DOST project probes safety and quality of wine from toasted barrels

A new project will determine the systemic effect of aged wine from the toasted barrels developed by the Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FPRDI).

The project, “Safety Assessment and Determination of Wine-Property Enhancing Compounds of Wines Aged in FPRDI Toasted Wine Barrel” is  led by DOST-FPRDI Science Research Specialist Kim Wilmer M. Balagot. It is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

Said project is linked to an ongoing   pilot testing project of wine barrels made from locally available wood species.  The project hopes to help local winemakers improve the quality and taste of their wines. The wine barrels were developed to find cheaper but quality substitutes to white oak (Quercus alba), which is known worldwide as the best material for fermenting and ageing wine.

FPRDI will assess the safe use and determine the wineproperty-enhancing compounds present in wine aged in toasted barrels made from locally available, senile, and unproductive santol (Sandoricum koijape) and tree plantation species, like big-leafed mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King), mangium (Acacia mangium), and river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). The project will also determine the antioxidant activity of wine samples before and after aging.

This initiative is a collaboration between the government institute and the private sector. The project team partners with a local fabricator for the production of the toasted barrels and a local apiary and meadery for the food safety analysis of aged wine.

To discuss project guidelines and requirements and level-off expectations among project implementers and evaluators, an inception meeting was held last April 28, 2021 via Zoom, coordinated by the Technology Transfer of Promotion Division (TTPD) of DOST-PCAARRD and attended by researchers and staff from FPRDI. (Alexander Paul Z. Batalon, Kariza M. Geminiano, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services)