How One Company is Using Wine Waste to Make Healthier Chocolate
- Marla
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Wine is known in some circles as having health benefits. But it’s not considered food, let alone one that supports gut health.
So I was surprised to read about Vine to Bar, a company that converts wine waste – known as marc or pomace – into an ingredient that can be added to chocolate to create a “healthier” chocolate.
The company takes leftover Chardonnay grapes after the winemaking process and repurposes, or “upcycles” the waste, making it into a fine powder called Wellvine. The powder is combined with dark chocolate, already known to have some health benefits.
Wellvine has been patented for its ability to improve the nutritional content of chocolate due to its real food prebiotics, which support gut health.
This premium dark chocolate product is the brainchild of Barbara Banke, Chair of Jackson Family Wines, and Peggy Furth, one of the founders of Chalk Hill Winery.
Intrigued, I purchased several bars in different flavors. They were very tasty!
Wine With Our Family recently had the opportunity to chat with Ed Klein, Managing Director of Vine to Bar, and learn more about how the company is using wine waste to make healthier chocolate.
Wine With Our Family: How did the founders come up with the concept of using wine waste to make healthier chocolate?
Ed Klein: They saw the potential of using the leftover fruit after winemaking. It’s at peak ripeness, so its nutritional value is at its best. They spent time figuring out how to make it a raw ingredient for food. It turns out it’s perfect for chocolate.
WWOF: What makes this ingredient, the Wellvine, more nutritious?
EK: The United States Department of Agriculture and the University of California at Davis studied the marc and discovered it’s full of oligosaccharides, a carbohydrate that is processed by the body as a prebiotic. The good bacteria in our guts feed on the carbohydrate. In other words, it helps form a healthy gut microbiome.
There’s another health benefit. Because of the blending, it’s a low glycemic food, which means it doesn’t spike one’s blood sugar.
They call it a superfood. It’s a better-for-you version of chocolate.
WWOF: What kind of grapes do you use?
EK: We only use Chardonnay grapes. White grapes are not fermented after being pressed, unlike grapes for red wine, and Chardonnay has more bioactives in it. The grapes are sourced exclusively from Jackson Family Wines.
Note there’s no alcohol in the chocolate. The grapes used have never been fermented. However, the chocolate goes really well with wine.
WWOF: Does the Wellvine affect the taste of the chocolate?
EK: There’s no trade-off in taste. People don’t notice that there’s another ingredient. However, because it’s using fresh ripe fruit that has been gently processed, there’s a slightly sweet and fruit note that tempers the bitterness of the dark chocolate. Milk chocolate lovers seem to like it more. It’s closer to milk chocolate than other dark chocolates.
WWOF: Are there any other benefits to Wellvine?
EK: Because we’re repurposing the waste, it’s not going into the waste stream, so it’s also a benefit to the Earth.
WWOF: Do you have anything in store for the future?
EK: We are in the process of expanding beyond Northern California. It’s price competitive with other premium dark chocolates.
Several chefs have also taken notice. Some California restaurants, such as Valette and The Matheson, are using our chocolate to create premium desserts.
WWOF: Where can consumers find your chocolate?
EK: We’re currently found in several retailers in Northern California and in the tasting room at Jackson Family Wines. It can also be purchased online on our website.
WWOF: Is there anything else we should know about the chocolate?
EK: It’s a trifecta: it delivers on taste, health, and sustainability. It’s very unique.
For forever, chocolate has been one thing we love. We finally have a chocolate that loves you back!
We hope you enjoyed this interview with Ed Klein, Managing Director of Vine to Bar, the company using wine waste to make healthier chocolate. I now feel less guilty when I indulge!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Photos courtesy of Vine to Bar.
What other innovative products should people know about? We’d love to hear about it. Send us a message at info@winewithourfamily.com.
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