PIPA and Sonomaceuticals partner to accelerate chardonnay marc commercialization

10 Apr 2024 --- PIPA, a science and innovation company leveraging AI for the nutrition and ingredient industries, is partnering with Sonomaceuticals, the biotechnology company behind WellVine — a whole food prebiotic ingredient sourced from Chardonnay marc, grape pulp, skin and seeds that remain after pressing. The companies, based in California (US) aim to use AI to accelerate the commercialization of WellVine.

“WellVine chardonnay marc delivers a combination of health, taste and sustainability,” states Eric Hamborg, PIPA’s chief commercial officer.

“Sonomaceuticals is setting a new standard for the industry, demonstrating how embedding AI into ingredient R&D unlocks an evidence-based, cost-effective and scalable approach to product innovation. This approach reduces risk and accelerates commercialization, positioning Sonomaceuticals as a visionary leader in the field of sustainable, functional nutrition.”

Scott Forsberg, COO of Sonomaceuticals, adds: “Our exploration of the benefit space of chardonnay marc through PIPA’s AI has been a game-changer, allowing us to discover evidence and insights at an unprecedented speed.”

AI platform utilization 
PIPA and Sonomaceuticals’ science teams used PIPA’s research and discovery platform LEAP to confirm and characterize experimentally identified compounds, investigate their impact on gut health and identify new mechanisms of action. 

Vine to Bar chocolate represents the first commercial application of WellVine.According to PIPA, this process would have typically taken up to three years to conduct — it took six months for the teams to carry this out with the help of AI. LEAP scanned millions of scientific data points to identify known and predict new health benefits associated with WellVine. 

WellVine chardonnay marc is produced through the drying and milling of the grape marc, offering polyphenols and dietary fibers. These have been shown to induce multiple benefits when infused into food and dietary supplements, including for gut and heart health. The Vine to Bar dark chocolate represents the first commercial application of the ingredient. 

Through LEAP, Sonomaceuticals outlined the molecular diversity and complexity of WellVine. It further recommended hundreds of synergistic combinations with other ingredients that can be used across seven wellness categories, such as synbiotics and herbal formulations for commercial application.

LEAP facilitates the scientific research process, making the collection of evidence and the discovery of bioactives quicker and more efficient. To do so, it utilizes vetted knowledge bases, omics data and proprietary datasets. 

“We’re excited to continue our research and development efforts and create products that are not only good for us and the planet but also taste amazing,” asserts Sonomaceuticals’ Forsberg. 

By Milana Nikolova