Experience the Magic of Accelerated Wine Aging on Your Dining Table!

New Mock Up of Commercial Device

This is the latest style that we are shooting for with our Wine Aging Device.  The power supply and controller will be in a brushed aluminum tube and look much like the mock-up shown at the left.  We have sized the power supply such that an 8-bit computer controller (PIC) should fit into the can along with the battery.  The battery pack will load from the top and be held in by a screw cap.  The approximate size (not counting the stopper and electrodes) will be 1.25" OD C 4.25" Long.  The device will have its own count down timing circuit that will display remaining time in minutes and seconds.  It will automatically shut itself off when the User set time expires.  The battery itself could be a single 9 volt transister battery or 3-AAA batteries in a removable plastic cage.  The former will give long life, even without using a computer control chip.  The latter could simplify internal electronics -- especially for a PIC.  Using a PIC, even the smaller capacity AAA batteries could give many hours of continuous service before requiring a battery change.  Final design details will be left up to the engineers that we hire to do "design for manufacturing." Please let us know your thoughts on this design.

Wine Ager Demo Success

On August 16, 2015, Ron Stites demonstrated the Electrochemical Wine Aging Device (see Published Patent Application by clicking here) at the Cedar City, Utah, Wine Club.  Ron used three of the 5-position demo units to demonstrate the device (pictured below) to 25 wine aficionados living in southern Utah.  It was a great time. 

This particular group is especially dedicated to promoting the cultural appreciation of wine.  As you might imagine, this can be a challenge in a venue such as a small city Utah.  The group is hysterically fun while, at the same time, maintaining serious connections to the art and culture of Cedar City.  You should visit the club’s website at:  http://www.cedarcitywineclub.com/ .  You should also visit the Cedar City, Utah, website at:  http://www.cedarcity.org/ .  You may be surprised to see how a small city in southern Utah manages to support the arts, education and cultural diversity.

The demonstration was performed on a locally purchased Chianti.  The results were very similar to results from many other demonstrations.  The consensus was that the Aging Device improved the taste dramatically.  The likely cause for this improvement is the reduction of astringency coming from tannins (see the “Background Information” in the Patent Application).  As in previous tests, the opinions on how much treatment was ideal varied among users.  Optimal results varied from 10 to 20 minutes.  In general, the female users favored longer treatment times than their male colleagues with at least one favoring 30 minutes of treatment. 

There will be additional follow up with several of the club members as we move toward commercialization of the ageing device.   Several expressed interest in having a commercial device and even in hosting additional demonstrations using their own 5-position demo device. 

Business plans for commercializing the device are being developed.  The approach will likely include efforts by “SuperUsers” who will demonstrate the device and provide follow-up assistance on using the commercial device to obtain optimal results.  We envision the creation of a community of users who share their “recipes” and experiences for using the commercial device through a mobile friendly, web-database. 

We would especially like to thank Larry Chandler, Director & Sommelier, of the Cedar City Wine Club for his assistance in making this event a great success.  Larry’s extensive knowledge of wines and the wine industry, along with his enthusiasm were indispensable in making this a fun and educational experience.  Larry can be reached at:  

Email:  larry@cedarcitywineclub.com  Twitter:  @larrythewineguy

You can keep up with what Larry and the Cedar City Wine Club are up to by following them on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/cedarcitywineclub

And, of course, we would also like to thank Dan and Page Stites for hosting the event at their home in Cedar City. 

If you are interested in hosting a similar event or otherwise participate in the development and commercialization of this product please contact: ron@tek-dev.net. 

This technology was developed at Stites & Associates, LLC.  The story of how this came about is fascinating and entertaining.  More will be shared later as we proceed toward commercialization.  Stites & Associates, LLC, is a group of technical professionals who work with clients to improve laboratory performance and evaluate and improve technology by applying good management judgment based on objective evidence and sound scientific thinking.  For more information on SALLC see: www.tek-dev.net.

Wine Aging Device Patent Applications Publish

The US and International Patent Applications for the Wine Aging Device invented by Ron Stites, Erik Stites, David Gill, Andrew Benwell and Stephen Stites has recently published in the US, Africa, Europe and Eurasia. 

To view these publications see:

US20150184117   or  WO2015103168

We are pursuing commercialization through two different organizations.  One will be focused on the in-home market while the other will be more focused on higher volume, flow-through applications.  

If you would like more information please contact Ron Stites at:  ron@tek-dev.net.

 Stites & Associates, LLC, is a group of technical professionals who work with clients to improve laboratory performance and evaluate and improve technology by applying good management judgment based on objective evidence and sound scientific thinking.  For more information see: www.tek-dev.net.

Update on Accelerated Wine Aging Device:

This Blog Posting was first posted on the Tek-Dev Technology Blog on 3/23/2014.

As reported last month, Stites & Associates, LLC, (SALLC) has patented an electrochemical device for accelerated aging of wine.  Since our last report there have been several developments.  These are reported here:

New Prototypes Built:

Five new prototypes have been constructed and tested.  These were all of the bottle variety.  One of them has already been extensively taste tested in home settings, including dinner parties.  In all cases, users agreed that the flavor of inexpensive red wine was improved with 10 to 15 minutes of treatment.  Well over a dozen bottles of wine have been treated with this single device with no signs of needing to change the 9 volt battery or do any repairs.

New Test Rig Built and Used for Taste Testing:

A five position test rig was constructed to more quickly develop optimal recipes for treating wine.  This is pictured below (with wine consultant Holly Wells).  This rig has proven to be invaluable in demonstrating to potential investors the effects that the wine aging device has on various wines.  Many of the tests were performed with very astringent wines for the purpose of demonstrating the process.  Multiple samples were set up and allowed to treat from a few minutes up to an hour to show the complete spectrum of tastes that could be generated.  In some cases the persons tasting the wine had definite biases against accelerating the aging of wine using a device.  In all cases tasters, even those with negative bias, agreed that the wine was vastly improved in a matter of minutes.  They did not all agree on their preferred treatment time.  The results ranged from a low of 10 minutes to a high of 25 minutes.  This confirmed our belief that it will be important to capture results in a reasonably consistent way and share the information with the user community.  Methods for accomplishing this are under development.

Scientific Basis for the Success of the Wine Aging Device Investigated:

In addition to extensive taste testing, the wine aging device has been subjected to electrochemical experiments to determine the mechanism for improving taste.  This mechanism has been shown quite conclusively by cyclic voltammetry.  These data can be shared with those serious about participating in these exciting developments.

This technology has been shown to be amenable to the consumer market.  The prototypes are very portable, weighing only a few ounces and powered by a 9 volt battery.   At least a dozen bottles of wine have been treated with no signs of needing to replace electrodes or even change the battery.  Based on our data, we expect a typical 9 volt alkaline battery to treat approximately 80 bottles of wine before requiring replacement.  This can actually be extended by some simple circuit redesign.  Most of the energy used is in the very simple control circuitry.  Theoretically battery life could be extended to several hundred bottles of wine.  Users universally report that treating wine in this way not only improves the taste of many wines, but that it is a lot of fun to do at a dinner party.  SALLC is working on a dinner party prototype.

Electrochemical data has also been collected that can be helpful in scaling up the process for use in large, winery-sized batches. 

SALLC is continuing development work.  A new prototype for multiple, individual glasses in being constructed.  We expect to have more on that in about a month.  If you are interested in working with SALLC on this exciting development please contact Ron Stites at: ron@tek-dev.net.

Shown with the 5-Position Tester is Holly Wells, a wine consulstant who has been helping us develop and test the Electrochemical Wine Aging Device.

Partners Wanted – Accelerated Wine Aging Device:

This Blog Posting was first posted on the Tek-Dev Technology Blog on 1/5/2014.

Stites & Associates, LLC, (SALLC) has patented an electrochemical device for accelerated aging of wine.  It mimics the natural aging process, but accomplishes in minutes what can take years in a bottle.  Because it mimics the natural process, it is applicable to the wines that are normally amenable to aging – essentially “young” red wines.  SALLC has constructed a bottle-sized prototype and tested it.  The results were very positive.  The device softened the taste of the red wine tested, much like what would have been expected with several years of aging.

The technology is clearly amenable to the consumer market.  The prototype was very portable, weighing only a few ounces and powered by a 9 volt battery.   The bottle-sized prototype is pictured below:

The technology can be easily scaled up for use in large, winery-sized batches. 

In 2014, SALLC will be working on additional characterization of the device and its effect on various wines under various conditions.  If you are interested in working with SALLC on this exciting development please contact Ron Stites at: ron@tek-dev.net.

Wine Tek Launched

On August 25, 2015, Ron Stites and Stephanie Winchester lauched Wine Tek, LLC, a Colorado LLC.  The purpose of the LLC is to commercialize the Electrochemical Wine Aging Device invented by Ron Stites, Dr. Erik Stites, Dr. David Gill, Stephen Stites and Dr. Andrew Benwell.  Details of a Biz Plan are being finalized.  The Biz Plan will include opportunities for wine entusiasts to participate in the implementation of this exciting new invention.

We have also launched a new site:  wine-tek.com.  We will soon be announcing details of our new wine treatment application.  The application will collect experiences from our Users, summarize it and make it available to all Users.  This is currently underdevelopment and a prototype is being tested.  Stay tuned for more information on this.