Italy is one of the world’s largest wine producers. To continue to guarantee a product of excellence, it is necessary to preserve the organoleptic characteristics, its aroma, brilliance, gradation, and transparency. To achieve this goal, one of the processes of wine is filtration.

Wine filtration plays a key role in the winemaking process and is essential for the clarification and elimination of microorganisms. From small cellars to wineries, the objectives of perfect oenological filtration are two:

1. Obtain microbiological stabilization of the wine, removing deposits and turbidity.

2. Reach the right degree of clarity, to make the wine suitable for sale.

Especially in the eyes of the final consumer, the clarity and brilliance of the wine are often the first evaluation criteria used in the purchasing decision-making process.

Depending on the type of wine and filtering required, the vinification phase in which it operates and the results to be obtained, it is possible to use different complementary filtration systems.

Let’s see more in-depth what are the best industrial tools to filter wine.

Filter cartridges

The cartridge filter elements allow the separation of unwanted materials in the wine through physical and mechanical actions, which take place inside the housing filter: the cartridge leads to the flow of the liquid and the retention of residues in suspension.

The different structural configurations of the cartridge filters allow for arriving at the bottling phase with an adequately clear and stable wine – a fundamental requirement for the best appreciation of the finished product.

The polymeric materials that make up the matrices of the filtering elements are inert: this guarantees a precise elimination of impurities while leaving the structure of the wine fully intact.

There are different types of filter cartridges, designed to achieve different objectives:

1. Prefiltration or final filtration by polishing: this type of filtration guarantees high product quality specifications before bottling. The ideal solution for this need is usually a type of filter made of polypropylene and designed to ensure high mechanical, thermal, and chemical resistance in exercise.

2. Filtration of colloids: colloidal substances are often primarily responsible for turbidity in wine. To remove colloids, we recommend filters composed of particularly resistant and stable polymer fibers that act through a colloidal fractionation action that limits the clogging of the final filters.

3. Removal of microorganisms: the presence of some yeasts and bacteria can be harmful to the finished wine (such as Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, and Lactobacilli). Also in this case it is necessary to use special filter cartridges with a filtering membrane in polyethersulfone hydrophilic material.

Filter layers and cartons

Filtration on cartons or filter layers allows for the achievement of the more or less deep elimination of the solid particles present in the wine.

Each cardboard filter is composed of a permeable structure, in cellulose or cotton fibers, loaded with materials with high adsorbent power and any cationic resins: this allows the physical-chemical interaction between the solid residues and the filtering walls.

The filtering layers are found in different combinations of materials, in multiple sizes and in varying degrees of permeability, to cover the entire wine supply chain in the phases of:

– Roughing filtration: to eliminate the coarser particles in large quantities and for a roughing of the wine both wide and narrow.

– Rinse aid filtration: to make the wine clear and brilliant, removing most of the solid residues.

– Final or sterilizing filtration: to filter the wine in-depth, eliminating microorganisms.

Among other oenological filtration needs, it may be necessary to use cellulose-only filter cartons, biodegradable and compostable. These are cardboard filters able to maintain the full integrity of wines with a strong structure in 4 different degrees of permeability.

Or, it may be necessary to use filters with a low release of calcium and magnesium, for ion-sensitive applications: these are layered filtration with 4 degrees of layer filters that limit the dispersion of minerals, iron, and copper.

Depth filter modules

Finally, among the most effective tools for depth filtration, we find the lenticular structure filter modules. These are concentric filtering layers, assembled in overlapping discs inside a polypropylene cage, with high stability and resistance to pressure.

The main difference compared to common layers is that the filter modules constitute a closed filtration system: this avoids the absorption of oxygen, lowers the risk of contamination and dripping, and guarantees absolute protection of the quality of the wine.

The filtering effect is guaranteed by the special double separator design, which strengthens the support of the structure and allows the passage of the flow in both directions. This leads to a product that can be easily controlled, stored, and reusable for a long time, allowing an increase in productivity and considerable savings in costs and resources.

But that’s not all – the deep filtration market is witnessing significant technological innovations, capable of revolutionizing the entire industry. We are talking about lateral flow filtration, obtained thanks to a particular design of matrices and channels.

The result is a depth module with a very high filtering surface, a compact structure, and very high flow values to meet the most important needs in terms of clarity and stabilization of wines.

Among the various techniques and solutions for wine filtration, one fundamental aspect should never be forgotten: the importance of rinsing, cleaning, and sanitizing operations, to ensure the hygiene of the filtration system. For wineries that want to continue to keep their labels high and help strengthen the Made in Italy in the world the quality of wine also passes through the filtration phase. Equipping yourself with the best systems, the result of constant studies and cutting-edge techniques is an essential condition that can be guaranteed by relying on experts who have been working for years to meet the most particular requests.