IVAS 2022 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 IVAS 9 IVAS 2022 9 The inhibition of hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol accumulation in wine by Cu(II): The influence of temperature on the duration of protection

The inhibition of hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol accumulation in wine by Cu(II): The influence of temperature on the duration of protection

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol are recognised as two of the most significant contributors to reductive off-flavours in wine. Cu(II) in wine is known to interact with both sulfhydryl compounds, lowering the concentration of their aroma-active forms while transitioning Cu(II) to a sulfhydryl-bound form. Both hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol can form during the aging of wine in low oxygen conditions, such as during bottle aging, and
their production is known to be accelerated by wine storage temperature. Consequently, the protection offered by Cu(II) to inhibit accumulation of the reductive aroma compounds during bottle aging will be limited by the Cu(II) concentration at the bottling and of rate sulfhydryl compound formation. Although insights have been made on the typical rates of binding of Cu(II) in wines in cellar conditions (i.e., 14 °C), the impact of elevated storage
conditions is not certain, but likely to influence the duration of time that Cu(II) can inhibit reductive wine characters. This study determines the rates of Cu binding during the storage of wine at variable temperatures.

Four red and three white wines were bottled with low (< 0.2 mg/L) and high (0.6 mg/L) Cu(II) concentrations. The wines were stored at 14 °C and 40 °C and measured at 0, 1, 3, 7 and 12
months, and 0, 3, 5 and 12 days, respectively. The different forms of Cu were quantified by colorimetry for white wine, and stripping potentiometry for red wine, and enabled calculation of Cu(II) binding rates during wine aging and estimation of activation energies for binding. The formation of free and salt-releasable hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol were determined by gas chromatography with chemiluminescence detection.

The results showed that the rate of Cu(II) binding was dramatically higher at 40 °C than 14°C, with complete binding of Cu(II) in the order of 3 – 8 months and 1 – 5 days, respectively, for the wines bottled with high Cu(II). The relative order of Cu(II) binding rates amongst wines was temperature dependent, whereby Cu(II) binding rates became more uniform across wines when stored at the higher temperatures. This implied limitations in utilising high storage temperatures to predict Cu(II) binding at lower storage temperatures. The accumulation of the aroma active forms of sulfhydryl compounds, that is, the free hydrogen
sulfide and free methanethiol, only occurred after Cu(II) was converted to its bound form and then also required a further lag time. These results provide critical insights into the time-line of protection afforded to wines by Cu(II) against the emergence of reductive characters during bottle aging.

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2022

Issue: IVAS 2022

Type: Article

Authors

Zhang Xinyi1, Langford Kylie2 and Clark Andrew C1

1Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
2Treasury Wine Estates, 97 Sturt Highway, Nuriootpa, SA 5355, Australia

Contact the author

Keywords

Copper, reduction, hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, bottle-aging

Tags

IVAS 2022 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Current climate change in the Oplenac wine-growing district (Serbia)

Serbian autochthonous vine varieties Smederevka (for white wines) and Prokupac (for rosé and red wines) are the primary representatives of typical characteristics of wines and terroir of numerous wine-growing areas in Serbia. In the past, these varieties were the leading vine varieties, however, as the result of globalization of winemaking and the trend of consumption of wines from widely prevalent vine varieties, they were replaced by introduced international varieties. Smederevka and Prokupac vine varieties are characterized by later time of grape ripening, and relative sensitivity to low temperatures. Climate conditions can be a restrictive factor for production of high-quality grapes and wine and for the spatial spreading of these varieties in hilly continental wine-growing areas.
This paper focuses on the spatial analysis of changes of main climate parameters, in particular, analysis of viticultural bioclimatic indices that were determined for the purposes of viticulture zoning of wine-growing areas in the period 1961-2010, and those same parameters determined for the current, that is, referential climate period (1988-2017). Results of the research, that is, analysis of climate changes indicate that the majority of examined climate parameters in the Oplenac wine-growing district improved from the perspective of Smederevka and Prokupac vine varieties. These studies of climate conditions indicate that changes of analyzed climate parameters, that is, bioclimatic indices will be favorable for cultivation of varieties with later grape ripening times and those more sensitive to low temperatures, such as the autochthonous vine varieties Smederevka and Prokupac, therefore, it is recommended to producers to more actively plant vineyards with these varieties in the territory of the Oplenac wine-growing district.

A better understanding of the climate effect on anthocyanin accumulation in grapes using a machine learning approach

The current climate changes are directly threatening the balance of the vineyard at harvest time. The maturation period of the grapes is shifted to the middle of the summer, at a time when radiation and air temperature are at their maximum. In this context, the implementation of corrective practices becomes problematic. Unfortunately, our knowledge of the climate effect on the quality of different grape varieties remains very incomplete to guide these choices. During the Innovine project, original experiments were carried out on Syrah to study the combined effects of normal or high air temperature and varying degrees of exposure of the berries to the sun. Berries subjected to these different conditions were sampled and analyzed throughout the maturation period. Several quality characteristics were determined, including anthocyanin content. The objective of the experiments was to investigate which climatic determinants were most important for anthocyanin accumulation in the berries. Temperature and irradiance data, observed over time with a very thin discretization step, are called functional data in statistics. We developed the procedure SpiceFP (Sparse and Structured Procedure to Identify Combined Effects of Functional Predictors) to explain the variations of a scalar response variable (a grape berry quality variable for example) by two or three functional predictors (as temperature and irradiance) in a context of joint influence of these predictors. Particular attention was paid to the interpretability of the results. Analysis of the data using SpiceFP identified a negative impact of morning combinations of low irradiance (lower than about 100 μmol m−2 s−1 or 45 μmol m−2 s−1 depending on the advanced-delayed state of the berries) and high temperature (higher than 25oC). A slight difference associated with overnight temperature occurred between these effects identified in the morning.

Analysis of Cabernet Sauvignon and Aglianico winegrape (V. vinifera L.) responses to different pedo-climatic environments in southern Italy

Water deficit is one of the most important effects of climate change able to affect agricultural sectors. In general, it determines a reduction in biomass production, and for some plants, as in the case of grapevine, it can endorse fruit quality. The monitoring and management of plant water stress in the vineyard

Late frost protection in Champagne

Probably one of the most counterintuitive impacts of climate change on vine is the increased frequency of late frost. Champagne, due to its septentrional position is historically and regularly affected by this meteorological hazard. Champagne has therefore developed a strong experience in frost protection with first experiments dating from the end of 19th century. Frost protection can be divided in two parts: passive and active. Passive protection includes all the methods that do not seek to modify the vine’s environment or resistance at the time of frost. The most iconic passive protection in Champagne is the establishment of the individual reserve. This reserve allows to stock a certain quantity of clear wine during a surplus year to compensate a meteorological hazard like frost during the following years. Other common passive methods are the control of planting area (walls, bushes, topography), the choice of grape variety, late pruning, or the impact of grass cover and tillage. Active frost protection is also divided in two parts. Most of the existing techniques tend to modify vine’s environment. Most of the time they provide warmth (candles, heaters, windmills, heating cables…), or stabilise bud’s temperature above a lethal threshold (water sprinkling). The other way to actively fight is to enhance the resistance of buds to frost (elicitors). The Comité Champagne evaluates frost protection methods following three main axes: the efficiency, the profitability, and the environmental impact through a lifecycle assessment. This study will present the results on both passive and active protection following these three axes.

How can historical cultivars mitigate the effects of climate change?

IFV, INRAe and the national network “Partenaires de la Sélection Vigne” representing 37 organizations from the different wine regions, have been working increasingly closely over the last 2 decades towards the preservation of the French varietal patrimony. There are approximately 600 patrimonial varieties according to INRAe and SupAgro Montpellier experts, including ancient cultivars (400) and intravarietal crossbreeds obtained since the 19th century. In the context of a drastic reduction in such varieties from the mid 1980’s in favor of mainstream varieties, it was essential to carry out an inventory of old vines and vineyards. INRAe Vassal collection plays a key role here as it holds the largest diversity available, along with a rich bibliography and herbariums, offering us the opportunity to document and double check the identity of a cultivar, consolidating the expertise of ampelographers. The work is carried out in several stages, from verifying the existence of a variety in a small region, through to rehabilitation. During this session, the authors present the process that leads to the official registration of a variety. After this, IFV selection center takes over to initiate the process of selection and propagation. A specific focus within regions such as the Alps, Champagne and the South-West will provide details of the full procedure. Bia, Bouysselet, Chardonnay rose, Mecle and the aptly named Tardif, are some of the cultivars that have followed this procedure. Furthermore, a recent regulation established by INAO on “varieties of interest for adaptation purposes” might boost uptake by growers. Since 2006, 36 historical cultivars have been registered. Most of these have been neglected in the past due to late maturity, lack of sugar and high titratable acidity at harvest time. Such characteristics are today considered as positive qualities, not only in mitigation of the effects of climate change, but also as an opportunity for restoring diversity…