Organoleptic impact of 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine on red bordeaux and loire wines. Effect of environmental conditions on concentrations in grapes during ripening

The 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine content in grapes and red wines was assayed by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, following vapor extraction and purification on a cation resin microcolumn. The threshold beyond which the green bell pepper character is marked in wines has been determined. From a comparison of the 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine concentrations of 50 red Bordeaux and Loire wines from different vintages and grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, and Merlot) with the intensity of the green bell pepper character as perceived on tasting, the threshold value was estimated to be 15 ng/L. Statistical analysis of the 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine concentrations of 89 red Bordeaux wines showed that Cabernet wines were more commonly affected by this vegetative character. Changes in the 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine concentration as the grapes ripen are affected by the environmental and cultural conditions (soil, climate, training system, etc.). A very good correlation was shown between the breakdown of malic acid and 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine as the grapes ripened, irrespective of grape variety, type of soil, or weather conditions.     

Detailed characterization of proanthocyanidins in skin, seeds, and wine of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes (Vitis vinifera)

The distribution of proanthocyanidin (PA) polymer lengths, proanthocyanidin concentration at each polymer length, and polymer composition were determined in the seed, skin, and wine of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grape berries grown in southeast Australia. PA was fractionated by semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed by phloroglucinolysis and HPLC to report the degree of polymerization (DP), concentration, and composition at 11 DP values in seed and wine and 21 DP values in skin. In skin, the highest PA concentration was observed at a DP of 31 in Shiraz and 29 in Cabernet Sauvignon representing 15% of the total PA in both varieties. The distribution of seed PA had the highest concentration at a DP of 7 in Shiraz and 6 in Cabernet Sauvignon representing around 30% of the total PA. In the wine PA distribution, the highest concentration was observed at a DP of 11 in Shiraz and 9 in Cabernet Sauvignon representing around 26 and 32% of the distribution, respectively. A second peak in wine PA concentration was observed at the largest DP of 18 in Shiraz and 15 in Cabernet Sauvignon representing around 20% of the distribution. The composition in wine did not vary at different DP, but the proportion of epicatechin gallate varied in seed PA less than 4 DP. The proportion of epigallocatechin increased with increasing DP in skin PA. Wine PA had a DP range and composition similar to the distribution of skin PA between DP 4 and 18 suggesting that larger skin PAs are not extracted into wine. This study provides information that could be used to target the important PA fractions in grapes that need to be measured to understand (or predict) PA extraction into wine and eventual mouthfeel.     

Levels of stilbene oligomers and astilbin in French varietal wines and in grapes during noble rot development

Phenolics from grapes and wines can play a role against oxidation and development of atherosclerosis. Stilbenes have been shown to have cancer chemopreventive activity and to protect lipoproteins from oxidative damage. A method for the direct determination of stilbene oligomers (viniferin and pallidol) as well as astilbin in different types of wine using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection is described. In a survey of 21 commercial wines from the south of France, levels of pallidol and viniferin are reported for the first time in different types of wines. Viniferin was found to be present only in red and botrytized sweet white wines with levels between 0.1 and 1.63 mg/L; pallidol was not found in dry and sweet white wines but only in wines made by maceration with stems, with levels between 0.38 and 2.22 mg/L. Highest levels of astilbin were found in Egiodola (15.13 mg/L), Merlot (11.61 mg/L), and Cabernet Sauvignon (8.24 mg/L) for red wines and in Sauvignon (5.04 mg/L) for white varietal wines. Astilbin levels are highest for recent vintages, but pallidol is not found in older vintages. During noble rot development in Sauvignon or Sémillon grapes from the Sauternes area, levels of trans-astringin, trans-resveratrol, trans-piceid, and pallidol are quite low (<0.5 mg/kg of grapes). Viniferin and astilbin levels become optimum at 2 and 30 mg/kg, respectively, during spot grape and speckle grape stages.     

Anthocyanin transformation in Cabernet Sauvignon wine during aging

Anthocyanins in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and wines were elucidated by HPLC-MS/MS. Major anthocyanins in Cabernet Sauvignon grape extract are malvidin 3-O-glucoside and malvidin 3-O-acetylglucoside. In matured wine, anthocyanins are transformed to anthocyanin-vinyl derivatives, ethyl bridged anthocyanin-flavanol adducts, and anthocyanin-flavanol adducts. The major anthocyanin pigments are malvidin 3-O-glucoside-pyruvate, malvidin 3-O-acetylglucoside-pyruvate, malvidin 3-O-coumaroylglucoside-pyruvate, malvidin 3-O-glucoside-4-vinylphenol, malvidin 3-O-acetylglucoside-4-vinylphenol, and malvidin 3-O-coumaroylglucoside-4-vinylphenol. The presence of syringetin 3-O-glucoside and syringetin 3-O-acetylglucoside has been established for the first time in grape and wine.     

Variations in the profile and content of anthocyanins in wines made from cabernet sauvignon and hybrid grapes

To detect adulteration of wine, it has been proposed that the ratio of acetylated to p-coumaroylated conjugates of nine characteristic anthocyanins can be used to determine whether a wine is derived from Cabernet Sauvignon or hybrid grapes. If the ratio is >3, then a wine is classified as being derived from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. This test has significant commercial implications as it is being used to decide whether Cabernet Sauvignon-labeled wines are genuine and can be imported into Germany. To assess whether this is a valid approach, 24 wines were analyzed, 4 of which were made from hybrids and 20 from Cabernet Sauvignon, with vintages ranging from 1993 to 2000. Only 13 of the Cabernet Sauvignon wines contained all nine of the "characteristic" anthocyanins, and the ratio of acetylated to p-coumaroylated derivatives varied from 1.2 to 6.5. It is evident that the use of the anthocyanin ratio method is flawed and that examination of the whole anthocyanin profile and/or investigation of the proportion of monoglucoside and acetylated anthocyanins is a better approach to distinguish between hybrid and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.     

Prediction of wine color attributes from the phenolic profiles of red grapes (Vitis vinifera)

Knowledge about the relation between grape and wine phenolics is of key interest for the wine industry with respect to being able to predict wine quality from analyses of grapes. Prediction of the phenolic composition and color of experimentally produced red wines from the detailed phenolic composition of the corresponding grapes was investigated using a multivariate approach. Grape extracts and wines were produced from 55 different grape samples, covering 8 different Vitis vinifera cultivars: Alicante, Merlot, Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Mourvedre. The phenolic composition of the grapes and wines showed that the average ratios between wine and grape phenolics ranged from 0.25 to 7.9 for the different phenolic compounds. Most interestingly, the average ratios were low for anthocyanins (0.31) and tannins (0.32), intermediate for (+)-catechin (0.75) and polymeric pigments (0.98), and high for gallic acid (7.9). Individual wine phenolics in general correlated well with several grape phenolics, indicating that a multivariate approach might be advantageous for prediction of wine phenolics from grape phenolics analysis. However the use of multivariate prediction of individual wine phenolics from the complete grape phenolic composition only improved the prediction of wine polymeric pigments, whereas wine anthocyanins were predicted with the same precision as from the direct relation with grape anthocyanins. Prediction of color attributes of pH normalized experimental wines from the phenolic profiles of grapes was accomplished using a multivariate approach. The correlation between predicted and measured total wine color was high ( r = 0.958) but was very similar to the correlation coefficient obtained for the direct relation between grape anthocyanins and total wine color ( r = 0.961). Color due to copigmentation, color due to anthocyanins, and color intensity were also predicted well.     

Associations between the sensory attributes and volatile composition of Cabernet Sauvignon wines and the volatile composition of the grapes used for their production

The sensory properties of wine are influenced by the chemical composition of the grapes used to produce them. Identification of grape and wine chemical markers associated with the attributes perceived by the consumer of the wine will enable better prediction of the potential of a parcel of grapes to produce wine of a certain flavor. This study explores the relationships between Cabernet Sauvignon grape volatile composition and wine volatile profiles with the sensory properties of wines. Twenty grape samples were obtained from nine vineyard sites across three vintages and wines vinified from these parcels using controlled winemaking methods. The volatile composition of the grapes were analyzed by SBSE-GCMS, the wines were analyzed by SPME-GCMS, and these data sets were compared to that obtained from the sensory analysis of the wines. Statistical treatment of the data to account for vintage and region effects allowed underlying relationships to be seen between wine sensory attributes and wine or grape volatile components. The observed associations between grape or wine volatile compounds and wine sensory attributes has revealed target compounds and pathways whose levels may reflect the biochemical effects on grape composition by differing growth conditions during berry development and ripening. The compounds identified in this study may be useful grape or wine markers for potential wine sensory characteristics.     

Chemical profile of white wines produced from 'Greco bianco' grape variety in different Italian areas by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and conventional physicochemical analyses

In this study the characterization of white wines produced from the monovarietal 'Greco bianco' grape variety is presented for the first time. A total of 40 commercial wines, from two different southern Italian regions, Calabria and Campania, from the same grape variety and two different vintages, were investigated. The analyses were performed by means of chromatographic methods, conventional analyses, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. No differentiation was observed according to the year of production but a significant discrimination was achieved using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). In particular, PLS-DA allowed the selection of compounds (total acidity; citric, malic, succinic, and lactic acids; total polyphenol index; glucose and proline/arginine ratio) useful for differentiating the studied wines on the basis of geographical origin.     

Assessing the aromatic potential of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot musts used to produce rose wine by assaying the cysteinylated precursor of 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol.

The development of a method for assaying S-3-(hexan-1-ol)-L-cysteine, the cysteinylated precursor of 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol (P-3MH), in must has made it possible to study its impact on the aromatic potential of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties used to produce rose wines in Bordeaux. The original feature of this method is the purification of very small volumes of must (500 microL) containing P-3MH by affinity chromatography and gas-phase chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry of the purified precursor in trimethylsilylated derivative form. Assays of the cysteinylated precursor in Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes showed that it was mainly located in the grape skins (60%). Prolonged juice-skin contact increased the must's P-3MH content, and this phenomenon was more marked at higher temperatures. Assessment of the aromatic potential of must used to produce rose wines by chemical analysis of an S-cysteine conjugate is mentioned for the first time.     

Phenolic compositions of grapes and wines from cultivar cabernet sauvignon produced in chile and their relationship to commercial value

The phenolic composition of wine depends on, among other factors, the grapes used to make it. In this sense, knowledge of the chemical composition of grapes and its association with the resulting wines is an important tool to determine if there is a relationship between the phenolic composition of grapes and the price that these wines obtain in the market. For this purpose, grape skins and seeds from the cultivar Cabernet Sauvignon from the central region of Chile, in 2009 and 2010 vintages from two ripening points, were subjected to chemical and phenolic analyses, as were the wines made from these grapes. Grapes and the corresponding wines from three retail price wine categories, U.S. $6-8, U.S. $28-30, and U.S. $150-160, were evaluated. No differences were found across the price categories in the chemical analysis of grapes. Berry skins and wines from the higher price categories presented a higher concentration only of total tannins, and the differences in their concentrations were only among the different fractions of proanthocyanidins in the skins, seeds, and wines; there were no differences in their proportions. A seasonal effect influenced the concentrations of certain compounds in grapes and led to a decrease in the concentration of total phenols, total tannins, and total anthocyanins between sampling dates as harvesting moved toward the common commercial grape harvest in Chilean viticulture.     

酿酒葡萄果-蒂振动分离试验

为深入研究酿酒葡萄果-蒂振动分离特性,寻求影响分离效果因素的最优组合,该文基于酿酒葡萄做变速运动产生惯性力克服葡萄果-蒂连接力实现分离的原理,搭建了曲柄摇杆机构分离率测定装置。通过对曲柄摇杆机构运动及果-蒂分离临界条件的分析,构建了果-蒂振动分离模型,确定电机转速、偏心距离及摇杆长度为主要影响因素,并针对霞多丽和赤霞珠品种开展试验研究。结果表明:影响酿酒葡萄分离率显著因子的主次顺序为偏心距离、摇杆长度和电机转速;赤霞珠品种较霞多丽品种更适合机械采收;当转速为245 r/min,偏心距离为75 mm,摇杆长度为200 mm时,赤霞珠分离率为95.2%,葡萄果-蒂分离的频率范围为2.11~3.69 Hz,葡萄穗梗处的振幅为169.8 mm。该文研究结果可为酿酒葡萄收获装置的设计提供理论依据。     

Ripening-induced changes in grape skin proanthocyanidins modify their interaction with cell walls

Proanthocyanidins were isolated from the skins of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes at different stages of grape development in order to study the effect of proanthocyanidin modification on the interaction with grape cell wall material. After veraison, the degree of proanthocyanidin polymerization increased, and thereafter was variable between 24 and 33 subunits as ripening progressed. Affinity of skin cell wall material for proanthocyanidin decreased with proanthocyanidin ripeness following veraison. A significant negative relationship (R2=0.93) was found for average proanthocyanidin molecular mass and the proportion of high molecular mass proanthocyanidin adsorbed by skin cell wall material. This indicated that as proanthocyanidin polymerization increased, the affinity of a component of high molecular mass proanthocyanidins for skin cell wall material declined. This phenomenon was only associated with skin proanthocyanidins from colored grapes, as high molecular mass proanthocyanidins of equivalent subunit composition from colorless mutant Cabernet Sauvignon grapes had a higher affinity for skin cell wall material.     

Content of the flavonols myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol in finnish berry wines

The amounts of myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol were analyzed in 16 red and 2 white berry and grape wines after acid hydrolysis using an RP-HPLC method with diode array detection. The red berry wines analyzed were made mainly from black currant, crowberry, and bog whortleberry, i.e., berries rich in flavonols. The red grape wines were made mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot grapes in several countries. The white wines studied were gooseberry and white currant wines and Chardonnay and Riesling wines. The amount of myricetin ranged from 3.8 to 22.6 mg L(-1) in red berry wines and from 0 to 14.6 mg L(-1) in red grape wines. The amount of quercetin was from 2.2 to 24.3 mg L(-1) red berry wines and from <1.2 to 19.4 mg L(-1) in red grape wines. Low levels of kaempferol were found in all red berry wines and in 9 red grape wines. The total concentration of these flavonols was from 6 to 46 mg L(-1) (mean 20 mg L(-1)) in red berry wines and from 4 to 31 mg L(-1) (mean 15 mg L(-1)) in red grape wines. Small amounts of quercetin were found in white currant and gooseberry wines, whereas no flavonols were detected in white grape wines. These results demonstrate that the contents of flavonols in red     

Toward the authentication of wines of Nemea denomination of origin through cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS)-based assay

In the present study, we developed a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS)-based assay as a first attempt to detect fraud in grapevine musts with a long-term objective to establish an analytical methodology to authenticate wines of Nemea denomination of origin (Agiorgitiko). The analytical assay makes use of a single nucleotide polymorphism that discriminates Agiorgitiko and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. The latter grape variety is one of the major adulterants for Nemea wines. Agiorgitiko grapevine must was spiked with Cabernet Sauvignon in several ratios (v/v) from 50 down to 10%, and the subsequent mixes were subjected to alcoholic microfermentation. DNA was extracted from all mixture samples up to the end of the fermentation process and was subjected to the CAPS assay. Both standard agarose gel and lab-on-a-chip capillary electrophoresis illustrated the ability of the method to detect the presence of Cabernet Sauvignon down to 10% throughout the whole fermentation process.     

Effect of red grapes co-winemaking in polyphenols and color of wines

The red grapes co-winemaking effect on phenolic fraction and wine color has been studied for the first time, where Monastrell was comacerated and cofermentated with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Changes in the relative abundance of anthocyanins were observed as well as hyperchromic shifts at 530 and 620 nm; these effects remain constant after aging. Co-winemaking also favored copigmentation, giving way to more stable anthocyanins and facilitating their polymerization. With regard to color evolution, the mixture of Monastrell with Merlot grapes was more appropriate than with Cabernet Sauvignon for aging wines in oak barrels. The extent of copigmentation was more important in young wines than in aged wines. This is mainly due to the self-anthocyanin monomer reactions in the case of young wines, whereas in aged wines copigmentation is mainly due to the reaction between the anthocyanins and other polyphenolic cofactors. Discriminant analysis showed the possibility of differentiating wines according to the aging time and the type of wine, with color parameters (color intensity, OD 620 nm, and OD 520 nm) being the most important discrimination variables in the first case and petunidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside contents in the second case.     

Effect of oxygen on volatile and sensory characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon during secondary shelf life

The oxidation of Cabernet Sauvignon wines during secondary shelf life was studied by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS) and sensory tests, with the support of multivariate statistical analyses such as OPLS-DA loading plot and PCA score plot. Four different oxidation conditions were established during a 1-week secondary shelf life. Samples collected on a regular basis were analyzed to determine the changes of volatile chemicals, with sensory characteristics evaluated through pattern recognition models. During secondary shelf life the separation among collected samples depended on the degree of oxidation in wine. Isoamyl acetate, ethyl decanoate, nonanoic acid, n-decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, 2-furancarboxylic acid, dodecanoic acid, and phenylacetaldehyde were determined to be associated with the oxidation of the wine. PCA sensory evaluation revealed that least oxidized wine and fresh wine was well-separated from more oxidized wines, demonstrating that sensory characteristics of less oxidized wines tend toward "fruity", "citrous", and "sweetness", while those of more oxidized wines are positively correlated with "animal", "bitterness", and "dairy". The study also demonstrates that OPLS-DA and PCA are very useful statistical tools for the understanding of wine oxidation.     

Analytical and sensorial characterization of the aroma of wines produced with sour rotten grapes using GC-O and GC-MS: identification of key aroma compounds

In the present work, the aroma profiles of wines elaborated from sound and sour rot-infected grapes as raw material have been studied by sensory analysis, gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with the aim of determining the odor volatiles most likely associated with this disease. The effect of sour rot was tested in monovarietal wines produced with the Portuguese red grape variety Trincadeira and in blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and sour rotten Trincadeira grapes. Wines produced from damaged berries exhibited clear honey-like notes not evoked by healthy samples. Ethyl phenylacetate (EPhA) and phenylacetic acid (PAA), both exhibiting sweet honey-like aromas, emerged as key aroma compounds of sour rotten wines. Their levels were 1 order of magnitude above those found in controls and reached 304 and 1668 μg L(-1) of EPhA and PAA, respectively, well above the corresponding odor thresholds. Levels of γ-nonalactone also increased by a factor 3 in sour rot samples. Results also suggest that sour rot exerts a great effect on the secondary metabolism of yeast, decreasing the levels of volatiles related to fatty acids and amino acid synthesis. The highest levels of γ-decalactone of up to 405 μg L(-1) were also found in all of the samples, suggesting that this could be a relevant aroma compound in Trincadeira wine aroma.     

Changes of ochratoxin A in grapes inoculated with Aspergillus carbonarius and subjected to chamber-drying under controlled conditions

The production pattern for ochratoxin A in grapes inoculated with Aspergillus carbonarius and changes in its concentration during raisining of Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon red grapes and Pedro Ximenez white grape were studied. Grapes were chamber-dried under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, with and without dipping pretreatments in alkaline emulsions of olive oil or ethyl oleate. Based on the results for the grapes that developed the fungus (Merlot and Pedro Ximenez), a temperature of 50 °C in the absence of dipping stopped ochratoxin A production and even degraded part of the toxin already formed. Both dipping pretreatments facilitated removal of the toxin and led to its virtually complete disappearance. However, dipping in the ethyl oleate emulsion caused substantial changes in the sensory characters of the musts obtained from the raisins, so it should be avoided to ensure the expected quality in the sweet wines elaborated from them.     

Influence of grape maturity and maceration length on color, polyphenolic composition, and polysaccharide content of cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo wines

The aim of this paper was to study how maturity and maceration length affect color, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and sensorial quality of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo wines at three stages of grape ripening. Ripeness increased color extractability, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharide concentrations. Moreover, the proanthocyanidin mean degree of polymerization (mDP) and the percentage of prodelphinidins also increased with maturity, whereas the percentage of galloylation decreased. In general, wines from riper grapes contain higher proportions of skin proanthocyanidins. Color and anthocyanin concentration decreased when the maceration was longer, whereas polysaccharide and proanthocyanidin concentrations did the opposite. It was also detected that the mDP and the percentage of prodelphinidins decreased when the maceration was extended, whereas the percentage of galloylation increased. These data seem to indicate that proanthocyanidin extraction from seeds is clearly increased throughout the maceration time.