IVAS 2022 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 IVAS 9 IVAS 2022 9 Valpolicella chemical pattern of aroma ‘terroir’ evolution during aging

Valpolicella chemical pattern of aroma ‘terroir’ evolution during aging

Abstract

Valpolicella is an Italian region famous for the production of high quality red wines. Wines produced in its different sub-regions are believed to be aromatically different, as confirmed by recent studies in our laboratory. Aging is a very common practice in Valpolicella and it is required by the appellation regulation for periods up to four years. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution, during aging, of volatile chemical composition of Valpolicella wines obtained from grapes harvested in different sub-regions during different vintages.

Wines were produced with a standard protocol with Corvina and Corvinone grapes, the two main varieties of Valpolicella appellation. Grapes were harvested from five different vineyards located in two sub-regions within Valpolicella during three 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages. Wines were submitted to accelerated aging treatment at 16°C and 40 °C for 30 days in epoxy resin sealed vials. Free volatile compounds and glycosidic precursors were analysed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis coupled with SPE and SPME extractions techniques.

Application of multivariate data analysis techniques to young wines allowed to identify volatile chemical patterns representing the unique aroma chemical signature of the geographical origin of each wine, regardless of vintages. In the case of aged wines, aroma signatures of individual geographical origin were preserved to a good extent after aging. In the case of Corvina, ageing slightly reduced the diversity associated with vineyard signature, conversely in Corvinone it seemed to have enhanced it. Terpenes were at the same times among the main drivers of vineyard signatures of both young and aged wines but also among the compounds most affected by ageing treatments. Highly relevant correlations were found between the decrease of some of the terpenes, mainly linalool, geraniol, β-citronellol and nerol, and the occurrence or increase of others like p-menthane-1,8-diol, 1,4- and 1,8-cineole. A significant influence of pH was found in the accumulation patterns of 1,8-cineole. These transformations involve odor- active compounds with implications for floral and balsamic attributes. Despite the deep changes occurring during aging, aged wines retained an aroma chemical signature that was characteristic of their geographical origin.

DOI:

Publication date: June 24, 2022

Issue: IVAS 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Luzzini Giovanni1, Slaghenaufi Davide1, Ugliano Maurizio1

1University of Verona

Contact the author

Keywords

Valpolicella, wine aging, terroir, Chemical signature of geographical identity, Red wine aroma

Tags

IVAS 2022 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

The role of œnology in the enhancement of terroir expression

The reality of terroir is reflected by the typicality that it confers on the wine. The relationship between the origin of wine and its quality did already exist before the appearance of œnological science. Producers and merchants have always tried to improve wine quality in order to satisfy their clients.

Read More

Evaluation of interception traps for capture of Xylotrechus arvicola (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in vineyards varieties from Protected Denomination of Origin León

Xylotrechus arvicola (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a pest in vineyards (Vitis vinifera) in the main Spain wine-producing regions with Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO). The action of the larvae, associated to the spreading of wood fungi, causes damage especially in important varieties of V. vinifera. X. arvicola females lay eggs concentrated in cracks or under the rhytidome in the wood vines, which allows the emerging larvae to get into the wood and make galleries inside the plant being then necessary to prune intensively or to pull up the bored plants (1). The objective of the study was to evaluate captures of X. arvicola insects in five varieties of V. vinifera in PDO León.

Read More

REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ALTERS PHENOLIC PROFILES OF VITIS VINIFERA L. CV. CABERNET GERNISCHT WINE OF YANTAI, CHINA

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is important for grape growth and the quality of wine. It is essential to address the mismatch between N application and wine composition. Cabernet Gernischt (Vitis vinifera L.), as one of the main wine-grape cultivars in China, was introduced to Yantai wine region in 1892. This grape cultivar is traditionally used for quality dry red wine with fruit, spices aroma, ruby red and full-bodied wines. In order to regulate vine growth and improve grape and wine quality, Cabernet Gernischt grapevines were subjected to decreased levels of N treatments, compared to normal N supply treatment, during grape growing seasons of 2019 and 2020.

Read More

Contribution du potentiel glycosidique à l’arôme des vins de Grenache noir et Syrah en Vallée du Rhône

Grenache Noir and Syrah are the predominant grape varieties in the French Rhone valley vineyard, and produce wines with well differentiated aromatic notes. This study aimed at investigating the contribution of glycoconjugated precursors to these aromatic specificities, through their analytical profiles and the sensory influence of the odorant compounds they release during wine aging. The aglycones released by enzymatic hydrolysis of glycosidic extracts

Read More

Impact of some agronomic practices on grape skins anthocyanin content

Wine colour is the first quality characteristic to be assessed, especially regarding red wines. Anthocyanins are very well known to be the main responsible compounds for red wine colour. Red cultivars can synthesize and accumulate anthocyanins in berry skin to express their colour. However, anthocyanin accumulation is often influenced by a series of factors, such as genetic regulation, phytohormones, environmental conditions and viticultural management.

Read More