Simplified wine analysis for walkaway efficiency

Significance of the topic

Routine, timely and multiparameter chemical analysis is essential throughout winemaking—from juice at harvest through fermentation, aging and bottling—to preserve product quality, comply with regulations and enable rapid process control. Simplified, automated analytics reduce dependency on multiple instruments and highly skilled staff, shorten decision timelines during critical periods (e.g., harvest and fermentation), lower costs and decrease laboratory waste.

Objectives and overview of the study

The document presents a consolidated analytical solution for wineries: the Thermo Scientific Gallery and Gallery Plus discrete analyzers combined with ready-to-use enzymatic and colorimetric reagents. The primary aims are to demonstrate how a single automated platform can: enable walkaway multiparameter testing for up to 20 analytes per sample; reduce sample/reagent volumes and waste; improve throughput and reproducibility; and make in-house quality control accessible to users without advanced analytical chemistry training.

Methodology

The approach relies on discrete photometric analysis in disposable low-volume cuvettes (DECACELL) and, optionally, an electrochemistry module (ECM) for parallel pH/conductivity measurement. Ready-to-use enzymatic/colorimetric reagents are bar-coded for traceability and on-board stability. Automated liquid handling performs dispensing, mixing, incubation and photometric readout. The system supports LIMS bidirectional communication and automated calibration, dilution of over-range samples and run reporting.

Used instrumentation

• Thermo Scientific Gallery discrete analyzer (sample/reagent disk combined; up to 90 samples and 30 reagents; up to ~200 tests/h)
• Thermo Scientific Gallery Plus discrete analyzer (separate sample and reagent disks; up to 108 samples and 42 reagents; up to ~350 tests/h)
• DECACELL disposable cuvette assemblies (10 reaction cells)
• Optional electrochemistry module (ECM) for parallel pH and conductivity
• Xenon lamp light source and filter set (340–880 nm; up to 12 filters)
• Ready-to-use Gallery system reagents and calibration standards (enzymatic and colorimetric kits)

Main results and discussion

Key performance and workflow highlights described:

• Multiparameter capability: up to 20 analytes tested per sample (single run), including acids, sugars, SO2 (free and total), nitrogen (YAN), alcohol (low ABV assay), glycerol, gluconic acid, NOPA, metals (Fe, Ca, Mg, K), color, total polyphenols and other process-critical parameters.
• Low-volume operation: sample consumption typically ≤300 µL per test and reagents in the 2–240 µL range, significantly reducing reagent use and waste compared with conventional wet chemistry.
• High throughput: Gallery up to ~200 tests/h; Gallery Plus up to ~350 tests/h; ECM supports ~67 pH samples/h in parallel with photometric assays.
• Cost-efficiency: claimed cost per analysis 10–20× lower than traditional multi-instrument wet-chemistry workflows due to reagent savings, automation and consolidated testing.
• Operational advantages: disposable cuvettes eliminate wash steps and carryover; barcode-tracked reagents ensure traceability; automated calibration and dilution reduce operator intervention; minimal training required for routine operation.

Benefits and practical applications

The platform addresses common winery challenges by enabling in-house, timely decisions across critical production stages (harvest, juice extraction, fermentation, malolactic conversion, aging, filtration and bottling). Practical applications include:

• Monitoring pH, titratable acidity and key organic acids (e.g., tartaric, malic, lactic, succinic) for acidity management and malolactic fermentation tracking.
• Sugar measurements (glucose, fructose, sucrose) and low-range alcohol assays to control fermentation progress and determine stopping points.
• Sulfur dioxide (free/total SO2) and other spoilage indicators (acetic acid, D-lactic acid) for microbial and oxidation control.
• Nitrogenous and nutrient monitoring (ammonia, YAN, NOPA) to optimize yeast nutrition and fermentation kinetics.
• Routine metal and color/polyphenol analyses for stability, fining and quality consistency.

Contributions and limitations

• Consolidation of many wet-chemistry tests into a single automated device reduces capital and labor burden and speeds results turnaround.
• Ready-to-use reagents and disposable cuvettes lower user error and simplify training for winery personnel.
• Limitations include reliance on proprietary assay kits for some analytes (though platform accepts in-house or third-party reagents) and the need to validate specific methods for regulatory or comparative purposes. Extremely specialized analyses (e.g., full chromatography for trace volatile profiling) remain outside the discrete-analyzer scope.

Future trends and possibilities of use

Expected developments and opportunities include:

• Expansion of validated reagent panels to cover additional oenological markers and regulatory targets.
• Tighter LIMS/cloud integration, remote diagnostics and automated quality-monitoring dashboards for real-time process control and decision support.
• Increased use of third-party and customized assays on the platform to broaden analytical reach without additional instruments.
• Integration with predictive analytics and machine learning to translate rapid multi-analyte outputs into actionable process adjustments (e.g., fermentation control, spoilage risk alerts).
• Further miniaturization and consumable optimization to reduce per-test costs and environmental footprint.

Conclusion

The Gallery discrete analyzers coupled with ready-to-use reagents offer a practical, high-throughput and cost-effective solution for routine wine analytics. By consolidating many assays on a single, automated platform, wineries can implement in-house quality control with reduced staffing requirements, faster decision-making and lower reagent waste. While not a replacement for all advanced chromatographic or sensory analyses, the system provides a robust core for process control from grape to bottle.

References

• Thermo Fisher Scientific. Gallery and Gallery Plus discrete analyzers — application overview and system specifications. Thermo Fisher Scientific brochure, 2021.