Characterization and biological effects of extracts from winery by-products

Forest fires in the vicinity of vineyards have significantly increased in the last decade and are a concern for grapegrowers and winemakers in many wine producing countries. The fires cause smoke drift throughout vineyards which cannot be avoided and may result in the production of wines described as ‘smoke tainted’. Such wines are characterized by undesirable sensory characters described as ‘smoky’, ‘burnt’, ‘ash’ aromas and flavours, and also may cause a lingering, unpleasant ashy aftertaste [1; 2].

Tyrosol (TYR) and hydroxytyrosol (HYT) are bioactive phenols present in olive oil and wine, basic elements of the Mediterranean diet. TYR is reported in the literature for its interesting antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. In wine, its concentration can reach values as high as about 40 mg/L
[Pour Nikfardjam et al. 2007] but, more frequently, this phenol – derived from yeast metabolism of tyrosine during fermentation – is present at lower levels, generally higher in red wines compared to whites. HYT was measured for the first time by Di Tommaso et al. [1998] in Italian wines – with maximum values of 4.20 mg/L and 1.92 mg/L for red and white wines, respectively – while definitely lower concentrations have been found later in Greek samples.

Consumer expectations are increasingly shifting towards “residue-free wines.” However, from an analytical standpoint, “zero” does not exist. Laboratories often use the quantification limits of analysis methods to signify ‘zero.’ Improved techniques now allow for the quantification of levels that were previously undetectable. This is why we prefer to use the term “unquantifiable residue” rather than “absence of residues.”

Una de las biotecnologías más potentes para disminuir el pH en vinos de zonas cálidas y en variedades de pH elevado es el uso de la levadura no-saccharomyces lachancea thermotolerans. Esta especie es capaz de formar ácido láctico a partir de azúcares, reduciendo al mismo tiempo ligeramente el grado alcohólico. Por lo tanto, mejora dos de los principales problemas de los vinos de regiones afectadas por el calentamiento global. El ácido láctico es un ácido orgánico con una buena integración sensorial en el sabor del vino, y también química y biológicamente estable durante el envejecimiento del vino.

Grapevine cultivars are vegetatively propagated to maintain their varietal attributes. However, spontaneous somatic variation emerges during prolonged periods of vegetative growth, providing an opportunity for the natural improvement of traditional grapevine cultivars. Notably, reduction in bunch compactness is a favorable trait in viticulture, offering advantages such as decreased susceptibility to bunch fungal diseases, and a more uniform ripening of berries. To unravel the genetic and developmental mechanisms behind bunch compactness variation, we examined a somatic variant of Tempranillo Tinto cultivar with loose bunches. We found that the mutant clone exhibits a ~50% reduction in pollen viability compared to typical Tempranillo clones.