CIVP-ALABE INFORMATIONS

ALABE – Associação dos Laboratórios de Enologia is responsible for running the Circuito Interlaboratorial de Vinhos Portugueses (Interlaboratory Circuit for Portuguese Wines) (CIVP-ALABE), an initiative that embraces many of the most representative institutions in the wine producing sector. CIVP-ALABE has been created from the need to equip wine analysis laboratories with a self-assessment tool to rate their performance. CIVP-ALABE is has been enabling its participants to detect various abnormalities in the implementation of the methods and failure of and/or poorly operating equipment, thereby preventing anomalous results from being issued. It is therefore a tool that rates the analytical response to the most usual parameters in wine analysis, either by physical-chemical methods at the bench using FTIR spectroscopy, with any brand of instruments. For this circuit, which started in November 2001 for table wines and was later extended to fortified wines in April 2005, it is planned to hold ten editions a year (10 months, from October to July). Registered labs receive pilot samples each month that they analyse. They subsequently learn their position relative to the other participants from statistical information published in a report. Circuit coordination meetings are held every six months at which new guidelines for CIVP-ALABE are discussed. This is an opportunity to exchange information and solve technical problems.

1. Registration with ALABE to join the category of most interest to the laboratory.

2. ALABE sends each member-laboratory a pilot sample of 0.75 L of table wine and/or fortified wine each month, for 10 months per year.

3. The lab carries out the analysis for a range of analytical parameters of its choice, but within those established by CIVP-ALABE.

4. Analytical data are entered on the ALABE website. 5. Statistical processing of the analytical results by ALABE and compilation of the monthly reports, which arrive at the laboratories the month after the tests have been carried out. .

Participation in CIVP-ALABE may involve the following categories:

 

Product:

• Table wine (VC)

• Fortified wine (VL)

 

Analytical method:

• Bench analysis (AB) using current methods (density, ASV, total dry matter, reducing sugars, total acidity, volatile acidity, total SO2 and pH)

• FTIR spectrophotometry, without pre-defined calibration (S) (intended for any FTIR equipment calibrated by the participant)

• FTIR spectrophotometry, with pre-defined calibration (C) (intended only for FOSS – Winescan - FTIR equipment with calibration developed by the CIVP).

 

Where FTIR spectrophotometry is used, each lab will establish the range of analytical parameters it wishes to use, within the range established through the CIVP-ALABE coordination. If bench analysis is used, the methods of analysis must be stated. Other parameters apart from those in the established range can be included in the reports but they will not undergo statistical treatment; they will be part of a separate report and have separate coding.

 

Parameters analyzed

• Massa Volúmica
• TAV adquirido
• TAV total
• Extrato Seco Total
• Extrato Não Redutor
• Açúcares Totais
• Açúcares: Substâncias redutoras
• Acidez Total
• Acidez Fixa
• Acidez Volátil
• SO2 Livre
• SO2 Total
• pH
• Ácido Cítrico
• Ácido Tartárico
• Ácido Málico
• Ácido Láctico
• Ácido Sórbico
• Sulfatos
• Cloretos
• Densidade Ótica 420 nm
• Densidade Ótica 520 nm
• Densidade Ótica 620 nm
• Intensidade Corante
• Tonalidade

 

 

Confidentiality of the results and the anonymity of all the participants is ensured by coding the laboratories. The labs thus appear in the reports as codes, and each participant can only recognise its own results. ALABE sends the participation code separately by email to the address entered on the registration form when the report is distributed.

The analytical results must be entered on the ALABE website by the participant, using the credentials provided, by the last business day of the month when the test was done. If, for any reason, the lab fails to send the results by this date it is asked to send an email explaining the matter to ( civp.alabe@gmail.com ) so that the data processing can get under way.

The following institutions currently participate in the Circuito Interlaboratorial de Vinhos Portugueses:

 

- Adega Cooperativa de Borba, CRL

- Adega Cooperativa de Ponte de Lima

- Adega Cooperativa de Redondo

- Agrovisul, Lda

- Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal, SA

- CARMIM - Cooperativa Agrícola de Reguengos de Monsaraz

- Casa Agrícola HMR, S.A.

- Casa Santos Lima

- Churchill Graham, Lda.

- Consellería do Medio Rural - Estación de Viticultura e Enoloxía de Galicia

- Cooperativa Agrícola de Santo Isidro de Pegões, C.R.L.

- CVR Alentejana

- CVR de Trás-os-Montes

- CVR do Dão

- CVRVV

- Direccção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas do Norte

- DVT Destilação Vinícola Torrejana, S.A.

- Enoport - Produção de Bebidas, S.A.

- Esporão, S.A.

- Falua, Sociedade de Vinhos, SA .

- Fundação Eugénio de Almeida

- Goanvi - Central de Engarrafamento de Bebidas, Lda

- Gran Cruz Porto

- Henrique José de La Puente Sancho Uva

- Instituto Nacional de Recursos Biológicos, IP

- Instituto do Vinho, do Bordado e do Artesanato da Madeira, IP

- Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, IP

- J. Portugal Ramos Vinhos, S.A.

- José Maria da Fonseca

- Laboratório de Análises Enológicas Duriense, Lda.

- Laboratório de Enologia do Serviço de Desenvolvimento Agrário do Pico

- Manoel D. Poças Júnior – Vinhos S.A

- Proenol - Indústria Biotecnológica

- ProVintage. Sociedade de Consultoria Agricola, Lda.

- Quinta do Crasto, S.A.

- Quinta do Minho

- Quinta da Lixa

- Quinta and Vineyard Bottlers, Vinhos S.A.

- Soc. Agríc. e Comercial dos Vinhos Messias, S.A.

- Sogevinus Fine Wines, S.A.

- SOGRAPE-Vinhos de Portugal, S.A.

- Symington - Vinhos S. A.

- Xisto Azul, Lda