The art of winemaking is getting ever more scientific and this will be accelerated in the United States with Universal Biosensors (ASX: UBI) hand-held element tester to commence distribution through the American wine industry.

The Sentia™ Analyzer is a handheld device that enables winemakers to test various levels of acidity and sugars in their wine within seconds, enabling them to maintain consistency and tweak accordingly. The devices will be distributed by wine products company Enartis on a non-exclusive basis where they have placed an initial order for 1,000 Sentia devices.

“The launch of Sentia into the USA is a significant moment in the commercialisation of Sentia globally,” said Universal Biosensors CEO, John Sharman.

“Enartis is the USA’s largest and most influential supplier of specialist oenology (wine) products and has more than 7,000 customers. Enartis has spent months performing due diligence on Sentia in the USA including trialling the device in several wineries.

“This partnership is a great endorsement for the success of Sentia in the USA and more generally around the world.”

By testing for Glucose, Fructose, Malic Acid, Acetic Acid and Total Acidity, Sharman is confident that the introduction of Sentia into the US winemaking industry will add significant value to wine produced in the country.

Additional revenue will be generated from the testing strips required to operate the devices which are one-use only, with functionality drawn upon from how biosensors are used in healthcare to assess biological content.

Prior to the signing of this distribution agreement, Sentia underwent extensive scientific testing at California State University where Dr Stephan Sommer concluded that Sentia “confirms that the electrochemical analysis in a handheld instrument can provide the same level of accuracy and reliability that could be expected from a standard laboratory method”.