Use of microfungi in the treatment of oak chips: possible effects on wine

BACKGROUND: Oak barrels are commonly used in the aging of wines and spirits because of their positive effects on the product. In recent years the addition of oak chips has been used to introduce desirable wood aromas and flavours into wines. In this study, oak chips in saline solution or laboratory medium were inoculated with Penicillium purpurogenum, Aureobasidium pullulans, Phialemonium obovatum, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and a combination of Ph. chrysosporium and A. pullulans. After 12 weeks of incubation, oak chips (2 g L^?1) were macerated in a red wine for 17 days. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and high‐performance liquid chromatography were used to evaluate 14 compounds, namely furfural, furfuryl alcohol, guaiacol, syringol, cis‐β‐methyl‐γ‐octalactone, 2‐phenylethanol, 4‐vinylguaiacol, benzyl alcohol, 2,3‐butanediol, γ‐butyrolactone, benzaldehyde, 4‐ethylguaiacol, gallic acid and ellagic acid. RESULTS: The microfungal treatments increased the concentration of some components. In particular, P. purpurogenum resulted in a significant improvement in the levels of guaiacol, furfural, syringol, furfuryl alcohol and 2‐phenylethanol. CONCLUSION: Penicillium purpurogenum and Ph. chrysosporium showed a constant trend (enrichment of furfural and benzaldehyde) independent to some extent of the medium used for chip treatment. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of Oak Chips Geographical Origin,Toast Level,Dosage and Aging Time on Volatile Compounds of Apple Cider

The effects of different geographical origin, levels of toasting, dosage and the aging time of oak chips on volatile compounds released into ciders were studied. The oak chips tested were the same size and with three different toast levels (light, medium and heavy) from French, American and Chinese oak. The oak wood chips were immersed in identical ciders. Higher alcohols, acids and esters were determined by headspace (HS)–solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS), while oak‐related aroma compounds including trans‐and cis‐oak lactones, guaiacol, 4‐methylguaiacol, furfural, 5‐methylfurfural, vanillin, eugenol and isoeugenol, were determined by liquid‐liquid extraction by means of ultrasound and GC/MS selective ion monitoring (SIM). The results showed that there was little difference between the oak‐related volatile compositions of ciders aged with French oak chips and those aged with American oak chips, but that there were obvious differences with Chinese oak chips. It was observed that oak chips, at medium toasting levels, released the highest concentrations of volatile components into the ciders. Most of the oak‐related volatile aroma compounds extracted had an increase that depended on the oak chip dosage with the exception of guaiacol and furfural.     

Analysis of volatile composition of toasted and non‐toasted commercial chips by GC‐MS after an accelerated solvent extraction method

The analysis of the volatile profile of different oak chips carried out by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after their isolation by accelerated solvent extraction permitted faster and thorough extractions, while the appearance of artefacts was avoided. Statistical analysis revealed that toasting treatment is the main factor for the volatile compounds with a great sensorial impact. Indeed, toasting process overrode the differences between species. Furthermore, it was evidenced that the toasting treatment is not a homogeneity process. Concentrations of furaneol, 2,3‐dihydro‐3,5‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one and 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural could be used to monitor the intensity of the toasting process. Differences in the volatile composition with respect to species were also found, being the most remarkable the high concentration of trans and cis‐β‐methyl‐γ‐octanolactone in oak chips from Quercus alba and Quercus petraea species. The differences found in the volatile composition of different commercial oak chips evidenced the necessity to know their chemical composition previously to predict their aromatic potential.     

不同产地和烘烤程度橡木片对葡萄酒陈酿香气的影响

采用顶空固相微萃取和气相色谱-质谱联用技术,测定不同产地和烘烤程度橡木片陈酿的葡萄酒中主要陈酿香气成分,并进行主成分分析和判别分析。结果表明,橡木产地和烘烤程度2 种因素对葡萄酒中的陈酿香气成分大多具有显著或极显著影响,糠醛、5-甲基糠醛、顺式橡木内酯、香草醛、愈创木酚、4-甲基愈创木酚、丁子香酚、4-乙基苯酚和4-乙基愈创木酚,9 种化合物均是受烘烤程度的影响更大,而反式橡木内酯、反式异丁子香酚,2 种化合物则受产地因素的影响更大。主成分分析结果表明,提取的3 个主成分的方差累计贡献率达到83.8%,能够反映不同橡木对葡萄酒陈酿香气的影响。通过判别分析,确定不同橡木陈酿的葡萄酒,香气成分产生差异的主要化合物,并建立了区分橡木产地和烘烤程度的分类模型,可根据各种陈酿香气成分的含量,判别不同产地和烘烤程度橡木陈酿的葡萄酒。     

Aging marker profile in cachaça is influenced by toasted oak chips

Cachaça is the most important distilled spirit in Brazil and the fourth most consumed in the world. Aging is not mandatory for cachaça. When aging is carried out, casks generally do not undergo the final wood toasting. However the level of thermal degradation of wood influences the formation of new chemical compounds, which are released during the aging process and improve the quality of the spirit. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of origin of wood and toasting intensity of oak chips on the profile of aging markers in cachaça. Staves of oak wood from the forests of Allier, Vosges and Nièvre (France) were milled and screened at 9 mesh. The chips underwent light, medium and heavy toasting. The toasted chips were added to cachaça (1 g/L) and kept in a closed system at room temperature, without agitation, for 15 days. The aging congeners (gallic acid, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, vanillin, vanillic acid, syringaldehyde, sinapaldehyde, syringic acid and coniferaldehyde) were analysed using HPLC. The increase in toasting intensity enhanced the content of the aging markers in cachaça, especially syringic acid, vanillin, syringaldehyde, coniferaldehyde and sinapaldehyde. The generation of aging marker compounds was influenced only by the toasting intensity and not by the origin of the oak wood. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Volatile composition and sensory characteristics of Chardonnay wines treated with American and Hungarian oak chips

Toasted or non-toasted chips of oak woods of different geographical provenances were macerated in Chardonnay wines (4 g/l) during a period of 25 days. Oak lactones were detected in significant quantities in wines treated with American oak. Only trace amounts of oak lactones were detected in the wines treated with Hungarian oak. Toasting of the oaks increased the quantities of the compounds derived from the thermal degradation of lignin: vanillin, eugenol, guaiacol and its derivatives and the pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose: furfural and 5-methyl furfural, and decreased the concentrations of the two isomers of oak lactones. The concentrations of the majority of the volatile compounds did not present statistically significant differences between 15 and 25 days. However, the wines preferred by the tasters and with maximum intensity of the sensory attributes acquired were those treated with oak chips for 25 days. Chemical and sensorial analyses of wines revealed that the effect of the toasting of oak chips on wine characteristics was greater than the type of oak used. All wines studied were positively evaluated by the panellists.     

Statistical differentiation of wines of different geographic origin and aged in barrel according to some volatile components and ethylphenols

The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of wine composition and geographical origin on the accumulation of volatile compounds in barrel-aged wines. Therefore, 267 wines belonging to different origin appellations were analysed. In order to analyse the data, a multivariate statistical technique was applied, that can be quite useful in creating an overall view of the problem in which multiple variables are analysed. Statistical analysis gave four significant factors, accounting for 84.12% of the variance. These factors summarise the information of a group of variables closely correlated to each other. Factor 1 grouped together oak lactones and eugenol, so it was associated with oak barrel type and with toasting of barrels. Factor 2 was associated with ethylphenols, related to wine quality diminution. Factor 3 grouped together guaiacol, furfural, and 5-methylfurfural, and was thus associated with wood thermal degradation; factor 4 was associated with the cis/trans ratio, related to oak origin. Whereas geographical origin of wines affected the accumulation of volatile compounds, the cis/trans ratio was only affected by oak barrel type. Among the tested parameters, alcoholic degree was the enological parameter that had the greatest effect on the accumulation of volatile compounds in wines. Oak lactones were the compounds that were present in all wines, so they could be used as oak ageing indicators.     

应用液液萃取分析中度烘烤橡木片中挥发性化合物

运用液液萃取与气相色谱-质谱联用技术,研究美国、法国与中国中度烘烤程度橡木片的挥发性化合物。共分离和检测出85种挥发性化合物,包括2种萜烯醇类、1种醛类、7种有机酸类、2种酯类、3种内酯类、7种芳香族类、6种酮类、15种呋喃类、34种酚类,以及8种其他化合物。酚类化合物在橡木中种类较多,浓度较高。定量结果表明,丁香醛、香兰素、糠醛、5-羟甲基糠醛等物质质量浓度较高,对橡木的整体风味影响较大。从呋喃类、橡木内酯、香兰素和丁香醛等化合物比较看,中国橡木与美国橡木类似。     

Antioxidant capacity, scavenger activity, and ellagitannins content from commercial oak pieces used in winemaking

In 2005, the European Union authorized the use of oak wood pieces in winemaking, and consequently, the addition of oak chips has been generalized. Thus, the antioxidant capacity, scavenger activity, and ellagitannins content from fourteen different commercial oak wood pieces (Quercus spp.) that can be found on the Portuguese market as alternatives to barrels for aging wines were studied. Commercial oak wood pieces samples from Quercus petraea had significantly higher antioxidant activity values than the pieces from Quercus alba species. In general, antioxidant capacity and scavenging activity decrease with the toasting level of the oak wood pieces samples analyzed. A similar effect was detected in the individual ellagitannin content studied. On the other hand, with the toasting process, the total phenolic content and the ellagic acid concentration increased. Finally, a correlation analysis revealed that ellagitannins contribute to the antioxidant capacity of oak wood pieces studied. From the data presented in this paper, antioxidant capacity and ellagitannin content of the oak wood pieces studied have been clearly related either to the oak wood species used, particle size, or to toasting levels.     

Effect of Oak Chips on Evolution of Phenolic Compounds and Color Attributes of Bog Bilberry Syrup Wine During Bottle‐Aging

This study investigated the evolution of phenolic compounds of bog bilberry syrup wine during a bottle‐aging process, and further estimated the oak chip treatment on the wine color alteration. The wine was macerated with oak chips (2 or 5 g/L under light or medium toasting level) for 20 d and then bottle‐aged for 6 mo. Results showed that the oak chip treatment significantly increased the content of phenolic compounds and enhanced the copigmented anthocyanin level before aging. It also resulted in an increase on a^* and C^* but a decrease on L^*, b^*, and H^* of the wine. During aging process, a content decrease of total phenol and antioxidant capacity of the wine was observed. Phenolic acids, flavonol glycosides, and anthocyanins reduced the content, whereas flavonol increased the content. Free and copigmented anthocyanin levels decreased, whereas polymerized anthocyanins level increased. This process caused an increase on L^*, b^*, and H^*, but a decrease on a^* and C^*. The oak chip treatment delayed the wine color change and its effect was mainly depended on the addition amount. Partial least square regression revealed that flavonol glycosides, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins displayed a positive correlation with L^*, b^*, and H^*, but a negative correlation with a^* and C^*. Quercetin‐3‐O‐glucuronide, myricetin‐3‐O‐galactoside, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin exerted a more important effect on the color alteration in wine.     

Sensory Evaluation of Sherry Vinegar: Traditional Compared to Accelerated Aging With Oak Chips

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to describe the sensory profile of wine vinegars aged with oak chips (accelerated aging) compared with those elaborated by a traditional method (sherry vinegar). Two types of oak chips (American and French) were used to perform sample infusions. The chips were subjected to toasting to simulate the heating effect during oak board bending in cask construction. Ten sensory parameters were selected to describe the vinegars with 11 trained panelists. Sensory profiles were compared and sensorial differences observed among the samples analyzed. These differences are largely associated with the pungent sensation rather than the sensory attributes generated from the oak wood.     

Effect of oak matrix (barrel and toasted chips) on the volatiles in Goji (Lycium Chinese) wine

The extraction efficiencies of volatiles from lightly toasted, medium‐toasted and heavily toasted oak chips with different solvents and the effect of oak matrix (chips and barrel) on the volatile composition of fermented Goji wine were surveyed. Of four different polarity solvents (water, ethanol, ether and dichloromethane), ethanol was the most effective solvent for the extraction of volatiles. The extraction efficiency of volatiles was related to the concentration of ethanol and the toast intensity of chips, and the most efficient extraction configuration was with 30% (v/v) ethanol and medium‐toasted chips. The effect of oak matrix on aroma composition and sensory characteristics of Goji wine was also evaluated. The changes in volatiles were related to the type of oak matrix. Odour activity value analysis and principal component analysis suggested that the effect of medium‐toasted chips on Goji wine was closest to an oak barrel. Sensory analysis showed that caramel, coffee, floral and vanillin flavour were enhanced in medium‐toasted chips, linked to the content of ethyl dihydrocinnamate, vaniliin and eugenol. Copyright © 2017 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Use of species other than oak to flavor wine: an exploratory survey

The concept of geographical exclusivity prompted an exploratory survey with toasted woods other than oak to flavor wine. A total of 11 woods and oak (Quercus alba) were cut into chips 20 × 10 × 2.5 mm and toasted at 200 °C for 2 h (light toast) or 210 °C for 3 h (dark). Weight losses and changes in CIE color space were monitored. The toasted chips were infused in unoaked chardonnay (5 g L(-1)) for 2 wk. Parallel infusions were done with model wine (water, ethanol, tartaric acid) adjusted to pH 3.5. Ultraviolet absorbances due to infusion were recorded on the basis that that lignin compounds and their potential pyrolysates are based on phenolic structures that absorb in the ultraviolet range. Weight losses on light and dark toasting were highly variable between species as were color changes, suggesting potential for different flavor outcomes from chemical changes. Ultraviolet absorbance curves were also highly variable showing that different species yielded different quantities of potentially flavor-active phenolic compounds in real and model wine. More absorbing matter was extracted from the light toast treatments, and light toast oak, which demonstrated the greatest weight loss on light toasting, yielded the widest range of ultraviolet-absorbing matter. In an informal sensory trial with the 24 species/toast combinations infused in chardonnay all but one wood, Cupressus macrocarpa, resulted in flavors reminiscent of oaked wines. A hedonic consumer trial with 4 species and oak compared with uninfused chardonnay showed that each of the 4 had potential as a flavorant. Thus, woods unsuited to barrel construction could provide unrealized flavor opportunities in the wine industry, and could extend to flavoring spirits.     

不同橡木片处理对马瑟兰干红葡萄酒品质的影响

该试验以酿酒葡萄马瑟兰为原料,研究在葡萄酒发酵中期不同烘烤度和添加量的橡木片对葡萄酒品质的影响,通过检测酒样理化指标、酚类物质及CIELab颜色参数确定最佳处理。结果表明,橡木片烘烤度的增加对葡萄酒中酚类物质含量以及颜色优化有积极作用,而无烘烤度的橡木片对花色苷含量无积极影响,随橡木片添加量的增加有类似作用,且对颜色影响大于烘烤度的变化,其中添加2 g/L中度烘烤橡木片效果最佳,酒样的单宁、总酚、总花色苷含量分别提高38.60%、10.60%、10.28%;a*值、b*值分别提升12.02%、67.90%。     

The evaluation of remedial treatments for wine affected by Harmonia axyridis

This study evaluated the efficacy of a range of commercially available fining agents and other interventions on reducing 2‐isopropyl‐3‐methoxypyrazine (IPMP) concentration and taint characteristics of white and red wine affected by Harmonia axyridis (HA). Wines fermented in the presence of HA beetles were treated with bentonite, activated charcoal, oak chips, deodorized oak chips and either ultraviolet (red wine) or visible (white wine) light. IPMP concentrations were lowered by activated charcoal in white wine and deodorized oak in red wine. Treatment with oak chips reduced the intensity of HA‐associated sensory attributes (‘ladybug taint’) in both white and red wines, while other applications generally had no effect on white wine and limited effect on red wines.     

Effect of oak wood on the quality of beer

Maturation in wood is an important practice that is widely used in the production of high‐quality beverages. The effect of French oak cubes on young lager beer was studied. Oak cubes (with light, medium or heavy toasting) were added to the beer, which was stored at 0°C for 3 months. Beer samples were analysed monthly, and an acceptance test was performed at the end of 3 months. The content of volatile compounds (aldehydes, esters and higher alcohols) was determined by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector, and the content of low molecular weight phenolic compounds was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The contents of aldehydes, esters, higher alcohols and wood‐derived compounds increased during the 3‐month maturation period. Lager beer stored with heavily toasted oak cubes had the highest concentration of low‐molecular‐weight phenolic compounds, followed by the beer matured in an oak barrel. These results suggest that beer maturation in wood barrels or with oak cubes changed the composition of their oak‐related aromatic compounds, indicating that interactions between the beer and the wood occurred. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

烘烤强度和木纹理对橡木（Quercus petraea）心材多酚和香气的影响

考察不同烘烤程度对不同纹理橡木心材试样中低分子质量酚酸和挥发性物质含量的影响,结果表明烘烤过程将会改变橡木心材的物质组成,并通过相应的化学反应增加挥发性物质的含量。同时,在不考虑烘烤强度条件下,供试的细纹理橡木心材试样含有较高的挥发性物质含量,例如顺/反橡木内脂、顺/反异丁子香酚、呋喃醛、紫丁香醇,以及芥子醛、松柏醛、香草醛和丁香醛等低分子质量酚类化合物,而中纹理和粗纹理的样品则表现出较高的总酚、总单宁水平,以及较高的鞣花酸和没食子酸含量。此外,主成分分析显示,中纹理和细纹理样品的中度和重度烘烤处理与橡木心材试样的挥发性物质含量有较大的正相关性,而粗纹理的未烘烤和轻度烘烤样品则与试样中总单宁和阿魏酸含量呈正相关。