A new chemiluminescence method related to molecules derived from Botrytis cinerea for characterization of Aszu wines from Tokaj, from Hungary

During oak wood contact, wine undergoes important modifications that modulate its organoleptic quality and complexity, including its aroma, structure, astringency, bitterness and color. Vescalagin and castalagin are the two main C-glucosidic ellagitannins found in oak wood used for wine aging wood but lyxose/xylose derivatives (grandinin and roburin e) and dimeric forms (roburins a,b, c and d) are also present. The presence of several hydroxyl groups in the ortho-positions at the periphery of the structure of the ellagitannin isomers allows these molecules to undergo oxidation or condensation reactions with other compounds.

Vitis vinifera is the most grown grapevine species, which originated about 6 million years ago in the trans-caucasian area as the ancestral (wild) type v. Vinifera spp. Sylvestris. On the other hand, the human being (homo sapiens) is much younger since he originated about 300.000 years ago in north africa.

The aromatic quality of wines after a long aging period in bottle is one of key points for oenologists. The objective of this work is to determine the main representative aromatic compounds found in long aged wines from D.O.Ca. Rioja. This study was made by 32 wines from 1971 to 2010 vintages. Sotolon, acetaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaptalene (TDN), β-damascenone, Y-decalactone and Y-dodecalactone were determined as the most important oxidation markers by GC-MS analysis. Moreover, sensory analysis using triangular tests were performed from wines with and without the addition of the mentioned compounds. Four different concentrations of each odorant were added, as individual compounds and as mixtures. The additions were ranged from values close to the reference odour thresholds up to high level concentrations. The most identified aroma was sotolon, which is commonly associated to curry and coffee liqueur aromatic notes. Other oxidative compounds were easily detected by panellists, such as Y-decalactone (peach compote), Y-dodecalactone (ripe fruit). The mixtures of the odorants were most easily detected than the individual compounds. It should be noted that acetaldehyde and phenylacetaldehyde were rarely perceived and distinguished.

New Zealand viticulture has long been characterised by sustainable grape growing practices as promoted by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) as well as by Organic Viticulture.

Moderate wine consumption – with the meals – represents one of the beneficial components of the traditional mediterranean diet (med diet) and a positive item in the med diet score [1,2, 3]. The med diet is considered one of the best diets in the world and the world health organisation (who) identified this eating pattern as an effective strategy to prevent non-communicable diseases (ncd), since it is associated with lower disease occurrence and all-cause mortality [4] . Numerous well-conducted epidemiological studies have also reported that light-to-moderate intake of wine/alcoholic beverages is not only related to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but also to all-cause mortality.