Alpha-Amino Nitrogen (PAN)

Alpha-Amino Nitrogen (PAN/FAN) is a combination of 20 amino acids utilized by vines, yeast, and bacteria. While they are naturally occurring in grapes, nutrient cocktails are also commonly added early on to facilitate complete fermentations and to prevent eggy H2S formation. These products used for supplementation are powerful modern tools that should be used sparingly and in consideration of their limitations.  Not all amino acids are equal, and not all nutrients are nitrogen. In addition to amino acids, yeasts also require minerals from the soil and micronutrients from the vine, both of which increase in uptake and availability when grown on healthy soils. Healthy soils are full of bacteria, fungi, insects, grazing animals, and other plants that contribute to the biodiversity of the vineyard. As organic matter increases in healthy soils it facilitates the transport of amino acids and minerals to the vine. Utilizing natural systems to regulate the balance in a vineyard is far more adv