I know, I know…it’s not nice to point out the “emperor’s nakedness,” but no discussion about fake or industrial wine would be complete without the mention of Mega Purple and Ultra Red. These are two handy-dandy winemaking additives that NOBODY in the “industry” wants to talk about – seriously, I’ve YET to hear any winemaker admit to using them, even though many have acknowledged their existence.
What they ARE, are concentrates of color and tannin in a form that reportedly looks like jellied cranberries, and that are reportedly made from a grape called Rubired, a cross between Alicante Ganzin and Tinta Cao. It’s produced by Constellation brands, makers of everything from Wild Irish Rose to Robert Mondavi wines.
In an article in Wine Business Monthly there are a couple of interesting paragraphs: The company also has expanded its research and development group, which formerly worked primarily with its Central Valley operations, to transfer expertise to other facilities as well. It’s looking at micro-oxygenation, oak staves and other techniques to improve wine at reasonable costs.
One outgrowth of research was the company’s quiet business in concentrates and polyphenolics. It sells Ultra Red and Mega Purple polyphenolics derived from grape skins and seeds, which are used worldwide to improve wine, as well as concentrate used to augment various products.
“Concentrate is a tough business today, but we are fairly reasonable in size and we’re knowledgeable. It also helps absorb fixed overhead,” says Jon Moramarco, President and CEO – Canandaigua Wine Company (last we heard, he was kicked upstairs to CEO of Constellation Brands Europe).
You can find the whole article in Wine & Vines (an industry magazine, by clicking here
A little of this, a little of that – hey, it’s all in the name of commerce!