Remediating Pyrazine and Smoke Impact in Napa Valley Wines

Alison Doran, a consulting winemaker in Napa Valley, recently partnered with amaea to address both pyrazine and smoke-related challenges across two wines from the 2025 vintage.

The first case involved a Chardonnay exhibiting pronounced grassy character, commonly associated with elevated methoxypyrazines, such as IBMP. Reflecting on the initial interaction, Doran explains:

“One of my clients had a ‘25 Chardonnay exhibiting grassy character. When I talked to [amaea] at the WIN Expo in December, [they] explained the polymer technology behind the amaea treatment, and I was intrigued.”

Following this discussion, Doran initiated bench trials to assess the treatment’s effectiveness:

“I arranged to take two, 750mL samples down to the VA Filtration office and run some trials. Having determined a [treatment] rate for my volume of wine, we scheduled the small unit and ran the wine through.”

While the impact was not immediate, the results became clear with time:

“It did take a few days to recover and show clear improvement, but after a week, I was totally satisfied with the pyrazine removal.”

Encouraged by this outcome, Doran applied the same approach to a more complex issue—smoke impact in a premium Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain. Despite only medium-low markers on ETS analysis, the sensory presence of smoke was evident.

“After receiving an ETS panel with medium-low smoke markers but noticeable smoky defects, I ran trials on a valuable Howell Mountain ‘25 Cab, decided on a [treatment] rate (with [amaea’s] help, and booked the larger machine to remove smoke damage.”

In contrast to the Chardonnay, the improvement in this wine was immediate and pronounced:

“After running this wine, it showed immediate improvement, sensory smoke disappeared and the youthful fruity aromas were revealed. The palate became supple and rich, with no trace of gritty texture.”

Across both applications, Doran emphasises the balance of effectiveness and gentleness in the treatment:

“I highly recommend this gentle but effective treatment for both IBMPs and smoky characters.”

Learn more about amaea MIPs for wine.