terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Sparkling wines and atypical aging: investigating the risk of refermentation

Sparkling wines and atypical aging: investigating the risk of refermentation

Abstract

Sparkling wine (SW) production entails a two-steps process where grape must undergoes a primary fermentation to produce a base wine (BW) which is then refermented to become a SW. This process allows for the development of a new physicochemical profile characterized by the presence of foam and a different organoleptic profile.

Atypical aging is a sensorial fault that can occur soon after bottling. Characterized by the appearance of unpleasant scents (mothballs, damp towel and furniture polish) and the loss of varietal aroma, its chemical and sensorial origin is attributed to the presence of 2-aminoacetophenone (AAP), a degradation compound of indole-3-lactic acid (IAA). While at biological level this plant auxin is carefully regulated via bonding with amino acids or sugars, during fermentation, yeast is capable of freeing up unbound IAA. In the presence of oxidizing agents, its conversion into AAP leads to the appearance of ATA in wine.[1] Since yeast-related biochemical mechanisms are involved in the development of this fault and SW production entails a double fermentation process, the final product deserves extra attention in terms of ATA development. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the likelihood of producing tainted SW. To do so, 55 grape musts of 12 different varieties harvested over three vintages were fermented twice, initially to make the BWs and then the SWs. Interestingly, it was found that not only refermentation and storage increased the AAP content but also that the danger of producing ATA-tainted wines does not end with the making of SW. Indeed, upon an accelerated aging test, it was observed that the concentration of AAP was even increased. By using the data obtained from the BW samples, an ANCOVA model of linearization able to predict the formation of AAP upon refermentation with a R2 of 0.7 was created.

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Cavit sc. for the technical and financial support.

References: 

1)  Schneider V. (2014) Atypical aging defect: Sensory discrimination, viticultural causes, and enological consequences. Rev. Am. J. Enol. Vitic., 65:277–284, DOI 10.5344/ajev.2014.14014
2)  Christoph, N., et al. (1998) Bildung von 2-Aminoacetophenon und Formylaminoacetophenon im Wein durch Einwirkung von schwefliger Säure auf Indol-3-essigsäure. Vitic. Enol. Sci 53.2, 79-86.

DOI:

Publication date: October 5, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Simone Delaiti1,2*, Tomas Roman2, Tiziana Nardin2, Stefano Pedo’2, Roberto Larcher2

1C3A, Center Agriculture Food Environment, Via Edmund Mach, 1, San Michele all’Adige, TN, 38010 Italy
2Technology Transfer Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Italy

Contact the author*

Keywords

atypical aging, sparkling wine, refermentation

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Ability of lactic acid bacterial laccases to degrade biogenic amines and OTA in wine

Two of the most harmful microbial metabolites for human health that can be present in wines and either fermented or raw foods are biogenic amines (BA) and ochratoxine A (OTA). Winemakers are aware of the need to avoid their presence in wine by using different strategies, one of them is the use of enzymes. Some recombinant laccases have been characterized and revealed as potential tools to degrade these toxic compounds in wine[1], specifically biogenic amines[2].

Read More

Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization (UHPH): a technique that allows the reduction of SO2 in winemaking

Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization (UHPH) is an innovative, efficient and non-thermal technology that can be applied at different stages in winemaking in order to reduce or avoid the use of sulphites. During 2022 vintage, a batch of Xarel·lo must was processed by UHPH at 300 MPa with an inlet temperature (Ti) of 4 ºC. In order to verify the influence of the UHPH treatment in wine characteristics, alcoholic fermentations with this must (UHPH) were carried out and compared with a control batch (without SO2 addition (C)) and a sulphited batch, in which 60 mg/L of total SO2 (SO2) were added.

Read More

Mapping grapevine metabolites in response to pathogen challenge: a Mass Spectrometry Imaging approach

Every year, viticulture is facing several outbreaks caused by established diseases, such as downy mildew and grey mould, which possess different life cycles and modes of infection. To cope with these different aggressors, grapevine must recognize them and arm itself with an arsenal of defense strategies.
The regulation of secondary metabolites is one of the first reactions of plants upon pathogen challenge. Their rapid biosynthesis can highly contribute to strengthen the defense mechanisms allowing the plant to adapt, defend and survive.

Read More

The potential of some native varieties of Argentina for the production of sparkling wines. Effect of lees contact time 

Grapevine varieties from South-America, commonly known as criollas, originated because of the natural crossbreeding of grapevine varieties brought by the Spaniards. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of some varieties to produce sparkling wines considering the effect of lees contact time. The following varieties were used: Moscatel Rosado, Criolla Chica, Pedro Gimenez, Blanca Oval, Canelón, and the European variety Chardonnay (control), planted in the ampelographic collection of EEA Mendoza INTA (Argentina). Pilot-scale vinifications were carried out to obtain the base wines, in 20 L glass containers. The second fermentation was performed through the traditional method.

Read More

Toasting and grain effect on Tempranillo red wine aged in Quercus petraea barrels

The barrel-making process is widely recognized as a crucial practice that affects the composition of barrel-aged wine. After the drying process, the staves are considered ready for barrel assembly, which includes the processes of bending and toasting the barrel structure. Toasting is considered one of the most critical stages in determining the physical and chemical composition of the staves, which can influence the chemical and sensory composition of the wine aged in barrels made from them [1].

Read More