IVAS 2022 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 IVAS 9 IVAS 2022 9 Fermentative volatile compounds and chromatic characteristics can contribute to Italian white wines diversity

Fermentative volatile compounds and chromatic characteristics can contribute to Italian white wines diversity

Abstract

Perceived aroma plays an important role in wine quality, and it depends mainly on the volatile composition. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from grapes and those formed during winemaking are involved in the sensory complexity of wines. In aroma-neutral winegrape varieties, the winemaking process itself, and particularly alcoholic fermentation (AF), impacts strongly on the organoleptic characteristics of wines due to the formation of volatile alcohols, acids, and esters. In addition, phenolic compounds could contribute not only to the wine color but also to VOCs evolution during AF.
The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the differences in the concentration of fermentative VOCs among varieties from different Italian geographical zones. For this aim, 246 monovarietal white wines (vintage 2019) from 18 varieties cultivated in 9 different Italian regions were selected. Fermentative alcohols, acids, and esters were extracted by LLME and analyzed by GC-MS. Standard physico-chemical parameters, total polyphenol index, DPPH antioxidant activity, and chromatic characteristics including absorbance at 420 nm and CIELab coordinates were also determined.
Fermentative VOCs are ascribed to the management of FA, therefore the differences observed could be due to both the grape juice composition and the several factors driving FA (yeasts, nutrients, temperature). The results obtained show that fermentative compounds allow to differentiate some monovarietal wines. Albana wines were characterized by the highest average concentrations of total fermentative VOCs, particularly alcohols and ethyl esters, the latter reaching the highest value also in Fiano, Greco, and Pallagrello bianco. In turn, Fiano and Pallagrello showed the highest concentrations of aromatic alcohols. Falanghina and Vermentino wines contained the highest amount of acetates whereas Fiano was the richest in methyl esters. Gewürztraminer wines were the most abundant in volatile acids, followed by Ribolla gialla, Vermentino, Garganega, and Pinot grigio. In addition, Müller Thurgau and Verdicchio wines showed the lowest concentrations of total fermentative VOCs, particularly alcohols. Nosiola wines were characterized by the lowest abundance in acids and acetates, while Pinot grigio and Müller Thurgau wines contained the lowest amount of ethyl and methyl esters, respectively.
Regarding chromatic and phenolic characteristics, Pallagrello and Albana wines were characterized by the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, but also were the darkest wines showing the highest value of b* color coordinate (yellowish). Conversely, Pinot grigio wines showed the lowest antioxidant activity and total phenolic compound concentration. Pinot grigio and Cortese wines had the lightest color and the lowest contribution of the yellow color component (b* coordinate and absorbance at 420 nm).

Acknowledgments: MIUR project PRIN n. 2017RXFFRR.

DOI:

Publication date: June 24, 2022

Issue: IVAS 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Río Segade Susana1, Škrab Domen1, Paissoni Maria Alessandra1, Giacosa Simone1, Luzzini Giovanni2, Ugliano Maurizio2, Piergiovanni Maurizio3, Mattivi Fulvio3, Marangon Matteo4, Curioni Andrea4, Parpinello Giuseppina P.5, Versari Andrea5, Piombino Paola5, Moio Luigi5, Gerbi Vincenzo1 and Rolle Luca1

1Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino
2Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Italy
3Centre Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Italy
4Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Italy
5Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

Contact the author

Keywords

volatile compounds, color characteristics, antioxidant potential, white wines, differentiation

Tags

IVAS 2022 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Grapevine xylem embolism resistance spectrum reveals which varieties have a lower mortality risk in a future dry climate

Wine growing regions have recently faced intense and frequent droughts that have led to substantial economical losses, and the maintenance of grapevine productivity under warmer and drier climate will rely notably on planting drought-resistant cultivars. Given that plant growth and yield depend on water transport efficiency and maintenance of photosynthesis, thus on the preservation of the vascular system integrity during drought, a better understanding of drought-related hydraulic traits that have a significant impact on physiological processes is urgently needed. We have worked towards this end by assessing vulnerability to xylem embolism in 30 grapevine commercial varieties encompassing red and white Vitis vinifera varieties, hybrid varieties characterized by a polygenic resistance for powdery and downy mildew, and commonly used rootstocks. These analyses further allowed a global assessment of wine regions with respect to their varietal diversity and resulting vulnerability to stem embolism. Hybrid cultivars displayed the highest vulnerability to embolism, while rootstocks showed the greatest resistance. Significant variability also arose among Vitis vinifera varieties, with Ψ12 and Ψ50 values ranging from -0.4 to -2.7 MPa and from -1.8 to -3.4 MPa, respectively. Cabernet franc, Chardonnay and Ugni blanc featured among the most vulnerable varieties while Pinot noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon ranked among the most resistant. In consequence, wine regions bearing a significant proportion of vulnerable varieties, such as Poitou-Charentes, France and Marlborough, New Zealand, turned out to be at greater risk under drought. These results highlight that grapevine varieties may not respond equally to warmer and drier conditions, outlining the importance to consider hydraulic traits associated with plant drought tolerance into breeding programmes and modeling simulations of grapevine yield maintenance under severe drought. They finally represent a step forward to advise the wine industry about which varieties and regions would have the lowest risk of drought-induced mortality under climate change.

Tasting soils in Pinot noir wines of the Willamette valley, Oregon

The conventional wisdom of vintners is that alkalinity, and thus less sour and more rounded taste, are enhanced in wine and grapes challenged by low-nutrient soils.

Moderate wine consumption as part of a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle under debate

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.

How much does the soil, climate and viticultural practices contribute to the variability of the terroir expression?

When considering the application of a systemic approach to assess the intrinsic complexity of agricultural production, the following question immediately arises

A combination of biotechnology tools and coopers elements for an alternative the addition of SO2 at the end of the malolactic fermentation in red wines or at the “mutage” for the “liquoreux” wines

In red wines the post-MLF SO2 addition is an essential event. It is also the case for the “mutage” during the elaboration of the “liquoreux”. At these moments SO2 plays an antimicrobial action and an antioxidant effect. But at current pH of wines, ensuring a powerful molecular SO2 has become very difficult. Recent work on Brettanomyces strains have also shown that some strains are resistant up to 1.2 mg / L of molecular SO2. It’s also the case of the some Saccharomuces or Zygosaccharomyces strains suitable to re-ferment “liquoreux” wines after the “mutage”.