The Steric Process is a proprietary technology that employs electromagnetic energy to modify wine and spirits on a molecular level. There is nothing physically added or removed from the spirit. The process takes seconds and happens at ambient temperature and pressure. Ethanol proof remains the same and there is no waste stream.
The Steric Process improves the flavor, mouthfeel, and overall quality of unaged or aged distilled wine and spirits. You pick the desired processing intensity level to find the optimal setting for your unique spirits. For wine and spirits with common flaws such as being over-oaked, over-tannic, having an overly-astringent mouthfeel, or just kind of “funky”, the Steric Process helps to polish the flaws to help bring out the best in your wine and spirits. For already high-quality products, the Steric Process can help bring your wine and spirits to the next level and ensure consistency from batch to batch.
It is very affordable because you pay based on the quantity you process. For large and medium-sized operations with machines permanently installed on-site, we have no upfront cost leases that include a generous allowance of processed gallons per month. For smaller operations, or customers who only need to process several barrels or totes on a less regular basis, we charge very reasonable rates to bring our portable machine to your facility along with a Steric operator who will help you build your custom taste profiles and run the machine during processing.
While our process costs money, the benefits effectively reduce costs overall in many scenarios.
The Steric Process can:
Our Steric Air Portable unit can be brought by a Steric Systems Technician to your facility by appointment to process anything from single barrels and totes, to smaller productions runs at speeds up to 300 gallons per hour. The Steric Systems Technician will help you optimize your own custom processing profiles for each individual spirit you choose to process.
In a word, no. Our process works on both aged and unaged, brown and clear spirits. Our process has an effect on the spirit at the molecular level using electromagnetic energy only. We DO NOT use high pressure, low pressure or vacuums, high or low temperatures, flavor concentrates, additives, chemicals, filters, lights, ultrasound or any other of the myriad of other things used in attempts to create a finished spirit by rapid aging. Some of the elements in younger aged spirits that can be affected by the Process will also change as the spirit ages naturally, while other elements will not.
There are no TTB issues regarding the Steric Process. The TTB has stated in writing that they have no objection to the use of the Steric Process on distilled spirits, and that Steric’s equipment is not “Major Equipment” that requires notification to the TTB if installed. In other words, the Steric Process can be used in any fashion with no TTB reporting requirements whatsoever. TTB’s written response stated they had “determined that we do not have any questions and/or concerns with the use of the proposed system”. They also stated they “don’t believe that this is “major equipment” that would need to be noticed to TTB either before use or on a subsequent application.”
The Steric Process is another tool in your distiller’s toolbox. We don’t just fix broken spirits; we optimize all spirits. The process is precisely controllable and gives you the opportunity to optimize all of the flavors and subtleties already in your spirits by unveiling those that may be subdued, and then balancing them together to make a great spirit even better. For high-quality sourced spirits, we can enhance the flavors while differentiating your brand on the crowded shelves. We are currently working with producers who are using the Steric process on their super-premium spirits selling for $400+ per bottle.
The Steric Treatment can help when a wine is lacking in density or structure, or when the dominant flavors in a vintage are either unpleasant or unbalanced. There are also a variety of textural/viscosity adjustments that are possible, but none that are mandatory to the act of treating your wine. You can adjust the expression of acidity, body, and tannin, or you can skip to adjusting the palate within that structure. It’s not a design-a-wine mold nor a cookie cutter – it’s your wine in its best form.
Absolutely not! The Steric process is not a mask or a filter – it can only polish and accentuate flavors that already exist in the wine. Think of it like a graphic equalizer for your wines. It’s still your song on the radio with all the same instruments, but you can amplify the parts that resonate with you most.
We have longitudinal studies running that show, without exception, that Steric-treated wines age on a predictable trajectory as if they had simply been born higher quality wines. You don’t have to worry that the process will leave your wines more vulnerable to oxidation or premature aging.
It depends. If you have a barrel or tank that isn’t behaving the way that it should, you are likely better off treating that lot sooner than later and watching the trajectory of the treated product. If you are generally satisfied with the components of your wine then you might want to give it a gentle polish just before bottling to straighten out any rough edges. Some wines and some vintages are going to require more help than others, but it’s wholly up to you. You can process single barrels or the whole of the vintage – it’s your wine your way. Unlike other corrective measures, our process is super gentle and can be used at virtually any phase of winemaking when you identify a need.
Nor should you! We neither add nor remove anything from your wine, meaning The Steric Treatment is actually more gentle than reverse osmosis, use of concentrates, or even egg fining.
Contact us to speak with an expert who can answer any questions you may have. We also encourage you to send us a sample of your product for processing.
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