTA section and organises the International DWV Congress. The German Agricultural Society (DLG) is the professional supporter of the HORTITECHNICA section.

O.Vine water sparks the memory of wine

Wine Water Ltd., an Israeli startup, is launching O.Vine, the first spring water infusion with the spirit of wine. Alcohol-free O.Vine brings an intoxicating aroma and refreshing taste to any table. The new line will be launched at the Fancy Food Show in New York.

O.Vine is shaping a new near water category inspired by the world’s two oldest beverages: water and wine. Combining the benefits of healthful extracts wine grape skins and seeds with pure spring water, O.Vine is an all-natural, non-alcoholic beverage without preservatives or added colors. Its color and ingredients are derived from red or white wine grape waste.

O.Vine was conceived in collaboration with award-winning Practical Innovation, Israel, the creative brain behind brands worldwide. The team succeeded in developing clean, controlled process to prevent oxidation, all while maintaining the wine’s appealing natural color and aroma.

The O.Vine line features two still beverages and two carbonated drinks, which are available in red varieties (from cabernet, merlot, syrah and petit verdot) and white varieties (from Riesling and Gewürztraminer).

The new cold-tolerant hybrid strains developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland enable fermentation at lower and higher temperatures than before. Production at lower temperature reduces the risk of contamination and possibly allows reduction of the use of sulphates. Modulating temperatures can be used to fine-tune product aroma.

In 2015 VTT generated the first new lager brewing yeast strains in 500 years, and has now applied the knowledge obtained to create new yeast strains for the production of wine and cider. A key characteristic of these strains is that they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures from 10 to 37 °C. Importantly, the low temperature range reduces the risk of contamination during fermentation, possibly allowing for reduced sulphate use.

The tolerance to higher temperatures facilitates large-scale production in active dry yeast form. The wines and ciders produced with these strains are characterized by an increased aromatic complexity.

The ability of a yeast strain to ferment efficiently at low temperature is a desired feature in alcoholic fermentation. Cold fermentations have been used for centuries in the production of lager beer with the lager yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus. The ability of this species to ferment at low temperature is a result of it being a hybrid between an ale yeast and the cold-tolerant wild yeast Saccharomyces eubayanus.

Scientists at VTT have now demonstrated that this combination of parents can also be effectively used for wine and cider fermentations. A wine yeast strain was crossed with the cold-tolerant parent of the lager yeast and the hybrids were tested for cider and wine fermentation.

The results showed that due to the wider range of temperatures tolerated by these species the aromatic properties of the cider and wine can be modulated by varying the fermentation temperature. White wine and cider, for example, benefit from low-temperature fermentations, both for reduced risk of contamination but also for an improved aromatic profile. Undesirable flavours that are typical of the wild parent are eliminated after hybridization and large-scale production is facilitated.

This natural, non-GM approach can be used for tailor-made generation of new strains by careful selection of the parent strains with desirable features. After being successfully applied to beer, wine and cider production, this technique is now being assessed for its use in the baking industry, where yeast must survive for extended periods in frozen dough.

The following organizations have funded the research: EU’s Marie Curie ITN Yeastcell-project, Academy of Finland and Alfred Kordelin Foundation.

References:

Krogerus, K., Magalhães, F., Vidgren, V. & Gibson, B. (2015) New lager yeast strains generated by interspecific hybridization. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10295-015-1597-6

Magalhães F, Krogerus K, Vidgren V, Sandell M & Gibson B. (2017) Improved cider fermentation performance and quality with newly generated Saccharomyces cerevisiae × Saccharomyces eubayanus hybrids. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10295-017-1947-7

Magalhães F, Krogerus K, Castillo S, Ortiz-Julien A, Dequin S & Gibson B. (2017) Exploring the potential of Saccharomyces eubayanus as a parent for new interspecies hybrid strains in winemaking. FEMS Yeast Research. DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/fox049