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Mark 12 Years at Meron

Mark has been a vital ingredient in Meron’s recipe for excellence in wine and spirits analysis for twelve years. Since hired as Chemical Analyst in 2012, his technical know-how quickly became a key asset to the team. By 2016, he had stepped up as Principal Analyst, playing a significant role alongside his colleagues in achieving Meron’s ISO 17025 accreditation and leading the implementation of GC-MS/MS technology—a collective achievement highlighting the team’s dedication to quality. 🏆

Since 2019, Mark has been the Team Leader in the laboratory, while stepping up on his role within Meron’s management team. He believes that teamwork is great because he has a diverse group that ranges from non-drinkers to home-brewing enthusiasts. Mark excels at bringing out the best in his team, nurturing their scientific talents while igniting a shared passion for quality control. 

Mark in his early days at Meron

Despite working with complex chemicals and high-tech gadgets, the lab under Mark’s guidance isn’t just about serious faces and precise measurements—it’s also filled with light-hearted moments that keep the team smiling and the lab buzzing.

When he’s not ensuring that Meron’s customers get the most contextual results in quality inside the lab, Mark enjoys lining up shots at the pool table. His commitment to delivering quality products is a shared mission, making him not just a leader but a teammate who embodies Meron’s values. 

So who is the man behind the lab coat? 

What is your favorite drink?

I’m not a “real drinker” but if there’s one thing that can make me happy, it’s a spiced rum or a good limoncello!

Did your work ever allow you to detect a bad drink in your social life?

When you work at Meron you are (un)consciously trained in all the off-notes from our off-note screener. It happens regularly that I am eating out somewhere and I come across one!

What do you prefer: the lab or the meeting room?

The laboratory is and remains my passion of course. There is nothing better than tinkering with technology!

If your team has a motto, what is it?

The funny thing about quality is that it can always be improved.

Willem Schouten

Without temperature control, analysis would be unreliable and inconsistent. This environment allows for precision in identifying faults, understanding structure, and documenting development.

Why Wine Should Be Analysed Throughout Transport and Storage

A bottle might leave a winery in perfect condition, but its journey isn’t always smooth. Transport and storage environments vary wildly. From cargo containers to shop shelves, wines encounter heat, cold, vibration, and light. Each of these variables can influence flavour, aroma, texture, and ageing potential.

We have seen it happen: a wine that passed initial testing at the winery can taste very different after a long-haul shipment or poor storage conditions. That’s why it is smart to analyse wine at different points: before release, after transport, mid-storage, and pre-consumption. These stages reveal how the wine holds up in real-world conditions.

Wine Analysis Journey

Best Timing for Wine Analysis at Meron

The timing depends on your role in the wine’s journey as a producer, distributor or retailer.

  • Pre-release: Understand how the wine is evolving in bottle.
  • After shipping: Check for heat damage or cold stress.
  • During storage: Monitor consistency across different batches.
  • If something tastes off: Confirm whether changes in profile are due to environmental factors.

Our fully certified lab and independent testing can help identify what happened, how it happened, and whether it’s reversible or if it’s time to rethink storage or shipping protocols.

Does Temperature Define Wine Quality?

Temperature is not the only factor affecting a wine’s performance, but it is one of the most unforgiving. It can’t fix a wine’s flaws, but it can highlight or mask them. And once heat damage sets in, there’s no way back.

Handled well, temperature can bring out a wine’s complexity and balance. Mishandled, it flattens, distorts, and disappoints. Whether you’re sipping by the pool or sending a new vintage across the globe, a few degrees can change everything.

Before you raise your next glass, take a moment to check the temperature. It might just be the detail that lets the wine speak for itself.

How do you serve your wine? Here is how Anna Niepoort and other industry leaders see it: 

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