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…

Effect of spray with autochthonous Trichoderma strains and its secondary metabolites on the quality of Tempranillo grape

Trichoderma is one of the most widely used fungal biocontrol agents on vineyards due to its multiple benefits on this crop, such as its fungicidal and growth promoting capacity. In this work, we have analyzed the effect on the concentration of nutrients in grapevine leaves and on the quality of the grape must after spraying an autochthonous strain of Trichoderma harzianum and one of the main secondary metabolites produced by this genus, 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP).

Phenolic composition profile of cv. Tempranillo wines obtained from severe shoot pruning vines under semiarid conditions

One of the limitations of vineyards in warm areas is the loss of wine quality due to higher temperatures during the grape ripening period. In order to adapt the vineyards to these new climatic conditions, a possible solution is to delay the ripening process of the grapes towards periods with milder temperatures, by means of management practices and thus improve the quality of the fruit and the wine produced. The technique of severe shoot pruning (SSP) has proven useful in achieving this objective.

Vertical cordon training system enhances yield and delays ripening in cv. Maturana Blanca

The growing interest in minority grape varieties is due to their potential for adaptation to global warming and their oenological capabilities. However, the cultivation of these varieties has often been limited due to their low economic efficiency. One such example is Maturana Blanca, a recently recovered and authorized minority grape variety in the DOCa Rioja region, known for its remarkable oenological potential but low productivity. This study aimed to increase the yield of Maturana Blanca by implementing the vertical cordon training system, which allowed for a higher number of buds per plant and an increased cluster count per vine.

Influence of polysaccharide extracts from wine by-products on the volatile composition of sparkling white wines

In the production of sparkling wines, during the second fermentation, mannoproteins are released by yeast autolysis, which affect the quality of the wines. The effect of mannoproteins has been extensively studied, and may affect aroma and foam quality. However, there are no studies on the effect of other polysaccharides such as those from grapes. Considering the large production of waste from the wine industry, it was proposed to obtain polysaccharide-rich extracts from some of these by-products[1].

The evolution of the aromatic composition of carbonic maceration wines

The vinification by Carbonic maceration (CM) involves the process whereby the whole bunches are subjected to anaerobic conditions during several days. In this anaerobic condition, the grape endogenous enzymes begin an intracellular fermentation. This situation favors that whole grapes split open and release their juice into the tank, increasing the liquid phase that is fermented by yeasts [1]. Then, two types of wines are obtained; one from the free-run liquid in the tank (FCM) and other from the liquid after pressing the whole grape bunches (PCM). PCM wines are recognized as high quality young wines because their fruity and floral aromas[2] that although they are very intense at the end of the winemaking they gradually disappear during conservation.