A review of microoxygenation application in wine

Oxygen has a fundamental role in the vinification process and occurs in the various stages, particularly during the fermentation and aging of wines. Phenolic compounds, such as oxygen, are relatively important in wine quality. Among polyphenols, anthocyanins and tannins are the most important compounds since they contribute to the organoleptic characteristics of wines, particularly colour and astringency. During wine‐making and aging, phenolics extracted from grapes gradually change owing to biochemical reactions, which result in a decrease in astringency as well as colour stabilization. Therefore, addition of a measured amount of oxygen, referred to as a microoxygenation process, was proposed to improve wine quality by accelerating these transformations of phenols. In a microoxygenation process, it is assumed that modification of phenolic compound reactions by oxidation should result in more coloured and less astringent products. In this article, the role of oxygen, phenolics and microoxygenation application in wine technology has been reviewed. Copyright © 2013 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Application of high‐power ultrasounds during red wine vinification

Wine colour is one of the main organoleptic characteristics influencing its quality. It is of special interest in red vinifications due to the economic resources that wineries have to invest for the extraction of the phenolic compounds responsible for wine colour, compounds that are mainly located inside the skin cell vacuoles, where the volatile compounds are also found. The transfer of phenolic compounds from grapes to must during vinification is closely related to the type of grapes and the winemaking technique. During traditional winemaking, grapes are crushed and skin macerated for several days, with pumps overs to facilitate the colour extraction. To increase this extraction, some chemical (maceration enzymes) or physical technologies (thermovinification, cryomaceration, flash‐expansion) can be applied. In this work, a new methodology has been tested. This methodology consists in the application of high‐power ultrasounds to crushed grapes to increase the extraction of phenolic compounds. Crushed grapes were treated with this non‐thermal technology and vinified, with 3, 6 and 8 days of skin maceration time, and the results were compared with a control vinification, where crushed grapes were not subjected to any treatment and were skin macerated during 8 days. The wine chromatic characteristics (determined spectrophotometrically) and the individual phenolic compounds (anthocyanins and tannins, determined by HPLC) were followed during the maceration period, at the end of alcoholic fermentation and after two months in bottle. Also, the wine volatile compounds were determined by GC‐MS. The wines made with ultrasound‐treated grapes showed differences with the control wine, especially regarding total phenol content and tannin content. The wines elaborated with sonicated grapes and with only three days of skin maceration time presented similar concentration of anthocyanins and twice the concentration of tannins than control wines elaborated with 8 days of skin maceration.     

Exclusion of sunlight from Shiraz grapes alters wine colour, tannin and sensory properties

The aim of this study was to determine how changes in grape composition brought about by artificial shading (sunlight exclusion) influence wine properties including colour, flavonoid composition and sensory attributes. Prior to flowering, bunches of Shiraz grapes were enclosed in boxes designed to eliminate light without altering bunch temperature and humidity. This artificial bunch shading had little effect on berry ripening and accumulation of sugar but at harvest the shaded bunches had smaller berries and higher seed weight, juice pH and titratable acidity. The amount of anthocyanins in the fruit was not changed significantly but anthocyanin composition in the shaded berries was shifted towards dioxygenated anthocyanins (the glucosides of cyanidin and peonidin derivatives). Shaded fruit had increased seed tannins and decreased skin tannins but the largest relative change in flavonoids was a marked decrease in flavonols in the shaded fruit, similar to previous studies. Wines made from shaded fruit had lower wine colour density, total phenolics, anthocyanins and tannins when the wine was bottled and after ageing for up to three years. Analysis of potential flavour compounds following acid hydrolysis indicated that the wines made from shaded fruit had decreased levels of glycosides of β-damascenone and 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN). Sensory analysis of the wines indicated no significant difference in aroma attributes but the wines made from shaded fruit were rated lower for astringency, fruit flavour and flavour persistence in-mouth sensory attributes. The results indicate that extreme shading of Shiraz fruit can decrease wine colour, anthocyanins and tannins as well as altering sensory attributes.     

Influence of the yeast strain on Monastrell wine colour

Two commercial yeast strains were assayed during the winemaking process of Monastrell grapes to determine their influence on colour and phenolic composition of the resulting wines during alcoholic fermentation and maturation. The results showed that in 2002, the wines did not present great differences but in 2003 higher colour intensity and phenolic compounds content were detected when one of the commercial strains was used. A discriminant statistical analysis clearly showed that different yeasts led to different wines as regard their chromatic characteristics.Industrial relevanceThe importance of yeast in winemaking is extensively known since they are responsible for the transformation of sugars into ethanol and for the formation of the most significant aroma compounds in wines. However, they may also participate in wine colour and this role is usually not taken into account in the wine industry. The choice of a yeast strain is an important factor since these microorganisms have the capacity to retain or adsorb phenolic compounds and, on the other hand, yeast may contribute to stabilizing wine colour, as a result of participating in the formation of vitisins during fermentation or liberating mannoproteins that have the capacity to bind to anthocyanins and tannins, protecting them from precipitation. Two commercial yeast strains were assayed during the winemaking process of Monastrell grapes to determine their influence on colour and phenolic composition of the resulting wines during alcoholic fermentation and maturation. The results showed that higher colour intensity and phenolic compounds content were detected when one of the commercial strains was used, both during fermentation and wine aging, and may be used as a tool during winemaking for obtaining stable and highly coloured wines.     

Relationships between berry size,berry phenolic composition and wine quality scores for Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) from different pruning treatments and different vintages

Background and Aims: Commercial winemakers observed differences in wine sensory properties among wines produced from vines of three different pruning treatments in a single vineyard. To clarify the relationships between berries and wine quality, this study examined berry size and berry composition and the quality rating for wines produced from the pruning treatments. Methods and Results: The study was conducted over three seasons. Berries from Machine‐, Cane‐ and Spur‐pruned vines were sampled at commercial harvest for analysis of berry size and berry phenolic composition. Wines made from each treatment were assessed for quality by a panel of winemakers. Machine berries were lighter and had higher concentrations of anthocyanins, tannins and total phenolics than Cane or Spur. Machine wines had the lowest quality scores. Comparing vintages, berries from 2004 were lighter, but did not always differ in phenolic composition to other vintages, and wines from 2004 had lower quality scores than the other vintages. Vintage effects were generally stronger than pruning effects. Conclusions: In this study, high berry anthocyanins, total phenolics and tannin concentration measures were not good indicators of wine quality scores. Changes in vineyard treatments and, in particular, vintage influences, produce incremental, but potentially important, changes to berry size and composition and to wine quality. Significance of the Study: This study is unique in its focus on the commercial reality of producing wines to a specific style and quality, while bringing scientific rigour to investigating the relationships between berries and wine quality in this vineyard over a number of vintages.     

Oak extract application to grapevines as a plant biostimulant to increase wine polyphenols

Oak extract is a mixture of compounds including phenolics (volatiles and non volatiles), which could act as plant biostimulant if they are able to modulate plant physiological response. It is known that it can modify grape volatile composition after the application over grapevines, impacting on wine aroma, but no studies have been carried out on phenolic composition. So, the aim of this work was to evaluate the phenolic composition of wines elaborated from Monastrell grapevines treated with a commercial oak extract in order to study its biostimulant activity. Several families of polyphenols were studied, including phenolic acids, stilbenes, flavanols, flavonols and anthocyanins, which were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-MS. Results showed oak extract could be considered like an important biostimulant of grape polyphenols, since it affected grape composition, producing less alcoholic and acid wines with higher colour intensity, lower shade and so a more stable colour and higher content of polyphenols such as gallic acid, hydroxycynnamoyltartaric acids, acylated anthocyanins, flavanols and stilbenes.     

Colour and phenolic compounds in sweet red wines from Merlot and Tempranillo grapes chamber-dried under controlled conditions

Chamber drying under controlled temperature and humidity conditions of the red grape varieties Merlot and Tempranillo grown in Andalusia (Spain), and the fortification and maceration of the musts in the presence of skin from both types of grapes, to obtain sweet red wines, has been studied. Changes in colour and in monomeric and polymeric phenols during the vinification process were examined. Chamber drying increased the sugar content to about 31.4 °Brix within 48 h in Merlot grapes and 72 h in Tempranillo grapes. This drying process also causes skin rupture, facilitating the access of phenolic compounds to the pulp. The resulting musts exhibited slight browning and increased red hues, due to a high concentration of anthocyanins; maceration in the presence of grape skins for 24 h provided the best results. The end-product contained highly acceptable tannin, colour and phenolic compounds for marketing as a high quality sweet red wine, in comparison with other commercial sweet red wines.     

Impact of Processing Parameters on the Phenolic Profile of Wines Produced from Hybrid Red Grapes Maréchal Foch,Corot noir,and Marquette

Phenolic extraction in hybrid and interspecific wine grape cultivars is poorly understood, especially in terms of the impact of fermentation and enological conditions on condensed tannins and anthocyanins. Following fractionation via solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography, phenolic profiles of must and wine from red hybrid grape cultivars Maréchal Foch, Corot noir, and Marquette were examined to assess the impact of enzyme and tannin addition, cold soak, and hot press during vinification. Across cultivars, hot press treatments resulted in the greatest extraction of condensed tannin, anthocyanin, and other monomeric phenolic compounds in musts, and treatments that increased skin contact time or cellular degradation during fermentation produced higher concentrations of tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonols. However, these increases were transient, evincing incomplete carryover into finished wines. Depending on initial must extraction, diglucoside forms of anthocyanins were either selectively extracted or selectively retained throughout fermentation when compared to their monoglucoside counterparts. Typical of hybrid grapes, tannin concentrations across cultivars were low, even under hot press conditions. For condensed tannins and anthocyanins, a cultivar‐specific, stable‐state concentration and phenolic profile emerged regardless of fermentation conditions. Due to the high levels of diglucoside anthocyanins and low levels of condensed tannins, it is expected that the color development and profile in these wines produced from hybrid grape cultivars will be dictated by the monomeric anthocyanins and their potential role in copigmentation processes involving other monomeric phenolic species, as opposed to the formation of polymeric color pigments.     

Impact of maceration time on colour‐related phenolics,sensory characteristics and volatile composition of mulberry wine

This study investigated the effect of maceration treatment on colour‐related phenolics, sensory characteristics and volatile composition in mulberry wine. Pre‐fermentation maceration was performed for 2 days (‘short’), 6 days (‘medium’) and 8 days (‘long’), respectively, followed by the same fermentation process. Results showed that the long maceration (LM) caused higher level of anthocyanins in wine, especially cyaniding‐3‐O‐rutinoside, cyaniding‐3‐O‐glucoside and dephinidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, whereas the short maceration caused lower level of phenolic acids in wine. The medium maceration (MM) wine showed the highest level of flavonols but the lowest concentration of flavan‐3‐ol. The LM wine exhibited greater red tone and colour intensity accompanied by higher amounts of free and copigmented anthocyanins. The LM wine showed lower levels of alcohols, acids, terpenoids, benzenes and sulphur compounds, whereas the lowest level of esters was found in the MM wine. The LM wine had reduced fruity and floral aroma and overall flavour complexity compared with the other wines. Copyright © 2018 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Flavonoids and C13-norisoprenoids in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz: relationships between grape and wine composition,wine colour and wine sensory properties

Background and Aims: This study investigated flavonoid composition and C₁₃-norisoprenoids (β-damascenone and β-ionone) in Shiraz grapes and wines, their relationships and links to wine sensory properties. Methods and Results: Differences in the grape berry flavonoid profile were created by exposing bunches to varying levels of sunlight intensity through canopy manipulation. Grapes were harvested at similar maturity and three replicate wines were made for each treatment in both vintages. Grapes produced under shaded canopy conditions had reduced anthocyanins and skin tannins, but little effect on seed tannins was observed. Pigmented polymers and tannins in wines were related to berry flavonoid composition (anthocyanins, skin and seed tannins, and their ratios). In grapes and wines, no significant effects were observed in response to canopy manipulation for two hydrolytically released C₁₃-norisoprenoids, β-damascenone and β-ionone. Relationships were established for wine flavonoid composition, wine colour density, sensory perception of the astringency-related mouth-feel attributes and a quality scale. A positive relationship between wine quality score and hydrolytically released β-damascenone in both berries and wines was found, but not for free β-damascenone or any quantified forms of β-ionone. Conclusion: Higher concentrations of anthocyanins and skin tannins in berries, coupled with a lower concentration of seed tannins were associated with higher wine quality. The ratio anthocyanins*skin tannins/seed tannins is proposed as an indicator of wine flavonoid composition, wine colour and wine quality. Excessive canopy shade was detrimental to berry and wine composition and intensified sensory detection of ‘straw’ and ‘herbaceous’ characters in the wines. Significance of the Study: This study increases the understanding of the balance and composition of flavonoid compounds and C₁₃-norisoprenoids in berries and their relationship with wine composition and wine sensory properties, but also highlights the importance of a canopy microclimate assessment.     

Determination of phenolic compounds in wines: Influence of bottle storage of young red wines on their evolution

Various analytical methods based on the HPLC-DAD technique were used to determine 38 phenolic compounds in red wines. While anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids were determined by direct injection of wine samples, hydroxybenzoic acids, catechins, procyanidins and flavonols required an analytical pretreatment involving liquid–liquid partitioning with ethyl ether followed by solid-phase extraction on C₁₈ mini-columns. The proposed analytical methods were used to establish the phenol composition of Mencía and Brancellao, two varietal young red wines, and its influence on colour stability during storage in bottles for one year. At the end of malolactic fermentation, Mencía wine was found to contain much greater amounts of anthocyan pigments than was Brancellao wine. This resulted in a higher colour density but a weaker hue in Mencía wine than in Brancellao wine. Phenolic compounds evolved similarly in both wines during storage; changes in such compounds involved a decrease in the levels of monomeric anthocyanins, phenolic acids, epicatechin and flavonols, and an increase in those of procyanidins. The absence of a relationship between the changes in colour density and monomeric anthocyanins in both wines suggests that copigmentation and polymerization with other phenolic compounds (viz. phenolic acids, catechins and/or flavonols) prevail over degradation of the pigments.     

The effect of some processing variables on non-coloured phenolic compounds in port wines

The non-coloured phenolic fraction of fortified port wines was studied. Trials using several mash-extraction techniques which may be used during port wine making were evaluated for their effectiveness by measuring qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolics. Total phenolic compounds measured by spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis were compared, and the greater values obtained using spectrophotometry are attributable to the contribution of anthocyanins and non-phenolic UV-absorbing compounds. Quantitative and qualitative differences in composition were observed depending on the extraction mode. The greatest total phenolic content was found in port wine made by traditional foot treading, while early addition of extra alcohol to the mash had a neutral or negative effect on the yield of phenolic compounds.     

The effect of some processing variables on non-coloured phenolic compounds in port wines

 The non-coloured phenolic fraction of fortified port wines was studied. Trials using several mash-extraction techniques which may be used during port wine making were evaluated for their effectiveness by measuring qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolics. Total phenolic compounds measured by spectrophotometry and HPLC analysis were compared, and the greater values obtained using spectrophotometry are attributable to the contribution of anthocyanins and non-phenolic UV-absorbing compounds. Quantitative and qualitative differences in composition were observed depending on the extraction mode. The greatest total phenolic content was found in port wine made by traditional foot treading, while early addition of extra alcohol to the mash had a neutral or negative effect on the yield of phenolic compounds. Received: 20 March 1997     

Grape pigment phenomena: Interpretation of major colour losses during vinification

Large decreases in colour density during the making of red wines, whether by the traditional fermentation on skins or by thermovinification, have not previously been explained in terms of juice and wine composition. The major colour loss is actually due to the extreme instability of deeply coloured pigment structures initially present in the juice extract to ethanol, whereas decrease in anthocyanin content is a minor contributing factor. The consequent decline in colour density during fermentation can be as much as five-fold under conditions of high pH. Both red and blue chromophoric forms of the anthocyanins, in self-association and co-pigmentation with related flavonoid phenolics, are proposed as being present in the juice pigments. The stability of such complexes is ascribed to intermolecular hydrogen bonding forces. The existence of two nearly distinct phases in the accounting of total phenolics during ‘evolution ’of a red wine is emphasised.     

Effects of Vinification Techniques Combined with UV‐C Irradiation on Phenolic Contents of Red Wines

Red wines are typically high in phenolic and antioxidant capacity and both of which can be increased by vinification techniques. This study employed 3 vinification techniques to assess the increase in phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. Wines were obtained from Bo?azkere grape cultivar by techniques of classical maceration, cold maceration combined with ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation, and thermovinification combined with UV irradiation and changes in phenolic contents were examined. Total phenolic and anthocyanin contents and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of wines were measured spectrophotometrically and phenolic contents (+)‐catechin, (–)‐epicatechin, rutin, quercetin, trans‐resveratrol, and cis‐resveratrol were measured by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC‐DAD). As a result of the study, the highest phenolic content except for quercetin was measured in the wines obtained by thermovinification combined with UV irradiation. We demonstrated that the highest phenolic compounds with health effect, total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity were obtained from thermovinification with UV‐C treatment than classical wine making.     

外源脱落酸处理对葡萄果实及葡萄酒中抗氧化成分的影响

以天津蓟州区栽培的"美乐"和"赤霞珠"葡萄为试验品种,分别在其始熟期的初、中和末期3个阶段利用外源脱落酸(200 mg/L)处理果实,采用分光光度法测定葡萄和葡萄酒中酚类总含量和抗氧化活性,利用液质联用技术分析花色苷的含量和组成.研究结果表明:始熟期的外源脱落酸处理对成熟果实的质量、可溶性固形物、可滴定酸和pH值,以及葡萄籽的酚类含量和抗氧化活性没有显著影响,但对葡萄皮和葡萄酒的酚类物质含量和活性具有显著影响.在始熟期中期(30％ ～50％果实转色)以前,对果实喷施外源脱落酸可以显著提高葡萄皮和葡萄酒的酚类总含量、花色苷总含量和抗氧化活性.始熟期外源脱落酸处理使"美乐"和"赤霞珠"果实的酚类总含量分别提高了14％ ～39％和73％ ～172％,花色苷总含量和抗氧化活性分别提高了18％ ～143％和88％ ～178％;外源脱落酸处理使葡萄酒的3个指标(酚类总含量、花色苷总含量和抗氧化活性)分别提高了17％ ～69％、18％ ～36％和21％ ～46％,而这些影响可以有效改善葡萄酒的感官品质和营养价值.外源脱落酸处理时期的精准控制可以提高酿酒葡萄及葡萄酒中酚类物质含量及抗氧化作用,进而提高葡萄酒品质和营养价值.     

Evolution of polyphenolic compounds in red wine from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes processed by pulsed electric fields during aging in bottle

The evolution of the Folin–Ciocalteu index, colour intensity and the principal individual polyphenols throughout 12 months of aging in bottles of red wine from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes treated and untreated by pulsed electric fields (PEF) have been compared. PEF technology allowed bottling of wines with higher Folin–Ciocalteu index, colour intensity and individual polyphenols concentrations using a shorter maceration time. For both wines, aging did not affect the colour intensity, whereas the Folin–Ciocalteu index decreased. The evolution of the principal individual polyphenols during the 12 months of storage followed a similar pattern in both wines. At the end of aging, there were no significant differences observed in the content of monomeric anthocyanins between both wines, however, the content of flavan-3-ols, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives was higher in PEF treated wine. These results indicate that PEF could be a suitable technology for obtaining wines with higher phenolic content or reducing the maceration time during vinification.     

Do white grapes really exist?

Anthocyanins are natural coloured pigments representing part of the protective mechanism of many plants, including Vitis vinifera L., and they have a considerable influence on wine quality. Moreover, the presence of anthocyanins in ripe berries is used as the accepted qualitative parameter for distinguishing red from white grapes, since these pigments are known to be present only in red berries. On the other hand, pyranoanthocyanins are important pigments for the colour stability of red wines and are known to be formed after berry crushing, during vinification and wine ageing.In this work, for the first time we provide clear evidence that the skin of international white grape cultivars (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling) contains measurable traces of anthocyanins. In addition, for the first time we report clear proofs about the presence of pyranomalvidin 3-O-glucoside (B-type vitisin) and carboxypyranomalvidin 3-O-glucoside (A-type vitisin) in fresh grapes and we quantify them.