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FEBRU AR Y NEWS Treasure in Winery Trash N Presses extract grapeseed oil from pomace Humer currently is selling small quantities apa, Calif.—Wineries may soon be finding a small treasure in the waste they now pay to discard. Food & Vine Inc., a Napa-based company that spe- cializes in grapeseed oil and related prod- ucts, is introducing presses that winer- ies can use to extract valuable oil. The company also plans to process the seeds, sell consulting services and market the oils for wineries. Valentin Humer, founder of Food & Vine, says the pro- cess has both economic and environmental benefits. Wineries currently either pay to get rid of their pomace or compost it. In either case, they're discarding a valuable part of the grape. The seeds can be used for a small winery using its own grapeseeds can get started with an investment of $5,000, says Valentin Humer, founder of food & Vine. cold-pressed grapeseed oil, press cake, grapeseed flour and grapeseed lignan, all of which are useful for health- ful food products. of the cold-pressed oil at $19.95 per 250ml retail. Wineries are expected to ask a premi- um for oils from their own vineyards sold under their own brands. The process requires a modest capital in- vestment for equipment to separate and dry the pomace. Smaller wineries can air-dry their seeds and use a small, entry-level press for production. Pressing is currently under way in California. According to Humer, "A small winery can get started with an entry-level, single- head press for an in- vestment of $5,000, utilizing its own grapeseeds. This can pro- cess approximately 100 pounds of seeds per day (and) will yield approximately 600 liters of grapeseed oil in six months." He continues, "With a full-size, double- winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "grapeseed oil." head press starting at $17,000, a mid-size winery can process up to 80 pounds of seeds per hour, processing 180 tons of grapeseeds during a six-month time period and yield- ing about 12,000 liters of grapeseed oil. A ton of grapes is about 26% pomace (572 pounds), which produces 68 pounds of dry grape seeds and 3 liters of grapeseed oil. —Paul Franson WORLD-CLASS CRAFTSMANSHIP PLUS LEADING-EDGE SCIENCE. IT ALL ADDS UP TO BARREL 21. Come see how our on-site lab and technologically advanced cooperage is redefining quality. Contact Barrel 21 today to arrange a tour of our Benicia, California facility. Learn more at www.barrel21.com. 531 Stone Road, Benicia, CA 94510 707.746.5704 TEL • 707.746.7471 FAX www.barrel21.com Wines & Vines FeBRUARY 2011 21