With ready-to-use test cartridges for single testing and precise results available in 10 minutes, the RIDA®CUBE Scan enzymatic analyzer has many uses in winemaking operations of any scale. Pre-filled cartridges require only one pipetting step, kits come with a prepared calibration card, and few moving parts makes the RIDA®CUBE Scan virtually maintenance-free. Test individual barrels for creeping VA before blending, monitor maturing un-SO2ed wines barrel-to-barrel, or verify progress when de-VAing with pre-filled cartridges containing AOAC-OMA 2024.01 First Action Enzytec™ Liquid Test final de-alcoholized solution EtOH with pre-filled cartridges containing AOAC-OMA 2017.07 Final Action Enzytec™ Liquid Eliminate running back and forth to the main lab, and/or waiting for an extended time to check FSO2 before returning your blend back to barrel Take the totally portable RIDA®CUBE Scan with you if you need on-time, precise analysis at multipl

R-Biopharm® offers scalable wine analysis solutions from boutique wineries to large central laboratories serving multiple internal clients. We offer standardized easy-to-use workflows for manual and automated testing in multiple product categories. Enzytec™ Liquid reagents are ready to use and offer long-term stability. Test kits are available for a range of parameters including Acetic Acid, L-Malic Acid, D-Glucose/D-Fructose, Acetaldehyde, Ammonia, Alpha-amino nitrogen, Ethanol (no/lo products only), SO2-Free, and SO2-Total. Our RIDA®CUBE Scan is a small but precise enzymatic analyzer. Pre-filled cartridges are used for single testing. Very user friendly with only one pipetting step and results after <15 minutes. This instrument is portable, has a small footprint, offers the precision of large automated analyzers and is ideal for boutique wineries with few daily samples. Test kits are available for L-Malic Acid, D-Glucose/D-Fructose, Acetic Acid, Ammonia, SO2-Free, SO

The calendar flip from 2024 to 2025 heralded several new packaging regulations, rulemaking updates, and bills with significant implications for consumer packaged goods in North America and Europe. Recent packaging legislation is reshaping packaging requirements for waste reduction, recyclable materials, circularity, and sustainability. However, actions by the Trump Administration may defer regulatory action at the U.S. federal level and shift packaging-related policies. EPR Packaging Laws Five U.S. states—California, Colorado, Oregon, Maine, and Minnesota—have passed extended producer responsibility laws for packaging. While each state's requirements vary, they share common goals of reducing packaging waste, enhancing recycling efforts, and holding producers (e.g., brand owners) accountable for the life cycle of their products. Since the start of the year, nine states have introduced or re-introduced EPR packaging bills. They include Washington, Tennessee, Hawaii

In an era where consumers are increasingly focused on diet to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other groups are taking steps to help Americans better understand food and beverage labels. The agency's recalibration of the "healthy" labeling criteria and introduction of a front-of-pack nutrition label offer the potential to reshape food product development while empowering consumers to make more informed dietary choices. Redefining 'Healthy' The FDA's definition of "healthy" has remained mostly unchanged since the 1990s, leading to a disconnect between scientific advancements in nutrition and food marketing. Under the new labeling rule, foods labeled as "healthy" must align more closely with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The voluntary regulation goes into effect on April 28, 2025. Brand owners have three years to comply. There is no maximum or minimum type s

There are two things we all can use more of: time & money. So when you come across an idea that: Uses equipment you already have With money you've already spent To save time to do other work Well, that's worth something. Here's just such an idea: While at the American Distilling Institute trade show in Las Vegas I met Tyler Derheim from FIVE x 5 Solutions. In addition to working with FIVE x 5 as a Training & Education Specialist, Tyler is a distillery consultant, helping advise and shepherd new distilleries through the labyrinthine (not to mention highly regulated) corridors that one must travel down in order to start, survive, and thrive in the distillery world. In our discussion, Tyler mentioned that he frequently purchases TCW tools and equipment, and found an interesting and unexpected use for two of our bestselling distillery items: our SimpleSpirits pump and our suction racking wand. In the course of producing distilled spirits, you may find yourself needing t

In September of 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 1162, also known as SB 1162, the Pay Transparency Act, which went into effect on January 1 of this year. This new pay transparency law adds new requirements for payroll, hiring, and recruiting in the state of California. SB 1162 sets new expectations for businesses operating and hiring in the state of California regarding pay scale and pay data reporting, making adherence to the new requirements especially important for payroll, hiring, and recruiting. This new development highlights the ever-changing nature of the landscape of California employment law and the importance of having HR support specialists who focus on these California requirements on your side. How California Expands Pay Transparency Requirements In an earlier blog post, we looked into the key points from SB 1162, namely its new requirements for pay scale and pay data reporting. For hiring and recruiting personnel, the former is most pert

On December 1st, we look forward to being a part of the 2022 North Coast Wine Industry Expo held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds! Haven't tried Flextanks yet? This year we'll be doing a blind tasting in our booth from 12:30pm-3:30pm with Black Knight Vineyards. Come see if you can taste the difference between a wine made in a Flextank vs made in a barrel! We are excited to invite you to join us for this tasting and more in booth #143 with complimentary trade show access using promo code FLE143 . Register now, as online pre-registration is required, and promo codes are not honored at the door. This code will expire on Wednesday, November 30th at midnight. To register visit: wineindustryexpo.com/registration. FLEX-DOWN for the Season! With harvest all but wrapped up, it's time for us to thank wine, cider, spirit and mead makers around the world for again making us the number one poly beverage tank in the world. It's also time to FLEX-DOWN (our version of barrel-down). Lo

Screen printing on bottles, also known as applied color labeling or ACL, is a delicate process that we’ve been perfecting for over twenty years. One of the frequently asked questions we often get asked is whether we can screen print wine labels on full bottles. The answer is NO and here’s why. When screen printing, thermal-plastic inks are applied via squeegee and screens, which are then fired in a high temperature Lehr for at least 2-3 hours to permanently fuse paint to the glass. If you’d like your bottles decorated on a filled product, we recommend etching. Unlike screen printing, etching is a cold (and entirely handmade) process with no heat application required. We take your label inspiration, be it your paper label designs, a cherished photo, or a piece of original art, and completely translate it to an etched format from scratch. When working on full bottles, we never expose them to temperatures higher than 66°F, making the process ideal for finishing l

Afternoon Brief, July 14th

Obscure US Commission Puts All Wine Shipping in Peril: The last few years have seen the US increasingly relax over direct shipping, now that could all slip away...