PRESS RELEASE
July 16, 1996
Gas Technology makes better wine, naturally

All over the world, wine makers are striving to improve and maintain the quality of their wines. At the same
time, they want to reduce unwanted additives and create wines that satisfy the most discerning palate while still
being cost-effective.
The Swedish gas technology company, AGA AB, has developed a range of innovative processes that help wine makers satisfy these often contradictory demands.

Gas technology can be used at virtually every stage of
production and storage to improve and maintain overall
wine quality. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are the two
main gases used in various stages of wine making.
Nitrogen is completely natural and gives neither taste
nor smell to the wine while carbon dioxide, with its
slightly acidic taste, inhibits the growth of micro-
organisms.
AGA has demonstrated that unwanted oxidation can be
virtually eliminated through the use of the inert gas,
nitrogen, during production, transfer and storage of
wine. This offers the chance to reduce dramatically the
amount of sulphur dioxide, SO2, added to the wine so
maintaining better wine quality and 'purity' than would
otherwise be possible. The company has also developed a
new way of delivering reduced amounts of SO2 without
risking wine quality.
A considerable role has been found for nitrogen during
red wine production. Remontage, where the must cap is
mixed, can be speeded up considerably using AGA's
technology. Nitrogen can also be used for blending wines
providing a fast, more efficient, less energy consuming
method than mechanical pumps or mixers while eliminating
oxidation risks.
Carbon dioxide 'snow' can be sprayed on to freshly
picked grapes to prevent the onset of early fermentation
and its role in bottling and storage is well-known in
wine making.
The company has even found a way to use oxygen
beneficially in the early stages of white wine
production. Exposing the grape juice to large quantities
of this normally unwanted gas prior to fermentation
enhances the quality of the resultant product. These are
just a few examples of the enormous potential of gas
technology in wine making.

Close co-operation
As one of the leading players in the food and drink
preservation business, the company has pioneered such
techniques as modified atmosphere packaging. In
recognition of its expertise, the company has been
involved in a number of research projects with wine
makers and believes that this close co-operation with the
customer is important to develop cost effective solutions
and further improve production processes.
Already, it has made significant inroads into the French
market. Domaine de Listel, one of the most innovative
wine-makers in France has pioneered the use of inert gas
throughout the production process. Founded in 1883, this
vineyard use AGA gases and systems to protect wine during
transfer, storage and for blending.
With around 30,000 million litres of wine produced world-
wide each year, the company sees a tremendous opportunity
for its gas technology to benefit the wine industry at
large./ins

Caption 1
Inert gas allows wine to be stored in vats in a stable,
hygienic and protective environment. Sophisticated
control keeps the volume of gas in proportion to the
quantity of liquid in the vat.

Caption 2
During red wine production mixing the wine must is an
important step. Using nitrogen in a technique called gas-
stream remontage is simple, quick and uses portable
equipment. It is faster than tradition pumping methods
and avoids introducing unwanted oxygen into vats.



For more information, please contact

(Sweden)
AGA AB
Mats Wallnér
S-181 81 Lidingö, Sweden
Tel: +46 8 731 10 00
Fax: +46 8 765 04 68
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(France)
AGA s.a.
Mario Lopez
Rue de l'Oasis
F-313 00 TOULOUSE
Tel: 61 42 48 03
Fax: 61 42 49 99

(Germany:)
AGA Gas GmbH
Gerd Schneidereit
Postfach 20 19 754
D-20209 Hamburg
Tel: 040-42105-0
Fax: 040-42105-341

(Spain)
AGA S.A.
Joaguín Claramunt
Avda. Burgos, 16 - E 1º
E-28036 MADRID
Tel 91-302 6243
Fax 91-302 2728

(Switzerland:)
AGA AG
Pierre Mermod
CH-1242 Satigny
Tel 022-341 55 00
Fax 022-341 56 11