terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Barrels ad-hoc: Spanish oak wood classification by NIRs 

Barrels ad-hoc: Spanish oak wood classification by NIRs 

Abstract

The wooden barrel is a key factor in enology, since wine chemical composition and sensory properties changes significantly in contact with the barrel[1]. Today’s highly competitive market constantly demands new differentiated products and wineries search innovations continuously.

Wood selection is crucial: barrels stability to keep constant their contribution and the result on products, and additional and differentiated wood contributions to impact their new products. Oak wood selection has traditionally been carried out using parameters such as specie, location and grain, however, it goes one step further nowadays. Large cooperage work with non-destructive techniques that allow classifying oak wood quickly and easily according to their organoleptic contribution[2].

CETEMAS studies Spanish origins oak (Q. petreae/robur) wood for cooperage. This is highly regarded by leading beverages manufacturer (wineries and whiskey distilleries). NIROB project led us to study the species, location and grain impact on the total phenol wood content, ellagitannin and volatile compounds profile, as well as the wood NIRs analysis implementation. After this study, it was concluded to modify the French grain classification scale for Spanish Quercus. Moreover, the first total phenol content prediction models were developed and applied on staves selection for wine barrels destined to a winery from PDO Vino de Cangas, with really good results.

During running NIRCHEM project, national and international oak are studied comparatively, improving the NIRs phenol content models and developing new ones to predict key compounds content for winemaker’s interest. The different origins oak chemical composition evolution is also studied depending on the seasoning and toasting.

Our goal is the wood knowledge before its selection, to choose the wood that best suits the characteristics sought by the wineries, offering a tool that allows this selection, enhancing and promoting, at the same time, the use of the country’s oak and its proper forest management.

DOI:

Publication date: October 4, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Amelia González1*, Alba Fanjul2, Paula Pérez2, Claudia García2 & Juan Majada Guijo 2

1,2Forest and Wood Technology Research Centre (CETEMAS); Pumarabule S/N.33936.Siero. Asturias

Contact the author*

Keywords

oak wood selection, NIRs, phenolic content, organoleptic properties, cooperage

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Effect of riboflavin on the longevity of white and rosé wines

Light is a fundamental part at sales points which influences in the conservation of wines, particularly in those that are sold in transparent glass bottles such as rosé wines and increasingly white wines. The photochemical effect known as “light-struck taste” can cause changes in the aromatic characteristics of the wine. This “light-struck taste” is due to reactions triggered by the photochemical sensitivity of riboflavin (RBF).

Wine without added SO2: Oxygen impact and color evolution during red wine aging

SO2 play a major role in wine stability and evolution during its aging and storage. Winemaking without SO2 is a big challenge for the winemakers since the lack of SO2 affects directly the wine chemical evolution such as the aromas compounds as well as the phenolic compounds. During the red wine aging, phenolic compounds such as anthocyanin, responsible of the red wine colour, and tannins, responsible of the mouthfeel organoleptic properties of wine, evolved quickly from the winemaking process to aging [1]. A lot of new interaction and molecules occurred lead by oxygen[2] thus the lack of SO2 will induce wine properties changes. Nowadays, the phenolic composition of the wine without added SO2 have not been clearly reported.

A comprehensive study on the effect of foliar mineral treatments on grapevine microbiota, flavonoid gene expression, and berry composition

Recently, foliar treatments with mineral-based compounds have shown positive effects on grapevine production by protecting grape from thermal excesses and reducing the decoupling between technological and phenolic maturity caused by climate change. Unraveling the effect of mineral particle applications on grape-associated microbes is pivotal for successful wine processing, due to the influence of the microbiota on wine composition and stability. To our knowledge, this is the first work that comprehensively studied the effects of kaolin and chabasite-rich zeolitites treatments on grape-related microorganisms (by real-time PCR quantification of total fungi, Hanseniospora uvarum, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, plant-associated bacteria and lactic acid bacteria), the expression of genes related to the flavonoid biosynthesis (PAL1, CHS1, F3H2, DFR, LDOX, UFGT, MYBA1, GST4, FLS4 genes) and the berry composition (°Brix, pH, acidity and anthocyanin concentrations) in cv. Sangiovese during ripening in two growing seasons (2019 and 2020).

The influence of pre-heatwave leaf removal on leaf physiology and berry development

Due to climate change, the occurrence of heatwaves and drought events is increasing, with significant impact on viticulture. Common ways to adapt viticulture to a changing climate include site selection, genotype selection, irrigation management and canopy management. The latter mentioned being for instance source-sink manipulations, such as leaf removal, with the aim to delay ripening.

Wine racking in the winery and the use of inerting gases

The O2 uptake in the different winemaking processes is generally considered to be negative for the sensory characteristics of white and rosé wines. Wine racking is a critical point of O2 uptake, as the large surface area of the wine exposed during this operation and the inability to maintain an effective inert gas blanket over it.
The objective was to study O2 uptake during the racking of a model wine without using inert gases and to compare it with the purging of the destination tank with different inert gases.