PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The European wine industry produces 28 million tonnes of grapes annually and nearly 5.6 million tonnes of grape pomaces. Around 40% of this output is considered as low-value waste (e.g. fertiliser or fuel) although grape seeds are typically rich in valuable proteins. Indeed, the proteins extracted from grape seeds (EPV) can be used in a key phase of the winemaking process known as clarification – i.e. the removal of insoluble matter suspended in the wine before bottling.
OBJECTIVES
The project SEEDSPRO2WINE aims to implement a circular business model based on an industrial process for extracting proteins from de-tannificated grapes to be used as a fining agent in the wine industry.
Specifically, the project aims to:
- Reintroduce winemaking residues, currently used as organic soil compost and burned as energy, into the winemaking production process as a fining agent that removes undesirable elements from wine; and
- Replace the commonly used protein of animal origin (which has a high environmental footprint) and protein extracts from crops such as pea and potato with a plant-based protein for the clarification of wines.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Development of an EPV extraction plant (TRL8) and of a related business model.
- Extraction of 35 tonnes of EPV from grape seeds.
- Treatment of 675 tonnes of post-wining residues.
- Reduction of CO2 emissions by around 384-1200 kg/year by project end and by 1920-6000 kg of CO2/year five years after its conclusion.
- Certification of the EPV process according to the standards of International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
- Engagement of 200 European stakeholders in the wine sector in replication activities.
