The recent fires have brought significant challenges to the South African wine industry. What started as a concern over smoke taint quickly turned into scorched vineyards for many. First, we want to send our heartfelt sympathy to the winemakers, viticulturists, and landowners affected by these fires. We understand how devastating this is, especially after seeing the high quality of the initial 2026 harvest.
However, South Africans are known for their resilience. We have a natural drive to persist and move forward. Therefore, if you are worried about smoke taint or ash deposits, there are effective ways to protect your wine.
Effective Organic Solutions for Smoke Taint
If you are looking for non-invasive solutions, we can help. We offer two organic products that reduce smoke taint and cresols in both red and white wines.
1. ClearUP BIO
First, consider ClearUP BIO. This purified yeast cell wall additive is a multifunctional tool. It greatly reduces aromatic faults, specifically 4-methyl-guaiacol.
- For White Wines: Use it during the settling stage to mask and reduce taint early.
- For Red Wines: You can ferment with ClearUP BIO or use it as a fining agent after pressing.
Notably, this product is used extensively in Australia to combat fire damage. You can find our full smoke taint protocol on our website.
2. ViniFIX
In addition to ClearUP BIO, we have recently released ViniFIX. This product is completely effective against volatile phenols such as 4-EG, 4-EP, and 4-MP. Consequently, if your wine shows faint signs of taint after using ClearUP, ViniFIX can provide further refinement.
Start Your Bench Trials Today
Because every wine is different, we encourage winemakers to reach out for samples. We have small sachets of ViniFIX ready for immediate bench trialling. You can also download the full product data sheets at www.fermtech.co.za.
While the fires have been difficult, the rest of the season looks very promising. We wish you the best of luck with the remainder of your harvest. Please call us if you would like to share your experiences or need technical advice.
Contact sales@fermtech.co.za to set up a consultation or click here to book an appointment online. FermTech Solutions are proud to be associated with 2B FermControl, Orion Cooperage, Speidel, Tinajas Moreno Leon, Biorself and DNA Smart Analysis.
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