Commercial Mannoproteins Improve the Mouthfeel and Colour of Wines Obtained by Excessive Tannin Extraction

In the production of red wines, the pressing of marcs and extended maceration techniques can increase the extraction of phenolic compounds, often imparting high bitterness and astringency to finished wines. Among various oenological products, mannoproteins have been shown to improve the mouthfeel of red wines. In this work, extended maceration (E), marc-pressed (P), and free-run (F) Sangiovese wines were aged for six months in contact with three different commercial mannoprotein-rich yeast extracts (MP, MS, and MF) at a concentration of 20 g/hL. Phenolic compounds were measured in treated and control wines, and sensory characteristics related to the astringency, aroma, and colour of the wines were studied. A multivariate analysis revealed that mannoproteins had a different effect depending on the anthocyanin/tannin (A/T) ratio of the wine. When tannins are strongly present (extended maceration wines with A/T = 0.2), the MP conferred mouthcoating and soft and velvety sensations, as well as colour stability to the wine. At A/T = 0.3, as in marc-pressed wines, both MF and MP improved the mouthfeel and colour of Sangiovese. However, in free-run wine, where the A/T ratio is 0.5, the formation of polymeric pigments was allowed by all treatments and correlated with silk, velvet, and mouthcoat subqualities. A decrease in bitterness was also obtained. Commercial mannoproteins may represent a way to improve the mouthfeel and colour of very tannic wines.     

Application of Elicitors in Two Ripening Periods of Vitis vinifera L. cv Monastrell: Influence on Anthocyanin Concentration of Grapes and Wines

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that the application of elicitors such as methyl-jasmonate (MeJ) and benzothiadiazole (BTH) to wine grapes can increase their phenolic and aromatic compounds if they are treated at the beginning of ripening (veraison). However, the veraison period is short, and it is not always possible to apply the treatments in a few days. Therefore, it would be of great interest to optimize the moment of elicitor application or extend the treatment period. The aim of this paper was to analyze during two consecutive years (2016–2017) the foliar application of MeJ, BTH, and a combination of both, during two different ripening periods of Monastrell grapes (veraison and mid-ripening), and determine the more appropriate moment to increase the concentration of anthocyanins. To carry out this aim, analysis of anthocyanins by HPLC in grapes and wines was mainly performed. The most suitable period for the application of MeJ, BTH, and MeJ + BTH was at mid-ripening, since the grapes showed a greater accumulation of anthocyanins at harvest. However, the MeJ + BTH treatment applied during veraison also obtained similar results, which would allow extending the application period if necessary. However, the increase in the anthocyanin content of grapes was not reflected in all the wines, which may have been due to reinforcement of the skin cell wall as a result of the application of elicitors. Further analysis is needed to improve the maceration process of the Monastrell grapes and the extraction of the anthocyanins that were increased by the treatments applied in the vineyard.     

Potential Mitigation of Smoke Taint in Wines by Post-Harvest Ozone Treatment of Grapes

When bushfires occur near grape growing regions, vineyards can be exposed to smoke, and depending on the timing and duration of grapevine smoke exposure, fruit can become tainted. Smoke-derived volatile compounds, including volatile phenols, can impart unpleasant smoky, ashy characters to wines made from smoke-affected grapes, leading to substantial revenue losses where wines are perceivably tainted. This study investigated the potential for post-harvest ozone treatment of smoke-affected grapes to mitigate the intensity of smoke taint in wine. Merlot grapevines were exposed to smoke at ~7 days post-veraison and at harvest grapes were treated with 1 or 3 ppm of gaseous ozone (for 24 or 12 h, respectively), prior to winemaking. The concentrations of smoke taint marker compounds (i.e., free and glycosylated volatile phenols) were measured in grapes and wines to determine to what extent ozonation could mitigate the effects of grapevine exposure to smoke. The 24 h 1 ppm ozone treatment not only gave significantly lower volatile phenol and volatile phenol glycoside concentrations but also diminished the sensory perception of smoke taint in wine. Post-harvest smoke and ozone treatment of grapes suggests that ozone works more effectively when smoke-derived volatile phenols are in their free (aglycone) form, rather than glycosylated forms. Nevertheless, the collective results demonstrate the efficacy of post-harvest ozone treatment as a strategy for mitigation of smoke taint in wine.     

Extraction of flavan-3-ols from grape seed and skin into wine using simulated maceration

Simulated maceration assays were carried out in wine model systems using increasing ethanol percentages from 0 to 12.5%, in order to study the extraction of flavan-3-ol monomers and oligomers from grape skins and seeds. The amount of flavan-3-ols transferred to the solutions improves with the increase in the alcohol percentage, although flavanols were much more readily released from grape skins than from seeds. Maximum release of flavanols from the skins is reached after 24 h of maceration in 12.5% ethanol, whereas long maceration and higher ethanol percentages were required for extraction from the seeds, from which maximum flavanol extraction was observed after 2-3 weeks of maceration. Thus, the length of the maceration not only had an influence in the total levels of flavanols reached in the wines, but also in their qualitative composition. The contribution of the seeds to the flavanol composition of the model wines was found to range from about 40% at 24 h of maceration in 12.5% ethanol to as high as 90% after 3 weeks. Gallocatechin was the major flavanol contributed by the skins and catechin by the seeds of the grape variety used (Vitis vinifera cv. Viura). Flavanol extraction was also followed during winemaking of commercial red wines, reaching similar conclusions to that obtained from the model assays.     

Contribution of non-volatile and aroma fractions to in-mouth sensory properties of red wines: Wine reconstitution strategies and sensory sorting task

This work explores to what extent the aroma or the non-volatile fractions of red wines are responsible for the overall flavor differences perceived in-mouth. For this purpose, 14 samples (4 commercial and 10 reconstituted wines), were sorted by a panel of 30 trained assessors according to their sensory in-mouth similarities. Reconstituted wines were prepared by adding the same volatile fraction (coming from a red wine) to the non-volatile fraction of 10 different red wines showing large differences in perceived astringency. Sorting was performed under three different conditions: (a) no aroma perception: nose-close condition (NA), (b) retronasal aroma perception only (RA), and (c) allowing retro- and involuntary orthonasal aroma perception (ROA). Similarity estimates were derived from the sorting and submitted to multidimensional scaling (MDS) followed by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Results have clearly shown that, globally, aroma perception is not the major driver of the in-mouth sensory perception of red wine, which is undoubtedly primarily driven by the perception of astringency and by the chemical compounds causing it, particularly protein precipitable proanthocyanidins (PAs). However, aroma perception plays a significant role on the perception of sweetness and bitterness. The impact of aroma seems to be more important whenever astringency, total polyphenols and protein precipitable PAs levels are smaller. Results also indicate that when a red-black fruit odor nuance is clearly perceived in conditions in which orthonasal odor perception is allowed, a strong reduction in astringency takes place. Such red-black fruit odor nuance seems to be the result of a specific aroma release pattern as a consequence of the interaction between aroma compounds and the non-volatile matrix.     

Development of a mixed-mode solid phase extraction method and further gas chromatography mass spectrometry for the analysis of 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in wine

A new method for analysing 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine, 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in wine has been developed and applied to wine. The analytes are extracted from 25 mL of wine in a solid-phase extraction cartridge filled with 60 mg of cation-exchange mixed-mode sorbent. Analytes are recovered with triethylamine in dichloromethane and the organic extract is analysed by GC-SIM-MS using 3-isopropyl-2-ethoxypyrazine as internal standard. The detection limits of the method are in all cases under 1 ng/L, below the olfactory thresholds of the compounds in wine. The repeatability of the method is around 15% for levels in wine of 2 ng/L. Linearity is satisfactory and recoveries are in all cases close to 100% with RSD between 13% and 20%. The method has been applied to the analysis of 12 Chilean white and 8 Spanish red wines. The levels found suggest that 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines can exert a significant sensory contribution to the aroma of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc wines, while most likely they play a nearly negligible role on traditional Ribera and Rioja Spanish red wines.     

Composition of Pinot Noir Wine from Grapevine Red Blotch Disease-Infected Vines Managed with Exogenous Abscisic Acid Applications

Grapevine red blotch disease (GRBD) has negative effects on grape development and impacts berry ripening. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant growth regulator involved in the initiation of berry ripening. Exogenous abscisic acid application was compared to an unsprayed control on GRBD-positive Pinot noir vines during two vintages, and the total monomeric anthocyanin, total phenolics, phenolic composition, and volatile profile were measured in wines. In addition, untargeted metabolites were profiled using high-resolution LC-MS/MS. Results showed that the wine composition varied by vintage year and was not consistent with ABA application. Wines from the ABA treatment had a lower total anthocyanin and total phenolic content in one year. The untargeted high-resolution LC-MS/MS analysis showed a higher abundance of phenolic compounds in ABA wines in 2019, but lower in 2018. The wine volatile compounds of ABA treatments varied by vintage. There were higher levels of free β-damascenone, β-ionone, nerol, and several fermentation-derived esters, acids, and alcohols in ABA wines, but these were not observed in 2019. Lower 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) was also observed in wines with ABA treatment in 2019. The results demonstrated that ABA application to the fruit zones did not consistently mitigate the adverse impacts of GRBD on Pinot noir wines.     

Effect of Sonication Treatment and Maceration Time in the Extraction of Polysaccharide Compounds during Red Wine Vinification

The application of high-power ultrasounds (US) at 28 kHz to the crushed grapes and the use of different pomace contact times caused changes in the content and composition of monosaccharides and polysaccharides in the musts and wines. These differences were maintained from the moment of pressing (end of maceration) until the end of the alcoholic fermentation. The US increased the content of monosaccharides and polysaccharides in the musts by facilitating their extraction from the solid parts during maceration. The application of medium maceration time (3 days) to sonicated grapes led to an extraction of polysaccharides rich in arabinose and galactose, rhamnogalacturonan type II (RG-II) and mannoproteins (MP), similar to that observed in the control wines made with an extended maceration of 7 days (968.21 vs. 1029.45; 895.04 vs. 1700.50; 356.81 vs. 343.95, respectively). This fact was attributed to a higher extraction in the must during the sonication process and to an important release of pectic polysaccharides during the pressing of the sonicated pomace, which is reported here for the first time. Therefore, the US technology could be useful for increasing the polysaccharide content in the wines or for reducing the maceration time needed to achieve certain levels of wine polysaccharides.     

Influence of Fermentation Method on Phenolics,Antioxidant Capacity,and Volatiles in Blackberry Wines

The influence of the type of fermentation method on phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and volatiles in blackberry wine was studied. Dry blackberry wines made by traditional fermentation (TF) and carbonic maceration fermentation (CMF) were analyzed for total polyphenols, flavanols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidin, and antioxidant capacity. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for analysis of nonflavonoid phenolics (gallic, benzoic, salicylic, syringic, caffeic, coumaric, and ferulic) and flavonoids (catechin, quercetin, and rutin). Volatiles were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that CMF fermentation afforded higher antioxidant activity and phenolic content, especially individual polyphenolics. The total level of phenolics in the CMF wine was substantially higher than in traditional wines: 2953 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/L for CMF wine vs. 1647 mg of GAE/L for traditional wine. A total of 53 kinds of volatile compounds were detected. Of these, 35 were detected in traditionally brewed wine and 46 in CMF fermented wine. Thus, CMF wine had a more complement volatile profile. The dominance of fruity and floral odor components derived from ethyl esters of fatty acids resulted in the indistinguishable aroma of TF and CMF wines. But, CMF wine had a more complicated aroma. The present results could complement existing theory on the processing of blackberry wines.     

Evaluation of Italian wine by the electronic tongue: recognition, quantitative analysis and correlation with human sensory perception

The electronic tongue based on a sensor array comprising 23 potentiometric cross-sensitive chemical sensors and pattern recognition and multivariate calibration data processing tools was applied to the analysis of Italian red wines. The measurements were made in 20 samples of Barbera d’Asti and in 36 samples of Gutturnio wine. The electronic tongue distinguished all wine samples of the same denomination and vintage, but from different vineyards. Simultaneously the following quantitative parameters of the wines were measured by the electronic tongue with precision within 12%: total and volatile acidity, pH, ethanol content, contents of tartaric acid, sulphur dioxide, total polyphenols, glycerol, etc. The electronic tongue is sensitive to multiple substances that determine taste and flavour of wine and, hence, the system was capable of predicting human sensory scores with average precision of 13% for Barbera d’Asti wines and 8% for Gutturnio wines.     

In-line pressurized-fluid extraction-solid-phase extraction for determining phenolic compounds in grapes

A procedure to determine 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines in wines is described. It is based on the headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique after a clean-up of the sample by distillation (previously acidified to pH 0.5) to remove ethanol and other volatile compounds that can interfere in the SPME. Determination is performed by means of capillary gas chromatography using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The method allows quantification of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine and 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine at their natural concentration levels and below their sensory thresholds in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. The method was successfully applied to experimental red wines and the evolution of their pyrazine contents during the winemaking process was monitored. Pyrazine content increased during the first maceration day but did not change significantly during alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. Final contents in wines were 12-27 ng/l of 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine and 5-10 ng/l of 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine.     

High-efficiency high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of red wine anthocyanins

The analysis of anthocyanins in natural products is of significant relevance in recent times due to the recognised health benefits associated with their consumption. In red grapes and wines in particular, anthocyanins are known to contribute important properties to the sensory (colour and taste), anti-oxidant- and ageing characteristics. However, the detailed investigation of the alteration of these compounds during wine ageing is hampered by the challenges associated with the separation of grape-derived anthocyanins and their derived products. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is primarily used for this purpose, often in combination with mass spectrometric (MS) detection, although conventional HPLC methods provide incomplete resolution. We have previously demonstrated how on-column inter-conversion reactions are responsible for poor chromatographic efficiency in the HPLC analysis of anthocyanins, and how an increase in temperature and decrease in particle size may improve the chromatographic performance. In the current contribution an experimental configuration for the high efficiency analysis of anthocyanins is derived using the kinetic plot method (KPM). Further, it is shown how analysis under optimal conditions, in combination with MS detection, delivers much improved separation and identification of red wine anthocyanins and their derived products. This improved analytical performance holds promise for the in-depth investigation of these influential compounds in wine during ageing.     

Instrumental measurement of bitter taste in red wine using an electronic tongue

An electronic tongue (ET) based on potentiometric chemical sensors was assessed as a rapid tool for the quantification of bitterness in red wines. A set of 39 single cultivar Pinotage wines comprising 13 samples with medium to high bitterness was obtained from the producers in West Cape, South Africa. Samples were analysed with respect to a set of routine wine parameters and major phenolic compounds using Fourier transform infrared-multiple internal reflection spectroscopy (WineScan) and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. A trained sensory panel assessed the bitterness intensity of 15 wines, 13 of which had a bitter taste of medium to high intensity. Thirty-one wine samples including seven bitter-tasting ones were measured by the ET. Influence of the chemical composition of wine on the occurrence of the bitter taste was evaluated using one-way analysis of variance. It was found that bitter-tasting wines had higher concentrations of phenolic compounds (catechin, epicatechin, gallic and caffeic acids and quercetin) than non-bitter wines. Sensitivity of the sensors of the array to the phenolic compounds related to the bitterness was studied at different pH levels. Sensors displayed sensitivity to all studied compounds at pH 7, but only to quercetin at pH 3.5. Based on these findings, the pH of wine was adjusted to 7 prior to measurements. Calibration models for classification of wine samples according to the presence of the bitter taste and quantification of the bitterness intensity were calculated by partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) regression. Statistical significance of the classification results was confirmed by the permutation test. Both ET and chemical analysis data could discriminate between bitter and control wines with the correct classification rates of 94% and 91%, respectively. Prediction of the bitterness intensity with good accuracy (root mean square error of 2 and mean relative error of 6% in validation) was possible only using ET data.     

HPLC-DAD–MS Analysis of Anthocyanins in Rose Wine Made From cv. Öküzgözü Grapes,and Effect of Maceration Time on Anthocyanin Content

The anthocyanin composition of rose wine made from cv. Öküzgözü, a variety of grape native to Turkey, and the effect of maceration time (3, 6, 12, 18, or 24 h) on the anthocyanin content of the wine have been investigated. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) and mass spectrometry (MS) were used for anthocyanin analysis. Thirteen different anthocyanins, including five glucosides, five acetyl glucosides, and three coumaroyl glucosides were identified and quantified. It was found that an important characteristic of Öküzgözü rose wine was the presence of a large amount of malvidin-3-glucoside and its acylated esters. The total anthocyanin content of the wine increased with increasing maceration time. On the basis of sensory analysis, the most preferred wine was that produced with 3-h maceration, because of its better color and general flavor attributes.     

Determination of volatile oak compounds in aged wines by multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (MHS-SPME–GC–MS)

Multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction (MHS-SPME) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry is proposed for quantification of nine volatile oak compounds in aged wines. These compounds are formed and extracted by wine when it is matured in oak barrels and are responsible for particular organoleptic properties and the high quality of these wines. Some important variables of the extraction process, for example volume of sample and extraction time, were studied. Extraction of 50 μL wine was performed with a divinylbenzene–Carboxen–polydimethylsiloxane fibre at 55 °C for 60 min. For calibration the same conditions were used, except that the wine was substituted by 50 μL of a standard solution in synthetic wine. The linearity, detection limits, and repeatability of the method were determined by use of standard solutions in synthetic wine. Detection limits were between 0.01 and 10 μg L⁻¹ (for eugenol and furfural, respectively) and repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was from 2 to 6%. The method was used to analyse six red wines and the concentrations obtained were statistically compared with those obtained by the standard addition method for the same wines.     

Validation and evaluation of a high performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of aluminium in wine

A new method is reported for the determination of aluminium in wine by HPLC, involving derivatisation with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) in the presence of micelles resulting in the formation of a fluorescent derivative. The complex is separated on a C18 column using a mobile phase of oxine - SDS - 35% acetonitrile, in a pH 7 buffer. The method was validated in the range 0.125-2 mg/l in a synthetic wine. The method was applied to the determination of aluminium in white, rosé and red wines and results compared with those obtained by atomic absorption (GFAA). Aluminium concentrations found by HPLC in white wines were greater than those found in red wines. Further investigation using a polyphenol-enriched white wine revealed a statistically significant inverse relationship between wine polyphenol content and the aluminium concentration determined by HPLC. The method may therefore be envisaged for the determination of unbound aluminium in wine.