Winemakers Reclaim Wine Quality And Value With New Molecular Filtration Tech
Press Release – amaea
amaeas smart polymers enable US and NZ wine producers to selectively remove unwanted sensory compounds and recover higher-value wine.
Hamilton, New Zealand, 28 May 2025 – A new precision wine technology is changing how winemakers address quality challenges and recover value from fault-affected and heavily phenolic wines. amaea, a New Zealand developer of custom-engineered molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), is gaining industry validation for its novel molecular filtration technology for precision wine remediation and palate fining.
From premium winemakers in New Zealand to top-tier producers in California, amaea's selective, sustainable filtration solution, launched in late 2023, is being used to remediate and enhance wine quality. The proprietary MIP beads, imprinted with billions of binding sites, selectively target and capture unwanted molecules—such as pyrazines, ethyl phenols, and phenolic compounds responsible for sensory profiles—and remove them while preserving the wine's essential varietal character, color, and flavor.
'Winemakers face real challenges when unwanted, characteristics or impacts appear in their wines, that traditional methods cannot resolve,' says amaea CEO Aiden Tapping. 'Our molecular filtration solution gives them control to target and remove the compounds responsible for undesirable sensory profiles – without stripping away desirable characters. This recovers value, saves wine from being downgraded or discarded, and ultimately protects brand integrity.'
Wines tainted by 'off aromas,' such as those caused by stink bugs or pyrazines as well as wines that require significant bitterness management pose a major financial challenge for producers globally. Over the past year, amaea RMx technology for remediating 'off' aromas and wines impacted by frost, pyrazines, Brettanomyces, MOG and other challenges, and amaea PFx technology for palate fining, have supported over 50 unique producers in treating more than 400,000 gallons/ 1.5 million liters of wine, helping them recover an estimated USD$3.5 million/ NZD$6.2 million in wine value in the past 12 months.
'It's fantastic to see the consistent validation from the industry, highlighting the versatility and value of our technology,' says Tapping. 'We've focused on giving some of the top winemakers the confidence to try our technology, even on small volumes. Now, on the back of customer success, we're gearing up for an increase in the volume of wines treated by both existing and new customers as our technology gains market traction.'
Smart Polymer, Better Wines: Customer Successes
amaea's technology has successfully helped top winemakers recover wine to its intended program, high-quality and value, showcasing a wide variety of commercial customer applications:
Jackson Family Wines (US) has successfully trialled amaea to replace single-use fining agents by decreasing bitterness in hard-pressed white wine. Dr Caroline Merrell, Senior Manager of Winemaking Technical Services at Jackson Family Wines says: 'One area where we see a lot of potential is replacing single-use fining agents with reusable media, such as amaea's MIPs. During a recent trial, amaea's MIP treatment decreased bitterness and was preferred sensorially over wines treated with traditional fining agents. The results were impressive and will allow us to simultaneously improve quality in select wines while decreasing waste from single-use inputs.'
Cleomont Vineyards (NZ) increased the saleable quality of wine where traditional methods couldn't resolve the issues. Faced with a particularly phenolic 2024 Marlborough Pinot Gris, renowned New Zealand winemaker and grower Digger Hennessy, the owner of Cleomont Vineyards, reduced the wine's excessive bitterness and enhanced its sweetness, with amaea's MIPs selectively capturing the offending phenolic compounds. 'The wine didn't need a huge treatment. It got rid of the very annoying bitterness on the back palate that we were struggling to get out. The MIP treatment made it a lot smoother and now I'm happy with it.'
Marisco Vineyards (NZ) remediated a stink bug-affected wine back to its intended program. Marisco Vineyards celebrated an exceptional 2024 vintage. Yet, one block of Pinot Noir faced an unexpected issue when a species of Pentatomidae, commonly known as the Australasian green shield or stink bug, was found among some of the grapes. Traditional techniques for stink bug remediation focus on masking the distinctive vegetative aromas caused by the insects. However, amaea's highly selective technology removes unwanted molecules responsible for the undesirable vegetal and herbaceous traits. 'Having the ability to run wine through MIPs, knowing it won't physically change apart from removing the target molecules, is a massive plus,' says winemaker Alun Kilby, who sees endless potential applications for amaea's technology.
Giesen (NZ) used amaea PFx in place of gelatin (a fining agent), to address bitterness in their 0% Merlot. Consulting winemaker Duncan Shouler, former Director of Winemaking at Giesen Group, supports technology, change and innovation in the wine industry to stay relevant and evolve. At Giesen, he saw an opportunity to use amaea PFx in their 0% Merlot. 'Typically, when you remove alcohol from wine, certain traits and characteristics start to stand out. For Merlots, the tannins become prominent, and the warmth and sweetness are lost. For palate fining, gelatin is traditionally added, which, though effective at softening phenolic content, isn't vegan-friendly and isn't entirely selective, which means it removes more than is intended. At Giesen, when introduced to amaea PFx, we saw a technique that enabled us to balance polyphenols without relying on animal additions; it was environmentally conscientious and had the potential to provide a more financially sustainable alternative to traditional fining practices.'
Additional Applications: Remediating Smoke-Impacted Wine
In late 2023, amaea launched amaea VPx, its smoke remediation solution, which uses tailored MIPs in a one-pass filtration system. A 2024 WINnovation Award winner, amaea VPx technology successfully removes the volatile phenols from smoke-impacted wine to a level that sits below sensory thresholds.
To extend its position as a next-generation partner for quality-focused winemakers, amaea's MIP solutions, already commercially used in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, will launch in Australia later this year with a future focus on Europe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
Pax8 Introduces The Era Of Managed Intelligence In Its 2025 Research Report: The Agentic Inflection Point
Press Release – Pax8 The report outlines the emergence of agentic systemsAI-powered agents capable of autonomous action and reasoningand their transformative impact on the global SMB economy. SYDNEY, NSW (June 11, 2025) Pax8, the leading cloud commerce Marketplace, today released its inaugural research report, The Agentic Inflection Point: And the Rise of the Managed Intelligence Provider. The comprehensive study defines the future of small-to-midsized business (SMB) operations, transformed by agentic labor and the democratisation of enterprise-level technology access. It also introduces Managed Intelligence, a bold new framework that enables all stakeholders in the technology ecosystem to navigate this transition and thrive in the agentic era. 'We are standing at the edge of a monumental new era where agentic systems will redefine how work gets done,' said Scott Chasin, CEO of Pax8. 'The proliferation of these AI agents will allow SMBs to compete against large enterprises and scale faster than ever, and Managed Intelligence Providers will be key to enabling the technology. The rate at which this technology is advancing makes the next 24 to 36 months critical. MSPs that evolve quickly into the MIP model will be poised to experience long-term success in the new paradigm.' The report outlines the emergence of agentic systems—AI-powered agents capable of autonomous action and reasoning—and their transformative impact on the global SMB economy. It positions the MIP as the strategic partner that curates, orchestrates and governs intelligent agents: Making the move from simply managing services to truly driving business outcomes for SMBs. The Agentic Inflection Point also serves as a guide for partners ready to embark on their transformation and capitalise on the enormous opportunity in front of them. Key Findings from the Report The Agentic Inflection Point The report focuses on a new paradigm taking shape, where autonomous software agents collaborate with human expertise to redefine business operations. The fusion of AI and automation reduces the time spent between idea and execution, marking the dawn of the Idea Economy, where businesses are built and run by code, and software agents transition from supporting work to doing it. The result is the democratisation of capability, empowering organisations of all sizes with tools once reserved for industry giants. Four Levels of Agents Pax8's research has identified four distinct levels of AI agent functionality, each representing a significant leap in autonomy and business impact. Chatbots: Generative tools that respond to direct human prompts and queries through the use of AI and rules. Assistants: Enhanced chain-of-thought reasoning to decompose complex goals into actionable steps, make decisions based on contextual information and execute multiple operations in sequence. Digital Labor: Operating independently across multiple systems and tools with minimal human oversight. Digital Workforce: Coordinated systems of multiple agents working together, specialising, collaborating and distributing work to accomplish complex objectives at scale. The Rise of the Managed Intelligence Provider The Agentic Inflection Point introduces the Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) – the next evolution of the MSP. The current MSP model is reaching maturity, with the demands of AI-driven businesses, the complexity of autonomous systems and the need to deliver business outcomes. MIPs guide clients through automation-powered reinvention, leveraging agent marketplaces, governance frameworks and curated solution stacks; reinventing how business gets done. According to survey results in the report, 66 Pax8 partners believe they will be seen as strategic business advisors to their clients in two years, a more than seven-fold increase to their current role as an IT support provider. This data proves that the change in the partner's identification from a reactive vendor to a proactive enabler is already in motion. The Agentic Supply Chain To enable SMBs to compete with enterprise-scale capabilities, the Agentic Supply Chain will emerge, providing the necessary infrastructure to support digital labor. This comprehensive framework of intelligent systems will integrate into business operations and enable marketplaces to become orchestration hubs. In this new supply chain, agents will initiate the buying, selling and scaling of licenses and MIPs will shift from procuring licenses to procuring outcomes. Monetisation Models The age of agentic AI will also introduce new pricing models that align with how MIPs generate revenue. Compared to the legacy model where software is sold by the seat, agentic systems will be sold based on the result they deliver. The Agentic Inflection Point identifies four primary business models for capturing value in this new paradigm: Per Agent (FTE Model): Pricing aligned with the human equivalent they augment or replace. Per Action (Consumption-based): Usage-based pricing is tied directly to the value delivered. Per Workflow (Process-based): Workflow-based pricing that captures the value of end-to-end automation. Per Outcome (Value-based): A sophisticated pricing model tying compensation directly to measurable business outcomes. The AI-Built SMB The Agentic Inflection Point reveals that 54% of midsize enterprises have already deployed AI, and 83% of high-growth SMBs are actively experimenting with it. As AI capabilities mature, Pax8 predicts the rise of the 'AI-Built SMB'—businesses that are AI-native from day one, embedding generative and agentic technologies into every facet of their operations. These companies automate everything from customer service to product development, favor modular, vertical solutions over legacy software suites and often scale with lean teams. This new breed of SMBs aligns more with the agility and innovation of tech startups than traditional small businesses. To lead the agentic transformation, Pax8 is building the foundation for the agentic economy, including an agent marketplace, a Model Context Protocol integration framework, an agentic orchestration platform, a Managed Intelligence toolkit and much more. By connecting builders (SMBs), enablers (MIPs) and producers (software/cloud vendors), Pax8 aims to create an ecosystem that could shape the next trillion-dollar economy.
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
Pax8 Introduces The Era Of Managed Intelligence In Its 2025 Research Report: The Agentic Inflection Point
SYDNEY, NSW (June 11, 2025) Pax8, the leading cloud commerce Marketplace, today released its inaugural research report, The Agentic Inflection Point: And the Rise of the Managed Intelligence Provider. The comprehensive study defines the future of small-to-midsized business (SMB) operations, transformed by agentic labor and the democratisation of enterprise-level technology access. It also introduces Managed Intelligence, a bold new framework that enables all stakeholders in the technology ecosystem to navigate this transition and thrive in the agentic era. 'We are standing at the edge of a monumental new era where agentic systems will redefine how work gets done,' said Scott Chasin, CEO of Pax8. 'The proliferation of these AI agents will allow SMBs to compete against large enterprises and scale faster than ever, and Managed Intelligence Providers will be key to enabling the technology. The rate at which this technology is advancing makes the next 24 to 36 months critical. MSPs that evolve quickly into the MIP model will be poised to experience long-term success in the new paradigm.' The report outlines the emergence of agentic systems—AI-powered agents capable of autonomous action and reasoning—and their transformative impact on the global SMB economy. It positions the MIP as the strategic partner that curates, orchestrates and governs intelligent agents: Making the move from simply managing services to truly driving business outcomes for SMBs. The Agentic Inflection Point also serves as a guide for partners ready to embark on their transformation and capitalise on the enormous opportunity in front of them. Key Findings from the Report The Agentic Inflection Point The report focuses on a new paradigm taking shape, where autonomous software agents collaborate with human expertise to redefine business operations. The fusion of AI and automation reduces the time spent between idea and execution, marking the dawn of the Idea Economy, where businesses are built and run by code, and software agents transition from supporting work to doing it. The result is the democratisation of capability, empowering organisations of all sizes with tools once reserved for industry giants. Four Levels of Agents Pax8's research has identified four distinct levels of AI agent functionality, each representing a significant leap in autonomy and business impact. Chatbots: Generative tools that respond to direct human prompts and queries through the use of AI and rules. Assistants: Enhanced chain-of-thought reasoning to decompose complex goals into actionable steps, make decisions based on contextual information and execute multiple operations in sequence. Digital Labor: Operating independently across multiple systems and tools with minimal human oversight. Digital Workforce: Coordinated systems of multiple agents working together, specialising, collaborating and distributing work to accomplish complex objectives at scale. The Rise of the Managed Intelligence Provider The Agentic Inflection Point introduces the Managed Intelligence Provider (MIP) – the next evolution of the MSP. The current MSP model is reaching maturity, with the demands of AI-driven businesses, the complexity of autonomous systems and the need to deliver business outcomes. MIPs guide clients through automation-powered reinvention, leveraging agent marketplaces, governance frameworks and curated solution stacks; reinventing how business gets done. According to survey results in the report, 66 Pax8 partners believe they will be seen as strategic business advisors to their clients in two years, a more than seven-fold increase to their current role as an IT support provider. This data proves that the change in the partner's identification from a reactive vendor to a proactive enabler is already in motion. The Agentic Supply Chain To enable SMBs to compete with enterprise-scale capabilities, the Agentic Supply Chain will emerge, providing the necessary infrastructure to support digital labor. This comprehensive framework of intelligent systems will integrate into business operations and enable marketplaces to become orchestration hubs. In this new supply chain, agents will initiate the buying, selling and scaling of licenses and MIPs will shift from procuring licenses to procuring outcomes. Monetisation Models The age of agentic AI will also introduce new pricing models that align with how MIPs generate revenue. Compared to the legacy model where software is sold by the seat, agentic systems will be sold based on the result they deliver. The Agentic Inflection Point identifies four primary business models for capturing value in this new paradigm: Per Agent (FTE Model): Pricing aligned with the human equivalent they augment or replace. Per Action (Consumption-based): Usage-based pricing is tied directly to the value delivered. Per Workflow (Process-based): Workflow-based pricing that captures the value of end-to-end automation. Per Outcome (Value-based): A sophisticated pricing model tying compensation directly to measurable business outcomes. The AI-Built SMB The Agentic Inflection Point reveals that 54% of midsize enterprises have already deployed AI, and 83% of high-growth SMBs are actively experimenting with it. As AI capabilities mature, Pax8 predicts the rise of the 'AI-Built SMB'—businesses that are AI-native from day one, embedding generative and agentic technologies into every facet of their operations. These companies automate everything from customer service to product development, favor modular, vertical solutions over legacy software suites and often scale with lean teams. This new breed of SMBs aligns more with the agility and innovation of tech startups than traditional small businesses. To lead the agentic transformation, Pax8 is building the foundation for the agentic economy, including an agent marketplace, a Model Context Protocol integration framework, an agentic orchestration platform, a Managed Intelligence toolkit and much more. By connecting builders (SMBs), enablers (MIPs) and producers (software/cloud vendors), Pax8 aims to create an ecosystem that could shape the next trillion-dollar economy.
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Scoop
Winemakers Reclaim Wine Quality And Value With New Molecular Filtration Tech
Press Release – amaea amaeas smart polymers enable US and NZ wine producers to selectively remove unwanted sensory compounds and recover higher-value wine. Hamilton, New Zealand, 28 May 2025 – A new precision wine technology is changing how winemakers address quality challenges and recover value from fault-affected and heavily phenolic wines. amaea, a New Zealand developer of custom-engineered molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), is gaining industry validation for its novel molecular filtration technology for precision wine remediation and palate fining. From premium winemakers in New Zealand to top-tier producers in California, amaea's selective, sustainable filtration solution, launched in late 2023, is being used to remediate and enhance wine quality. The proprietary MIP beads, imprinted with billions of binding sites, selectively target and capture unwanted molecules—such as pyrazines, ethyl phenols, and phenolic compounds responsible for sensory profiles—and remove them while preserving the wine's essential varietal character, color, and flavor. 'Winemakers face real challenges when unwanted, characteristics or impacts appear in their wines, that traditional methods cannot resolve,' says amaea CEO Aiden Tapping. 'Our molecular filtration solution gives them control to target and remove the compounds responsible for undesirable sensory profiles – without stripping away desirable characters. This recovers value, saves wine from being downgraded or discarded, and ultimately protects brand integrity.' Wines tainted by 'off aromas,' such as those caused by stink bugs or pyrazines as well as wines that require significant bitterness management pose a major financial challenge for producers globally. Over the past year, amaea RMx technology for remediating 'off' aromas and wines impacted by frost, pyrazines, Brettanomyces, MOG and other challenges, and amaea PFx technology for palate fining, have supported over 50 unique producers in treating more than 400,000 gallons/ 1.5 million liters of wine, helping them recover an estimated USD$3.5 million/ NZD$6.2 million in wine value in the past 12 months. 'It's fantastic to see the consistent validation from the industry, highlighting the versatility and value of our technology,' says Tapping. 'We've focused on giving some of the top winemakers the confidence to try our technology, even on small volumes. Now, on the back of customer success, we're gearing up for an increase in the volume of wines treated by both existing and new customers as our technology gains market traction.' Smart Polymer, Better Wines: Customer Successes amaea's technology has successfully helped top winemakers recover wine to its intended program, high-quality and value, showcasing a wide variety of commercial customer applications: Jackson Family Wines (US) has successfully trialled amaea to replace single-use fining agents by decreasing bitterness in hard-pressed white wine. Dr Caroline Merrell, Senior Manager of Winemaking Technical Services at Jackson Family Wines says: 'One area where we see a lot of potential is replacing single-use fining agents with reusable media, such as amaea's MIPs. During a recent trial, amaea's MIP treatment decreased bitterness and was preferred sensorially over wines treated with traditional fining agents. The results were impressive and will allow us to simultaneously improve quality in select wines while decreasing waste from single-use inputs.' Cleomont Vineyards (NZ) increased the saleable quality of wine where traditional methods couldn't resolve the issues. Faced with a particularly phenolic 2024 Marlborough Pinot Gris, renowned New Zealand winemaker and grower Digger Hennessy, the owner of Cleomont Vineyards, reduced the wine's excessive bitterness and enhanced its sweetness, with amaea's MIPs selectively capturing the offending phenolic compounds. 'The wine didn't need a huge treatment. It got rid of the very annoying bitterness on the back palate that we were struggling to get out. The MIP treatment made it a lot smoother and now I'm happy with it.' Marisco Vineyards (NZ) remediated a stink bug-affected wine back to its intended program. Marisco Vineyards celebrated an exceptional 2024 vintage. Yet, one block of Pinot Noir faced an unexpected issue when a species of Pentatomidae, commonly known as the Australasian green shield or stink bug, was found among some of the grapes. Traditional techniques for stink bug remediation focus on masking the distinctive vegetative aromas caused by the insects. However, amaea's highly selective technology removes unwanted molecules responsible for the undesirable vegetal and herbaceous traits. 'Having the ability to run wine through MIPs, knowing it won't physically change apart from removing the target molecules, is a massive plus,' says winemaker Alun Kilby, who sees endless potential applications for amaea's technology. Giesen (NZ) used amaea PFx in place of gelatin (a fining agent), to address bitterness in their 0% Merlot. Consulting winemaker Duncan Shouler, former Director of Winemaking at Giesen Group, supports technology, change and innovation in the wine industry to stay relevant and evolve. At Giesen, he saw an opportunity to use amaea PFx in their 0% Merlot. 'Typically, when you remove alcohol from wine, certain traits and characteristics start to stand out. For Merlots, the tannins become prominent, and the warmth and sweetness are lost. For palate fining, gelatin is traditionally added, which, though effective at softening phenolic content, isn't vegan-friendly and isn't entirely selective, which means it removes more than is intended. At Giesen, when introduced to amaea PFx, we saw a technique that enabled us to balance polyphenols without relying on animal additions; it was environmentally conscientious and had the potential to provide a more financially sustainable alternative to traditional fining practices.' Additional Applications: Remediating Smoke-Impacted Wine In late 2023, amaea launched amaea VPx, its smoke remediation solution, which uses tailored MIPs in a one-pass filtration system. A 2024 WINnovation Award winner, amaea VPx technology successfully removes the volatile phenols from smoke-impacted wine to a level that sits below sensory thresholds. To extend its position as a next-generation partner for quality-focused winemakers, amaea's MIP solutions, already commercially used in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, will launch in Australia later this year with a future focus on Europe.
