Astringency sub-qualities of red wines and the influence of wine–saliva aggregates

Astringency is a sensory attribute, related to the quality and mouthfeel of red wines. However, the origin of astringency sub-qualities, such as the typical drying astringency found in immature grapes, is still unknown. Astringency of red wines with similar tannin content but different astringency sub-qualities, from different harvest dates, is studied. Astringency was characterised in terms of friction coefficient, polyphenol content, sensory analysis and tannin/salivary–proteins aggregates characterisation. A different evolution during ripening was found for both Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère, and tannin–protein aggregates showed differences in size, shape and surface. The velvety sub-quality appears to be related to aggregates with low precipitation, and with specific surface characteristics as roundness and Feret diameter. Results from this work propose an effect of aggregates on sensory perception and opens the possibility to explore their effect on oral lubrication.     

The Chardonnay wine olfactory concept revisited: A stable core of volatile compounds, and fuzzy boundaries

An earlier study by the same team showed that Chardonnay wines have common olfactory properties by which wine experts can recognize them. The specific Chardonnay olfactory space was also tentatively linked to the relative concentrations of 29 volatile compounds, regarded as possible aroma-impact compounds. The question now is whether or not those initial results hold independently of the sample under consideration, that is, whether these sensory and chemical spaces are vintage-specific. A series of investigations was conducted on a new set of 46 wines (23 Chardonnay wines and 23 non Chardonnay wines) using the same sensory (wine typicality level) and physico-chemical (Gas Chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring: GC-MS-SIM) approaches as in the earlier study. The sensory space of Chardonnay wines has been identified again in this new study. Compared with white wines of other grape varieties, Chardonnay wines do have distinctive and recognizable olfactory characteristics. LSD tests carried out on the chemical data and a PLS analysis predicting wine typicality level from the chemical data showed that the relative concentrations of 35 volatile compounds affected the wines' typicality scores. Of the 35 compounds, 18 were already among the 29 possible aroma-impact compounds identified by the earlier study. These 18 common volatile compounds seem to be vintage-independent and as such might represent the core of the Chardonnay wine olfactory space. The others seem to be specific to the new wines tested and may contribute to the fuzziness of the boundaries of the Chardonnay wine olfactory space. These results emphasize the complexity of the odor quality of Chardonnay wines, with some volatile compounds remaining stable across vintages, while others are specific to enological practices and to vintages.     

The role of olfaction in the elaboration and use of the Chardonnay wine concept

The existence of a Chardonnay wine concept was explored in two experiments. In the first experiment, 28 Chardonnay wine experts assessed in terms of a score the degree of representativeness of 48 white wines according to their own Chardonnay wine concept. The samples were 29 wines made from Chardonnay grapes and 19 wines made from other grape varieties (Aligoté, Melon de Bourgogne, Sylvaner, Sauvignon blanc, Chenin, Marsanne and Pinot blanc). Two assessment conditions were conducted: orthonasal and global (orthonasal plus retronasal and mouthfeel perceptions). Globally, scores were higher for Chardonnay wines than for non-Chardonnay ones and the consensus among experts demonstrated the existence of a shared Chardonnay wine sensory concept. The global evaluation led to a better discrimination between Chardonnay and non-Chardonnay wines, indicating that the sensory concept includes olfactive as well as taste and mouthfeel sensations. In the second experiment, the perceptive similarities of a subset of 18 wines (nine among the less representative and nine among the most representative) were studied. Twenty consumers freely sorted the wines according to odour similarity. Results were analysed by means of multidimensional scaling. Except for an extreme wine exhibiting very low representativeness, no clear separation of wines according to a Chardonnay wine concept was observed on the MDS space. However, a regression analysis showed significant correlations between representativeness scores and the first and third dimensions of the MDS space. This suggests that the Chardonnay wine concept is an experts' construct, elaborated by specific weighing of sensory features, partially based on perceptive similarities.     

The effect of Uncinula necator (powdery mildew) and Botrytis cinerea infection of grapes on the levels of haze-forming pathogenesis-related proteins in grape juice and wine

Powdery mildew on Chardonnay grapes resulted in increased levels of a grape thaumatin-like protein, VvTL2, in the free run juice compared to that from uninfected grapes. These increased levels persisted through winemaking and at the highest level of infection (> 30% of bunches infected) had a significant impact on the haziness in the wine following a heat test. Infection of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (1–20% of bunches infected) did not affect the protein concentration of free run juice, and only traces of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins remained detectable in the Cabernet Sauvignon wines from either infected or healthy grapes. In contrast, infection of Chardonnay or Semillon grapes by Botrytis cinerea in the vineyard resulted in decreased levels of all PR proteins in the free run juice and in a total protein extract from infected berries compared to that from uninfected grapes. Similar trends were observed when B. cinerea was grown in the laboratory on surface-sterilised berries or in filter-sterilised juice.     

Effect of the Closure Type on the Evolution of the Physical‐Chemical and Sensory Characteristics of a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Rosé Wine

The present work studied the effect of the kind of closure (a screw cap, a natural cork, and 2 synthetic closures) on the evolution of the oxygen content and on the physical‐chemical and sensory characteristics of a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo rosé wine during the 1st 12 mo of bottle aging. The chemical analyses concerned the parameters more involved in the oxidative reactions (SO₂, acetaldehyde, phenols, wine color), as well as the main fermentative volatile compounds. The kind of closure influenced the oxygen content in wines, free and total SO₂ concentration, and wine color (color intensity and hue). During bottle aging, free and total SO₂ concentration was significantly and negatively correlated with absorbance at 420 nm (A420), whereas the correlations with A520 were weak. Probably, the limited extent of the variations in red color (A520), when varying SO₂ concentration, were due to the low pH of this rosé wine. No effect of the kind of closure on phenols and the main fermentative volatile compounds was observed. The wines bottled with cork closures (N trials), after 12 mo of storage, had higher color intensity and hue, measured by spectrophotometry, and were visually distinguished from the other trials for the more intense pink reflections. On the whole, under the conditions of this work, all the used closures guaranteed a good preservability to the rosè wines during the 1st year of bottle aging, and the changes in composition did not significantly affect wine sensory characteristics. Therefore, these synthetic closures can represent an alternative to the cork closures for a medium to long term bottle aging of these wines.     

Volatile Composition of Macedonian and Hungarian Wines Assessed by GC/MS

The volatile composition of eight varietal wines Vranec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Temjanika and Chardonnay from the Republic of Macedonia, and Portugieser, Kékfrankos and Tokaji Aszú from Hungary has been characterized by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry technique. The wine volatile compounds were extracted in dichloromethane, and the extracts were concentrated under nitrogen. Forty-four volatile compounds have been identified mainly using the NIST mass spectral library and by comparison with the available standards used for quantification as well. Differences between the wines were noted for a number of compounds, such as a higher concentration of 1-pentanol and 2-phenyl ethanol in the red wines. Monoterpenes, linalool and terpineol were detected only in the white wines, Chardonnay and Tokaji. Macedonian red wines were characterized by a higher level of alcohols, while the Hungarian wines contained a higher amount of esters, fatty acids and lactones. A statistical treatment including one-way ANOVA, followed by a Tukey’s test has been performed in order to ascertain possible significant differences between the wines studied, and principal component analysis to study the possible grouping of the wines.     

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.     

THE USE OF MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IN DETERMINING THE SENSORY QUALITY OF WHITE MONOVARIETAL WINES

A sensory study of monovarietal white wines (Chardonnay, Garnacha and Macabeo) from two Spanish regions (Aragón and Navarra) was carried out. Among the three varieties, Chardonnay wines made the best organoleptic impression. Linear correlation showed quality of taste and acidity were the attributes that correlated well with overall impression. Except for color, no attribute examined differed significantly by region. Factorial analysis, applied to the volatile components of Chardonnay, followed by stepwise regression, revealed that the quality of aroma was related to certain major and minor chemical sets. Scores for the quality of Chardonnay wines decreased under the influence of ethyl propanoate, l‐propanol, glycerine and 2,3 butanediol. Minor set, MN2, and major set, M1, were related to fruity and vegetable aromas. Those two chemical sets had a positive influence on the aromatic quality of Chardonnay wines.     

Antioxidant capacity and stilbene contents of wines produced in the Snake River Valley of Idaho

Forty-two wines produced from grapes grown in Idaho were examined in this study. The samples examined were from four monovarietal wines (12 Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 Merlot, 7 Riesling, 14 Chardonnay). Wine samples represented twelve wineries that obtain their fruit from vineyards located within Idaho’s Snake River Valley. Titratable acidity, pH, specific gravity, colour measurements (lightness, chroma, and hue), % haze, total anthocyanins, total phenolics, total tannins, antioxidant capacity, and individual stilbene measurements were performed. The antioxidant capacities (ORAC values) of Idaho wines ranged from 3.1 (Merlot wine) to 87.0 (Cabernet Sauvignon wine) μmol of Trolox/ml (mean = 38.5 μmol of Trolox/ml). Mean ORAC values of Merlot wines (mean = 27.6 μmol of Trolox/ml) were lower than the other three styles (mean for Cabernet Sauvignon wines = 41.0 μmol of Trolox/ml, mean for Chardonnay wines = 42.8 μmol of Trolox/ml, and mean for Riesling wines = 39.4 μmol of Trolox/ml). Free stilbene levels (four different stilbenes) were examined by direct-HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS/MS method. Piceid and resveratrol (both trans- and cis-) were found in the samples. Stilbene levels ranged from 0.97 (Riesling wine) to 12.88 (Cabernet Sauvignon wine) mg (expressed as trans-resveratrol)/l. This is the first paper to report the current chemical composition of Idaho wines.     

Levels of histamine and other biogenic amines in high-quality red wines

Biogenic amines in wine may impair sensory wine quality and cause adverse health effects in susceptible individuals. In this study, histamine and other biogenic amines were determined by HPLC after amine derivatisation to dansyl chloride conjugates in 100 selected high-quality red wines made from seven different cultivars. Amine levels varied considerably between different wines. The most abundant amines were putrescine (median?=?19.4?mg?l^?1, range?=?2.9–122), histamine (7.2?mg?l^?1, 0.5–26.9), and tyramine (3.5?mg?l^?1, 1.1–10.7), whereas lower levels were found for isoamylamine (median?=?0.25?mg?l^?1), phenylethylamine (0.16?mg?l^?1), cadaverine (0.58?mg?l^?1), spermidine (1.8?mg?l^?1) and tryptamine (0.06?mg?l^?1). Positive correlations were observed between isoamylamine and phenylethylamine, and between histamine, putrescine and tyramine levels. Amine concentrations were similar in all wine cultivars except Pinot noir and St. Laurent wines, which showed significantly higher tryptamine and cadaverine levels. The results indicate that levels of histamine and other biogenic amines may vary considerably between red wines independent of grape variety and that high amounts can also be found in high-rated wines. Adopting a legal histamine threshold level of 10?mg?l^?1 in the European Union, as formerly introduced in other countries, would have excluded 34% of the investigated wines from the market.     

EFFECT OF A DEFICIT IRRIGATION REGIME ON THE QUALITY OF WINES MADE FROM WHITE GRAPES (VITIS VINIFERA L.) GROWN IN SEMIARID AREAS

ABSTRACT

The dependence of wine quality on the irrigation management strategies in Vitis vinifera L. was tested from 1999 to 2002. A drip‐irrigation experiment was performed on white grapes of the cultivars Baladí, Airén, Montepila, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Pedro Ximénez, grafted and vineyard‐planted in 1995 in Cabra (Cordoba, Spain). Treatments consisted of a nonirrigated control and an experimental deficit irrigation, in which water was applied from fruit set until near harvest. A total of 19 analytical parameters were measured, including alcohols, total phenol content and optical density as well as ethanol, pH, total acidity and dry extract. Wines were evaluated for their visual characteristics, aroma, taste and finish. The irrigation treatment contributed to a higher dry extract, and an increase in malic acid and potassium in wines. There was a decrease in pH, isobutanol and isoamyl alcohols with increasing water application. Sensory evaluation ranked irrigated over nonirrigated wines with the only exception of the wines of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. The main defects of nonirrigated wines were attributed to visual characteristics and poorer taste quality.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Proper irrigation management, i.e., optimizing both the timing and the amount of water supplied, plays a significant role in wine quality and is especially important in arid and semiarid areas. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of irrigation in wine quality. In this study, irrigation was applied only during periods in which water stress might affect production and harvest quality. The chemical results ranked irrigated over nonirrigated wines and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains over other cultivars, regarding their quality. Sensory evaluation ranked irrigated over nonirrigated wines with the only exception of the wines of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Therefore, deficit irrigation during berry development and ripening appears to be a promising technique for the production of quality young wines in semiarid achieving a compromise between aroma and taste quality.     

Chemometric investigation of the volatile content of young South African wines

The content of major volatiles of 334 wines of six different cultivars (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and vintage 2005 was used to investigate the aroma content of young South African wines. Wines were sourced from six different regions and various producers. Thirty-nine volatile components partially responsible for the flavour of wine were quantified. In order to investigate possible correlation between volatile content and grape variety and/or geographical origin, analysis of variance, factor analysis (FA), principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were used. Significant differences in the levels of certain volatiles were observed as a function of region and cultivar, with the latter factor proving to be more influential. A few volatile compounds were identified as potential predictors of the white wine cultivars. Prediction for red wine cultivars was poor, with the exception of Pinotage wines, for which three compounds (isoamyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol and ethyl octanoate) were identified as accurate predictors. The reasons for the importance of these three volatile compounds in distinguishing young Pinotage wines are discussed, and possible reasons for the unique levels in wines of this cultivar are highlighted.     

Influence of pH and ethanol on malolactic fermentation and volatile aroma compound composition in white wines

The present study investigated the influences of pH and ethanol on malolactic fermentation (MLF) and the volatile aroma profile of the subsequent white wines from Riesling and Chardonnay inoculated with two different Oenococcus oeni strains. In all cases MLF was induced after completion of alcoholic fermentation (AF). Partial MLF occurred under low pH 3.2 and high alcohol (118.3 g/L) conditions. In the cases with complete MLF, the time required for each strain varied from 13 to 61 days and was dependent on bacterial culture, cultivar and wine parameter. Chemical properties of each wine were determined after AF, complete and partial MLF. The wines showed significant differences in total higher alcohols, esters and acids that are important for the sensory profile and quality of wine. This work demonstrated that the wine matrix as well as the pH and alcohol concentration affects MLF and the final volatile aroma profile. Results indicate that changes in volatile aroma composition are not necessarily related to complete MLF and that partial MLF already has distinct influences on the wine aroma profile of white wines.     

Gas Chromatographic headspace analysis of Chardonnay and Semillon wines after thermal processing

Volatile compounds of Chardonnay and Semillon wines were analysed using a dynamic headspace method based on selective capillary column trapping and gas chromatography with another column. The effect of thermal treatment on the volatile composition of the wines was studied. Some grape derived norisoprenoid compounds, important to the aroma of aged wine, were formed at 45°C by hydrolysis from the glycosidic precursors. The heat treatment increased the proportion of 1,1,6-Trimethy1-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) and vitispirane in Chardonnay and Semillon wines. Headspace volatiles of model wines, to which the glycosidic fraction of Chardonnay and Semillon juices was added, were also analysed.

---

Gaschromatographische Kopfraum-Analyse der erhitzten Chardonnay- und Semillon-Weine

Zusammenfassung Flüchtige Verbindungen der Weine Chardonnay und Semillon wurden mittels der dynamischen Kopfraum-Methode untersucht. Die flüchtigen Substanzen wurden selektiv mit einer Capillarsäule abgefangen und gaschromatographisch mit einer anderen Säule behandelt. Der Effekt einer Hitzebehandlung auf die Zusammensetzung der flüchtigen Verbindungen der Weine wurde untersucht. Durch Hydrolyse bei 45 °C wurden aus glykosidischen Vorstufen einige Norisoprenoid-Verbindung gebildet, die für das Aroma länger gelagerter Weine wichtig sind. Durch die Hitzebehandlung wurden die Anteile von 1,1,6-Trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphtalen (TDN) und Vitispirane der Chardonnay- und Semillon-Weine erhöht. Zusätzlich wurden die flüchtigen Verbindungen solcher Referenzweine analysiert, denen die glykosidische Fraktion der Chardonnay- und Semillon-Traubensäfte zugesetzt worden war.

     

Influence of variety and commercial yeast preparation on red wine made from autochthonous Hungarian and Canadian grapes. Part I: phenolic composition

Eight wines were made from two Canadian hybrid grape varieties (Maréchal Foch, Baco Noir) and two Hungarian Vitis vinifera varieties (Kadarka, Lemberger). One half was kept untreated; the other half received a commercial yeast preparation (OptiRed^®) before fermentation. Significant differences were found between varieties for basic measures of wine quality, including pH, titratable acidity, ethanol, colour density, hue and total phenolics. Quercetin was identified only in Maréchal Foch and Baco Noir wines, and quercetin-glucoside only in Baco Noir. Varietal differences were also found in the concentrations of the 11 other colourless phenolic monomers measured, especially gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, tyrosol, caftaric acid, catechin, caffeic acid, GRP, epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and trans-resveratrol. The Canadian wines had higher concentrations of the four anthocyanins measured (malvidin, delphinidin, petunidin and peonidin), higher anti-oxidative capacity, and were characterised by lower ratios of monomeric/polymeric phenolics. Addition of OptiRed^® had little impact on the basic measures of wine quality. Concentrations of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caftaric acid and catechin were, on average, 6% higher in wines made from OptiRed^®-treated musts. A trend was observed for all varieties in OptiRed^®-treated wines of a greater proportion of the procyanidins being presented as polymeric rather than monomeric phenolics.     

Polyphenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Galician Monovarietal Wines from Native and Experimental Non-Native White Grape Varieties

Galicia region (Northwestern Spain) wine production is mainly focused to high-quality white wines. The polyphenolic composition and the antioxidant activity have been determined to characterize the wines obtained from white grape varieties (Albariño, Branco Lexitimo, Caiño blanco, Godello, Loureiro, Torrontes, and Treixadura) grown in Galician protected production areas, and the wines elaborated with non-native varieties experimentally grown in Galicia (Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot blanc, Pinot gris, Riesling, and Sauvignon blanc). Since Albariños are the varietal wines with the highest production and commercialization extension, we have studied their polyphenolic composition as a function of the production subarea. Three vintage years (2010, 2011, and 2012) have been considered to account for climate variability. Liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry detection was used to obtain the phenolic profiles. Wines from native grapes could be fully discriminated by their phenolic composition, with only Albariño being partially confused with other varietal wines. Albariño wines produced in O Rosal and Ribera do Ulla could be clearly differentiated, whereas Condado do Tea and Val do Salnés wines were partially confused. The polyphenolic profile was enough to differentiate the wines obtained from non-native grapes. The total polyphenols content and the antioxidant activity of white wines elaborated in Galicia were comparable, although significant differences were found among varieties.