Red Grape Pomace: From Winery Waste to Wellness Ingredient
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At Extracta, we believe that nutrition and sustainability should go hand in hand. That’s why we’re proud to work with upcycled ingredients like red grape pomace—a by-product of winemaking that is anything but waste.
Australian red wine pomace stands out for its exceptional polyphenol richness, clean production standards, and sustainable provenance, and Extracta proudly sources from an award-winning Australian organic winery, ensuring a superior, traceable ingredient with both health and environmental benefits.
Once the juice is pressed from grapes, what remains—skins, seeds, and stems—is known as pomace. This overlooked material contains a rich blend of dietary fibre and phytonutrients such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins. Today, science is uncovering just how beneficial these compounds can be for human health.
Recent reviews, such as Grape Pomace—Advances in Its Bioactivity, Health Benefits, and Food Applications (Almanza-Oliveros et al., 2022), provide compelling evidence that grape pomace deserves a second life as a valuable health ingredient.
The Nutritional Power of Red Grape Pomace
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Rich in dietary fibre
Red grape pomace is naturally high in insoluble and soluble fibre, supporting digestive regularity and gut health. Fibre also provides a fermentation substrate for the gut microbiota, enhancing the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids. -
Packed with polyphenols
Compounds such as anthocyanins, resveratrol, flavanols, and tannins remain concentrated in grape skins and seeds. These polyphenols are widely studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vascular benefits. See previous blog on why whole grape is a better option than resveratrol alone -
Synergistic matrix
Because fibre and polyphenols are co-located in pomace, they can work together in the digestive tract—slowing release, improving bioavailability, and supporting balanced microbiota.
Health Benefits Backed by Research
1. Antioxidant & Anti-inflammatory Support
The polyphenols in grape pomace help neutralise free radicals and modulate inflammatory pathways, reducing oxidative stress—a factor linked with ageing and chronic disease.
2. Cardiovascular Wellness
Studies have shown that grape pomace extracts may help support healthy blood lipids, reduce LDL oxidation, and promote vascular flexibility—all key aspects of heart health.
3. Gut Health & Microbiome Balance
The combination of dietary fibre and bioactive polyphenols in pomace has demonstrated prebiotic potential, fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and contributing to improved digestive wellbeing. The link between gut and health is well established.
4. Metabolic & Weight Management Potential
Preclinical evidence suggests that pomace polyphenols may help regulate glucose metabolism and reduce adiposity under high-fat diet conditions, though more clinical research is needed.
5. Emerging Applications
Beyond human health, pomace extracts have shown antimicrobial and preservative potential, opening new doors in food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications.
For a detailed scientific overview, see the open-access article here: Grape Pomace—Advances in Its Bioactivity, Health Benefits, and Food Applications.
Sustainability at the Core
Each year, millions of tonnes of grape pomace are produced globally, much of which goes unused. By upcycling this by-product into nutrient-dense ingredients, Extracta supports:
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Reducing agricultural waste
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Lowering greenhouse gas emissions from landfill
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Creating new value streams for Australian winemakers
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Delivering natural, functional ingredients to health and wellness industries
This is circular nutrition in action—turning surplus into solutions.
To date, Extracta has already saved more than 60 tonnes of grape pomace from landfill — transforming what was once waste into a premium, nutrient-rich ingredient that supports both human health and the planet.
Landfill impact: Diverting 60 tonnes from landfill prevents the release of around 90 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent greenhouse gases (based on average organic waste emissions).
The Extracta Difference
Extracta partners with leading Australian wineries to transform grape pomace into premium fibre-rich powders and extracts. Using a chemical-free, low-energy drying process, we retain maximum nutrient value while keeping our footprint small.
Whether for use in functional foods, nutraceuticals, pet health, or personal care, our red grape pomace ingredients offer a unique combination of health benefits and sustainability credentials.
Conclusion
Red grape pomace is no longer just the residue of winemaking—it’s a super-ingredient waiting to be unlocked. With its combination of fibre, antioxidants, and gut-friendly compounds, it supports multiple aspects of health while advancing sustainability.
At Extracta, we’re proud to be at the forefront of upcycling Australia’s harvest into tomorrow’s health solutions.