Terroir 2004 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 TCA – A status report on South African cork closures

TCA – A status report on South African cork closures

Abstract

Cork taint decreases the commercial value of wine as tainted wines are rejected by consumers. Although other compounds in wine and cork can also be responsible for causing a taint, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) is regarded as the primary cause of cork taint. As cork taint is often used in marketing campaigns against natural cork closures, manufacturers extended their overall quality control to monitoring TCA levels. Since August 2004 a representative sample of all batches of cork closures that are imported by members of the South African Cork Quality Council (SACQC) are tested for TCA before release into the market. Quality control on TCA is conducted by an independent laboratory, established by the Institute for Wine Biotechnology (Department of Viticulture and Oenology, University of Stellenbosch) and Thalès Wine Cellar Services (Pty) Ltd. In this contribution we report on the current status of TCA in cork closures in South Africa. The analytical methodologies as well as the quality control program that is currently implemented are also outlined.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

J.A. Minnaar

Institute for Wine Biotechnology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

Related articles…

Tracing glycosidically-bound smoke taint markers from grape to wine

The increasing frequency of wildfires on the West Coast of the USA is seen as a significant risk for the grape and wine industry. Research has shown that perceived smoke impact in wines correlates with increases in volatile phenols (VPs) in grapes exposed to fresh smoke.

Read More

The revision of the delimitation of the AOC “Champagne”

The Champagne vine-growing region has played a pioneering role in the delimitation of appellations of origin (AOC). The implementation of the Act of July, 22nd 1927 has led to drawing up lists of vine plots based on the criterion of vine cultivation antecedence.

Read More

First insights on the intra-species diversity in V. berlandieri: environmental adaptation and agronomic performances when used as rootstock

In grafted plants, such as grapevine, increasing the diversity of rootstocks available to growers is an ideal strategy to get adaptation to climate change. The rootstocks used for grapevine are hybrids of various American Vitis, including V. berlandieri. The rootstocks currently used in vineyards are derived from breeding programs involving very small numbers of parental individuals.

Read More

L’évolution des Appellations d’Origine aux Etats-Unis

Un peu d’histoire pour nous efforcer de mettre le sujet des appellations dans un contexte général. Six cents ans avant Jésus-Christ, le Côte du Rhône était plantée en vignes peu après l’arrivée des Grecs

Read More

FLAVONOID POTENTIAL OF MINORITY RED GRAPE VARIETIES

The alteration in the rainfall pattern and the increase in the temperatures associated to global climate change are already affecting wine production in many viticultural regions all around the world (1). In fact, grapes are nowadays ripening earlier from a technological point of view than in the past, but they are not necessarily mature from a phenolic point of view. Consequently, the wines made from these grapes can be unbalanced or show high alcohol content. Dramatic shifts in viticultural areas are currently being projected for the future (2).

Read More