Penetron Helps Make Wine Out of Water(proofing) with Crystalline Technology

The first half of 2019 has seen a remarkable number of established wineries across Italy modernize and expand production capacities with new facilities and wine cellars – built with the help of Penetron’s crystalline technology.

“The Penetron waterproofing system was specified for the underground structures of numerous wineries here in Italy and many other cellar projects to ensure long-term durability for the treated concrete structures,” explains Enricomaria Brac, Director of Penetron Italy. “The technical staff at Penetron Italia collaborated with the project contractors and ready-mix suppliers during the planning phase to ensure an optimal solution that met the project’s performance parameters.”
 

Proven Concrete Protection

Added to the concrete mix design during the batching phase, Penetron’s crystalline admixture provides integral and permanent waterproofing of the matrix, thanks to the formulation of reactive components. The resulting chemical reactions in the concrete generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the pores and capillary tracts to permanently seal the matrix against the penetration of water or liquids – greatly reducing the permeability of the concrete.

“Thanks to the inherent ease of use of PENETRON ADMIX and the elimination of any later maintenance costs, the admixture has enjoyed rapidly growing popularity in Italy,” adds Enricomaria Brac. “Even when the conventional waterproofing membrane and injection solutions are originally specified in the project specifications, the superiority of a crystalline solution quickly becomes obvious to the project engineers and contractors

Four of the most recent projects that illustrate the advantages of Penetron’s crystalline technology:
 

Cantina Bisson

Established over 40 years ago by Pierluigi Lugano, Cantina Bisson creates wines from grapes harvested in Liguria, an Italian wine region famous for its dry, fresh white wines located in the northwest region of Italy along the Italian Riviera.

Cantina Bisson’s new winery, designed and built by Moretti SpA, integrates perfectly into the area’s hilly topography. It comprises a reception area, tasting room and an expansive wine cellar. With a basement floor below the local groundwater level, PENETRON ADMIX was added to the concrete mix by Unicalcestruzzi, the ready-mix supplier, for the foundation slab and retaining walls of the new cellar.
 

Morra Diego Cellars

Viticulturists since the mid-1900s in the Piedmont, a major wine growing region in Northwestern Italy, the Morra Diego family holdings have grown from a single plot of land to 50 hectares of vineyards and hazelnut groves.

Carried out by Enrico Ferrero of Pinerolo, the construction of the new cellar was faced with percolating groundwater. Thanks to its ease-of-application and long-term durability characteristics, PENETRON ADMIX was used to waterproof the retaining walls of the new cellar. Stroppiana Calcestruzzi, the ready-mix supplier, delivered the concrete mix.
 

Cantina Mionetto

Situated in the hills of Valdobbiadene, the home of Prosecco in Northeastern Italy, Cantina Mionetto is a recognized producer of vintage wines and Prosecco. Part of the well-known Henkell & Co. corporation, a German producer of sparkling wines, wines and spirits, the winery recently added a new cellar.

Working from a design that harmonized with the surrounding countryside, Bertazzon SpA, the project general contractor, specified PENETRON ADMIX for the foundation slab and the retaining walls of the new cellar. Pre-cast concrete elements were also treated with PENETRON ADMIX to ensure long-term durability. Superbeton, the ready-mix supplier, provided the concrete.
 

Beni di Batasiolo

Known primarily for its great Barolo and Barbaresco wines, the Langhe wine region in the Piedmont in Northwestern Italy is home to Beni di Batasiolo. Five generations of the Dogliani family have grown the celebrated Nebbiolo da Barolo grape for its wines.

The new wine cellar construction utilized pre-cast concrete structural elements. Anra, the project contractor, worked with Stroppiana Calcestruzzi, the ready-mix supplier, to design the right mix with PENETRON ADMIX to counter the high groundwater levels. The PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete was used to waterproof the foundation slab and all pre-cast elements.

“It should also be noted that all four of these projects were carried out under extremely tight construction schedules and with strict budgets that allowed no room for delay,” says Enricomaria Brac. “Thanks to the ease-of-application of PENETRON ADMIX, our crystalline solution consistently enabled a considerable reduction in scheduling times and also helped keep costs under control.”