May 12, 2008

A Wine Filtration Workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at California State University, Fresno will bring industry experts from the Pall Corporation in New York to campus to demonstrate the latest technology to winemakers.

The one-day workshop begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Fresno State Winery, 2360 E. Barstow Ave. The workshop is being presented by Pall Corporation in cooperation with Fresno State’s Viticulture and Enology Research Center and Department of Viticulture of Enology.

Winemakers and winery production personnel from throughout California are invited to attend this free educational workshop. While pre-registration is encouraged, participants may register on site if space permits.

New York-based Pall Corporation, a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, returns for a fifth year to Fresno State to demonstrate crossflow microfiltration, depth filtration, sheet and module filtration, sterile filtration, filter handling and winery wastewater.

CFM is a process that has the ability to filter wines and juices with high levels of solids to a water-like clarity, explained Ken Fugelsang, winemaster and associate professor of enology at Fresno State. CFM is a relatively new technology to U.S. winemakers.

“The technology that Pall offers plays a vital role to many industries, including the food and beverage industry,” Fugelsang said. “Winemakers, for example, are able to clarify wine and juice by removing particulates such as yeast, bacteria and other grape solids.”

Representatives from other industries may also be interested in attending to learn more about how filtration technology can be applied to their fields of interest. Other industries include aerospace, defense, automotive, biopharmaceutical, environmental, graphic arts, medical and water treatment.

Lisa Madsen, senior staff scientist from Pall, will conduct workshops on the principles of filtration, filter handling and crossflow microfiltration.

Integrity testing and crossflow filtration demonstrations will be conducted by Madsen and Pall Corporation representatives Steve Mullen, and Jim Pinto.

“Our enology program is a great training ground for students who will be the future winemakers in the United States and around the world,” said Fresno State’s Dr. Robert Wample, chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology and director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Center. “This event is a great example of how we partner with industry leaders such as Pall Corporation to bring educational workshops to our campus.”

Fugelsang added, “This workshop is also a great opportunity for winemakers and winery personnel to learn from some of the world’s experts in this field.”

Parking is available in lots N, and O on Barstow and Maple avenues on the campus. The workshop also includes a free lunch for attendees sponsored by Pall Corporation.

Preregistration forms are available online at http://cast.csufresno.edu/ve and can be submitted by fax to 559.278.4795. Space is limited and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fresno State is the first campus winery in the United States to obtain a license to produce and sell wine commercially. Students in the enology program participate in the winemaking process and receive hands-on training in the winery.