Extracta launches Devine Connoisseur, a line of nutrient-dense upcycled grape ingredients

12 Dec 2022 --- The skins and seeds leftover from grapes during wine production have been given a second life in the form of nutritious ingredients for items like seafood spice and a dry rub for meats by Australia-based upcycling company, Extracta.

The company utilizes agricultural waste like orange peels, sugarcane husks and the skins and seeds of grapes – commonly known as grape marc – to create baked ingredients and spices.

According to Rod Lewis, the company’s CEO, its newest upcycled products – marketed under the brand name Devine Connoisseur – are merely the beginning of the company’s plans for upcycled products.

“The new products will be available at several outlets in the Hunter Valley, which makes sense because they contain Hunter grape skins and seeds which would otherwise have ended up in landfill,” Lewis explains. “This saves winemakers money because they won’t have to pay to dispose of waste and benefits the environment by diverting agricultural surplus from landfill.”

The company says it plans to begin upcycling the agricultural waste from avocados, stone fruits, mangoes, soy, watermelons, berries and more and touts the many export opportunities it sees to introduce its products to new markets, including the US.

The skins and seeds left over from wine production are rich in nutrients like flavonoids and antioxidants.Upcycling it all
The company states that once it achieves full-scale production capabilities, it will focus on wholesale products like pectin as well as spice blends and baking mixes.

The new line will only be sold at specialty outlets in the Hunter Valley region located to the north of Sydney in New South Wales at first, as the main ingredients come from Tamburlaine Winery, a local winery in the area.

“There are other companies who use agricultural waste like grape marc, but we will be utilizing 100% of the waste rather than just one element,” Lewis underscores. “We will also use the same factory to process other waste streams, which gives us economies of scale.” 

A plethora of healthy products
Grape-based extracts have been shown to be rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and oligosaccharides and to support a healthy microbiome and increase cardiovascular health.

These nutrients will feature in the company’s five Devine Connoisseur branded products. The Hunter Dry Rub blends grape skins with pepper leaf, bush tomatoes and other ingredients the company says will give a zing to meats. 

The Cab Merlot Brownie Mix will utilize Extracta’s zero-waste grape flour and cocoa powder to create nutrient-dense brownies. The company’s Artisan Focaccia and Pizza Base Mix also utilizes grape flour.

Additionally, the Seafood Spice Blend utilizes Chardonnay grape pomace with Australian sea salt, finger lime and lemon myrtle to add sweetness to seafood dishes while the All Purpose Seasoning blends Semillon grape seeds and skins with pepper leaves and other spices.

Edited by William Bradford Nichols