Viticulture briefs
Viticulture briefs
Sep 25, 2011 6
(PressDemocrat) - ALKA-SELTZER TO THE RESCUE -
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a way to test hydrogen sulfide levels in grape juice, using Alka-Seltzer.
The reason: No one wants wine that smells like rotten eggs. Growers occasionally spray an elemental sulfur compound on grapes in the vineyards to combat powdery mildew, but excessive sulfur residue on the grapes can result in an unpleasant aroma.
“The problem is, if elemental sulfur gets into the grapes that are harvested, it gets converted into hydrogen sulfide,” said Gavin Sacks, professor of enology and food science at Cornell. “And hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs.”
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