Original article: Prediction of the colour and polyphenolic composition of the young red wines from the phenolic potential of the grapes

The phenolic potential of the grapes of Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot produced in the south region of Uruguay was analysed in four years. The grapes of Tannat had the highest total phenolic richness (A280 = 80.0), total anthocyanin potential (ApH1 = 2540 mg L^?1) and extractable anthocyanin potential (ApH3.2 = 1269 mg L^?1), although there were important differences between the years. Representative winemaking of each vineyard was carried out. The differences verified in the grapes phenolic indexes were related to the colour and polyphenolic composition of the wines. The correlations between the phenolic indexes of the grapes and the colour and polyphenolic composition of the wines were very high. The estimation of the polyphenolic richness and the extractability of the anthocyanins of the grapes allow to improve the management of the winemaking and the prediction of the chromatic characteristics and the global polyphenolic composition of the wines.     

Prediction of red wine colour and phenolic parameters from the analysis of its grape extract

Herein, the phenolic composition and colour attributes of red grapes extracts (obtained with a fast methodology) were correlated with those of their corresponding wines to predict the final quality properties of wines. The phenolic parameters were evaluated as total phenolic compounds (TPC), total anthocyanins (TA) and total condensed tannins (TCT), whereas the chromatic parameters were evaluated as colour intensity (CI), tonality (To), and the percentages of yellow, red and blue tones. All of them were determined by usual UV–Vis spectrophotometric methods. To get robust models, grapes of five red varieties were collected at three different ripening stages throughout the 2009 vintage. Good correlations between the results from grapes and wines were obtained, showing high regression coefficients and low prediction errors for TPC (R² = 0.929, RMSE = 5.99%), TA (R² = 0.953, RMSE = 7.23%) and CI (R² = 0.954, RMSE = 7.58), concluding that these wine phenolic properties can be predicted reliably from the extracts obtained with an optimised fast extraction method from grapes on the ripening controls along the maturity process.     

The effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces bayanus yeast on colour properties and pigment profiles of a Cabernet Sauvignon red wine

Red wine was made from the same batch of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes but with two different yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) or Saccharomyces bayanus (SB). The colour properties and pigment profiles of SC and SB wines were compared at 8 days and 387 days after yeast inoculation. Grape anthocyanin concentration was found to be lower in SB wines than in SC wines at day 8 and 387, but SB wine exhibited greater wine colour density, a* and b*. The anthocyanin concentration did not correlate with wine colour density. The levels of pigmented polymers and SO₂ non-bleachable pigments were found to be higher in SB wine at day 387, demonstrating that the formation of stable pyranoanthocyanins and pigmented polymers was enhanced by SB yeast. Electrospray mass spectrometry was used for the compositional analysis of pyranoanthocyanins, and direct and ethyl-bridged linked condensation dimers of malvidin 3- O -glucoside (MvG) with flavanols (catechin or epicatechin). The data demonstrated that the formation of acetaldehyde-mediated pigments was enhanced by the use of the SB yeast. The compositional analysis suggested that the differences in colour properties and pigment profiles of SC and SB wines were largely due to the greater production of acetaldehyde-mediated pigments by the use of SB yeast.     

Effects of fining with different bentonite labels and doses on colloidal stability and colour of a Valpolicella red wine

This study addressed four different labels of activated sodium bentonite during the fining of a young Valpolicella red wine. Preliminary tests determined the bentonite dose (0.15, 0.30 or 0.50 g L^?1) that would achieve colloidal stability, and this dose was further applied during laboratory‐scale trials. The bentonites were characterised by physico‐chemical parameters, and the effects of the label and dose on the wine colloidal stability, proteins, colour indices and phenolic compounds were measured. The results demonstrated that 0.50 g L^?1 for every bentonite label provided colloidal stabilisation without harshly affecting the colour. Unlike to what happens in white wines the least charged bentonite labels were effective at stabilising the red wine colloidal state by partially reducing its protein content. Simultaneously, the most negatively charged clay samples determined the largest depletions on the total polyphenols, anthocyanins, tannins and polymeric pigments. The differentiated action of clays with different surface charge density among white and red wines may be explained by the interaction mediated by positively charged anthocyanins towards either protein or tannin depletion. Although pioneering, these results may move towards the definition of a safe, allergen‐free, and effective adjuvant for colloidal stabilisation targeted to wine type.     

Studies on the copigmentation between anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols and their influence in the colour expression of red wine

With the aim of evaluating the importance of the copigmentation process between anthocyanins and flavanols on the colour expression of red wine, assays were carried out in wine model systems with mixtures of compounds obtained from two Vitis vinifera grape varieties (Graciano and Tempranillo). Spectrophotometric and chromatic analyses were performed to evaluate the magnitude of the copigmentation and the modifications induced in the colour of the solutions. Measurement of the changes in the anthocyanin hydration constant (K_h) was also used to determine the strength of the copigmentation process. All the flavanols assayed induced significant changes in the colour, perceptible to the human eye, of the wine-like anthocyanin solutions at concentrations similar to those that can exist in red wines. The percentage contribution of the copigmentation with flavanols to the colour of the anthocyanin solutions was found to range from 2% to 20%. The extent of this effect was related not only to the concentration of flavanols but also to the qualitative composition of the flavanol preparations, as influenced by the part of the grape (either skin or seed) and the variety considered. Divergences were found between the evaluation of the copigmentation based on chromatic parameters in the CIELAB colour space and that based on the measurement at visible λ_max, as the latter does not consider the integral colour changes produced in the visible spectrum. The results obtained confirmed the importance of the qualitative phenolic composition, determined in the wine by the type of grape and winemaking practices, to the production of an effective copigmentation process.     

Effects of pH,sulphur dioxide,alcohol content,temperature and storage time on colour composition of a young Portuguese red table wine

In a young Portuguese red table wine (Douro Valley) a significant relationship between the colour composition (anthocyanins, polymeric pigment, colour density) and five parameters (pH, SO₂, alcohol, temperature, time of storage) were found. Higher temperature increased the loss of individual and total anthocyanins (as measured fay HPLC) during the ageing, while the wines with higher SO₂ content contained a greater amount of anthocyanins. Malvidin 3-glucoside acetate was the only anthocyanin not affected by the SO₂ content, but its concentration was related with the interaction term (time of storage × SO₂ content). Peonidin and malvidin 3-glucoside-p-coumarate were the two anthocyanins affected by the quadratic term of temperature. Three different groups of equations corresponding to the three different states of the glucoside moiety were found. The polymeric pigment absorbance increases daring conservation and with higher temperature, while the pH and SO₂ content decreased the polymeric pigment formation. The colour density of the experimental wine was related significantly to the changes of the coloured anthocyanins and to the polymeric pigment content.     

Effects of pre‐freezing,puree content and pasteurisation regime on colour stability of strawberry nectar made from puree

BACKGROUND: Heat treatment during processing of strawberry products has been proposed to negatively affect colour stability. Moreover, the role of enzymes with respect to colour stability is ambiguous when consulting the existing literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of various processing parameters (pre‐freezing, puree content, pasteurisation temperature and heating time) on the colour stability and anthocyanin monomer and L ‐ascorbic acid contents of strawberry nectars made from puree. In addition, the effect of different enzyme activities on colour stability during storage of strawberry nectars was investigated. RESULTS: Pre‐freezing of strawberries before processing had a significant positive effect on the colour stability of nectars made from puree. No significant effect on colour stability was found for higher puree contents. Increasing both the pasteurisation temperature and the heating time had a significant positive effect on colour stability. Results showed that colour degradation during storage was mainly due to residual enzyme activities. The shelf‐life of strawberry nectar could be extended about fivefold by adding an enzyme inhibitor. CONCLUSION: The colour stability of strawberry nectar made from fresh puree may be improved to some extent by an appropriate pasteurisation regime. Enzymes play an important role in colour degradation during storage of the nectar. Inactivation of these enzyme activities, however, could not be achieved even after a heat treatment at 90 °C for 60 min. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Interaction of mulberry anthocyanins with soybean protein isolate: effect on the stability of anthocyanins and protein in vitro digestion characteristics

The interactions of anthocyanins and proteins might mutually influence each other on the physicochemical and functional properties. In this study, the interaction mechanism of soybean protein isolate (SPI) with mulberry anthocyanins (MA), and its effect on the thermal stability of anthocyanins and protein subunits’ digestibility were investigated through multiple spectroscopies and in vitro gastrointestinal models. Results showed that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), the main anthocyanin monomer in MA, could bind to SPI through hydrophobic interactions, resulting in static fluorescence quenching of SPI. The secondary structure of SPI changed by binding to C3G, with an increase of β-sheet and a decrease of α-helix and random coil. The formation of the SPI-MA complexes improved the thermal stability of MA at 353 K, while, no significant protection occurred during heating at 368 K. Complexation with MA promoted the digestibility of SPI by pepsin, especially the α′ and α subunits of β-conglycinin and the basic subunit of glycinin, and slightly delayed the digestibility of SPI under intestinal fluid. These results provide an in-depth understanding of the influence of the protein-anthocyanin interactions on the stability of anthocyanins and protein digestibility.     

Influence of the elimination and addition of seeds on the colour,phenolic composition and astringency of red wine

Several winemaking techniques have been developed to eliminate seeds to prevent the release of high amounts of very astringent proanthocyanidins, especially when the grapes are unripe. However, there is no scientific information on the effects of this practice. The aim of this paper is to study how the elimination and addition of seeds influence the colour, phenolic composition and astringency of red wine. The elimination of around 80% of the seeds led to a significant decrease of colour intensity and anthocyanin concentration. The addition of seeds originated wines with a greater concentration of total anthocyanin, but did not significantly affect the wine colour. These wines also presented significantly higher levels of proanthocyanidins, a greater proportion of epicatechin-3-gallate, a lower mean degree of polymerization, and, in particular, a drastic increase in astringency. Wines obtained with the elimination of seeds, on the other hand, had exactly the opposite characteristics.     

Effects of UV‐C on antioxidant capacity,antioxidant enzyme activity and colour of fresh‐cut red cabbage during storage

Ultraviolet C (UV‐C) irradiation is a widely used nonthermal sterilisation method used to ensure the quality and safety of fresh and fresh‐cut produce. However, research focus of UV‐C has recently shifted from safety of sterilisation damage towards improvements in quality. Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) is a widely consumed fresh‐cut vegetable. In this study, the effects of UV‐C irradiation on the antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity and colour of fresh‐cut red cabbage were evaluated. The UV‐C decreased the L*, a* and b* values, and it turned the colour darker and increasingly blue. UV‐C increased the activity of four antioxidant enzymes and also stimulated the accumulation of flavonoids, glutathione and ascorbic acids. The antioxidant activity of UV‐C treatment was higher than in the control group. These results suggest that an appropriate dose of UV‐C may improve the antioxidant properties of fresh‐cut red cabbage.     

Oak‐matured wines: influence of the characteristics of the barrel on wine colour and sensory characteristics

The influence of oak origin (French or American oak), volume (220, 500 and 1000 l barrels) and age of the barrel (new or used) on the colour and sensory characteristics of a red wine, after 6 months of maturation, was studied. The colour of the wines is characterized by the red, yellow and blue percentages, total polyphenols index, free anthocyanins, polymeric anthocyanins, colour density, hue, tannin content and HCl index. The results of a multivariate analysis of variance showed that colour evolution is faster in small, new American barrels than in large, used barrels or in French barrels. This evolution towards a more stable colour is manifested by a higher content of polymeric anthocyanins, hue and HCl index and lower percentage of red colour. The sensory analysis also reflects these results: the samples obtaining higher scores, at this stage of maturation, are those aged in small, new American barrels. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Application of single and mixtures of red sandalwood and other natural dyes for dyeing of jute fabric: studies on colour parameters/colour fastness and compatibility

Single and binary mixtures of aqueous extracts of red sandalwood (RSW) with aqueous extract of other natural dyes like manjistha (MJ), jackfruit wood (JFW), marigold (MG), sappan wood (SW) and babool (BL) in different proportions are applied on bleached jute fabric for its dyeing after double pre-mordanted with myrobolan and aluminium sulphate applied in sequence under optimised conditions of mordanting with effects of use of different proportions of binary mixture of selective natural dyes on colour strength and other colour. Parameters and colour fastness properties have been investigated. Compatibility of selective binary mixture of dyes was also judged by a relatively newer colour index parameter established earlier from this laboratory. Binary of mixture of RSW and MJ is found to be most compatible with rating 4 (in 0–5 scale), and mixture of RSW:MG and RSW:JFW is found to have average compatibility having rating 3. Dyed fabric samples have also been further treated with cationic dye-fixing agents namely N-cetyl-N-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetrimide and Sandofix-HCF to improve wash fastness. Treatment with 2% CTAB or Sandofix-HCF improves the wash fastness to nearly 1 unit. Treatment with 1% benztriazole improves the light fastness of natural dyed jute textiles nearly half to one unit. The possible chemistry and mechanisms for such improvement in wash fastness by CTAB and improvement of light fastness by benztriazole for jute have also been discussed to explain the observed effects.