A Japanese invention claims to transform young wine into fine old liquid in 15 seconds. Amazing what you can do with a couple of metres of latex tubing and a few hundred volts of electricity. Every year a new device makes similar claims - whether they use magnets, electricity or condensed moon-rays.
But this machine, after 15 years development by Hiroshi Tanaka, takes just 15 seconds to effect aging qualities to a wine. The machine works by pumping wine and tap water through a specially designed electrolysis chamber equipped with wafer-thin platinum electrodes. The water and the wine are separated by an ion exchange membrane — the key component, for which Tanaka holds the patent.
Without diluting the wine, the electrolysis causes a rapid rearrangement of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms around the alcohol molecules, which would normally take place over years if the wine were ageing naturally. It is also to be used on cheap whiskies and coffee.
The machine is expected to be released commercially in the new year. Even the Mondavi winery has requested trial results.
Me, sceptical? Yep indeed.
Second Helping of Slashfood - June 19
Competitive-Eating Contest to Pit Humans Against Elephants
The Backyard Boom - The Hungry Bride
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-12-2005 @ 12:52AM
Dmnkly said...
Heh... saw another similar device in the always entertaining SkyMall Magazine while flying to Cleveland this past weekend.
So... do they ruin wines that deteriorate with age? Or, since all aged wines reach a peak before declining, should some wines go through the machine for 2.3 seconds while others go through for 8.9 seconds?
Just askin' :-)
Reply
10-12-2005 @ 4:00AM
Ed Charles said...
One Friday evening a few of us ran an experiment to improve dodgy wine and found 5-10 secs in the microwave worked pretty well. try it.
Reply