terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Overall conceptual characterization of aged dry white wines using a mental descriptive questionnaire

Overall conceptual characterization of aged dry white wines using a mental descriptive questionnaire

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to understand the overall concept of an aged dry white wine using a descriptive mental questionnaire. A total of 680 worldwide participants, grouped according to their involvement in the wine business, replied to an online questionnaire to characterize the sensory analytical and synthetic descriptors of an aged dry white wine. The descriptors were selected using a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) approach concerning wine colour, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and global appreciation.

 

The responses checked by at least 20% of the participants included the following number of descriptors: (a) 5, for the colour; (b) 7, for the aromas; (c) 6, for the taste and the mouthfeel; and (d) 10, for the global appreciation. The involvement level did not influence the diversity of the sensory descriptors. However, highly involved subjects used more frequently terms such as beeswax, kerosene, length and saltiness. Overall, the conceptual space of aged white wines may be characterized by deep yellow to deep gold colour and aromas of dried fruit, honey, caramel, oak and beeswax. The taste and mouthfeel were dominated by acidity, body, length, viscosity, smoothness and dryness. The global appreciation included terms such as complex, persistent, rich, concentrated and developed. A consensual tasting script could have the following text: “Deep gold to amber colour, mature and developed aroma, with notes of dried fruit, honey and caramel. Taste dominated by acidity, encompassing a mouthfeel sensation marked by body, dryness, smoothness and after-mouth persistence.” This overall sensory space is consistent with the metaphorical concept of “mellowed by age” wines, thus avoiding the conceivable negative connotation of “old wine”.

DOI:

Publication date: October 5, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Manuel Malfeito-Ferreira* and Mariana Sequeira

Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF) Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal

Contact the author*

Keywords

white wines, longevity, aging potential, sensory conceptual spaces, tasting scripts, mellowed wines

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Impact of temperature and solar radiation on grape composition variability in the Saint-Emilion winegrowing area 

Grape composition is strongly influenced by climate conditions. Their expected modifications in near future, notably because of increased temperatures, could significantly modify the biochemical composition of berries at harvest, and thus wine typicity and quality. Elevated temperatures favor sugar accumulation in grapes, enhance malic acid degradation and modify the amino acid content. They also reduce significantly anthocyanin accumulation in Merlot, leading to the imbalance between anthocyanins and sugars, while no significant effects on final anthocyanin levels were reported in Tempranillo[1] and finally affect aromas or aroma precursors.

The colour pattern of flower arrangements influence wine tasters’ sensory description

The arrangements of flowers and wine counterparts are inextricably linked. Whether a fundamental aspect of tablescaping or acolytes to broader entertainment rituals, they have an entangled history since ancient times. The aim of this contribution is to verify the influence of visually delicate and robust flower arrangements on individual description of wines. Changes in the sensory description of wines were investigated during subjects’ (thirty-two participants) exposure to three different conditions: the presence of delicate, robust, or totally absent flower arrangements.

New oenological criteria for selecting strains of Lachancea thermotolerans for wine technology

The study conducted various fermentations of different grape juices using various strains of Lachancea thermotolerans and one strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Because of the new conditions caused by climate change, wine acidity must be influenced as well as the volatile profile. Non-Saccharomyces yeasts such as L. thermotolerans are real options to mitigate the impact of climate change in wine production.

Potential of new genetic resources to improve drought adaptation of grapevine rootstocks

Grapevines are grown mainly as grafts worldwide, but the rootstocks most commonly used were selected between the late 19th and early 20th centuries and are based on reduced genetic diversity[1]. In the context of climate change, it is indeed urgent to diversify the range of rootstocks with genotypes much more adapted to drier environments, than the existing ones[2]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of new genetic resources for grapevine rootstock breeding programs. For this purpose, 12 American and Asian wild Vitis species (3 to 5 accessions per species = 50 accessions) were evaluated for their rooting ability and drought response.

Integrative study of Vitis biodiversity for next-generation breeding of grapevine rootstocks 

Drought is one of the main challenges for viticulture in the context of global change. The choice of rootstock could be leveraged for vineyard adaptation to drought as we can improve plant performance without modifying the scion variety. However, most of the existing rootstocks, selected over a century ago, have a narrow genetic background which could compromise their adaptive potential.