Are you a big wine drinker? If so, then you probably notice right away when something about your last glass of cabernet sauvignon tastes off. That unpleasant aroma or flavor you can’t quite put a finger on may be caused by a chemical compound called methoxypyrazine. It’s known to cause something called the green capsicum aroma. In an effort to save otherwise tasty wine from an untimely trip down the drain, researchers at the University of Adelaide in Southern Australia have created a polymer that absorbs these compounds, removing the bad flavor. Pretty cool, right?

The Science of Magnets and Wine

It all sounds a bit like magic. But no, this is science at work. In their experiments, the researchers use bar magnets to remove the compound. If this technique were to be implemented on a larger scale, they suggest a more practical method -- something like an electromagnet that could be powered on and off. It’s still not ready for commercial use in your local winery, but with more research, one day it could be.

Magnetic Nanoparticles

So how does it work? Simply put, magnetic nanoparticles are attached to the researchers’ polymers. Then those polymers are manipulated to target and remove the methoxypyrazine compounds. Typically these compounds are found in the fruit used to make the wine, so it’s a process typically implemented during the juice stage of winemaking. However, researchers claim that you can remove methoxypyrazine at any stage.

The Power of Polymers

David Jeffery, University of Adelaide Associate Professor in Wine Science, says that in the future, the polymer could be altered to attract and remove other kinds of unpleasant flavor compounds that one might find in their wine. According to Jeffery, “The idea would be to be very selective for the compounds you’re wanting to use and that’s been the problem with other treatments, they’re quite non-selective.” Another benefit of these powerful polymers is that they can be regenerated and used up to five times without losing any of their power. Imagine the kind of commercial benefits this discovery could serve to restaurants or wine makers. And don’t forget the wine drinkers! Everyone wins. To keep up on the latest, weirdest, and most interesting magnetic news, check out the rest of our blog. You can also subscribe to the Apex Magnets newsletter!