By Annette Shailer
A new wine-barrel cleaning device is entering mass production following the award of a $250,000 Commercial Ready grant to Cavitus, the South Austrlaian firm that invented the device.
Cavitus’s ultrasonic cleaning device cleans and disinfects oak wine barrels extending the life of the barrels. It also improves the transfer of oak flavour into the wine.
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, announced the grant, saying the device that removes deposits from the surfaces and pores of wood will improve winemaking in Australia.
“After grapes, oak is the highest cost element in wine production and a successful outcome will have significant cost benefits to the wine industry,” Carr said.