terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Physicochemical behaviour of wine spirit and wine distillate aged in Sherry Casks® and Brandy casks

Physicochemical behaviour of wine spirit and wine distillate aged in Sherry Casks® and Brandy casks

Abstract

Brandy is a spirit drink made from “wine spirit” (<86% Alcohol by Volume – ABV; high levels of congeners and they are mainly less volatile than ethanol), it may be blended with a “wine distillate” (<94.8%ABV; low levels of congeners and these are mainly more volatile than ethanol), as long as that distillate does not exceed a maximum of 50% of the alcoholic content of the finished product[1]. Brandy must be aged for at least 6 months in oak casks with <1000L of capacity. During ageing, changes occur in colour, flavour, and aroma that improve the quality of the original distillate. These changes are influenced by factors such as the ageing process itself, cask characteristics (botanical origin, volume, toasting degree, previous usage), and pre-treatments like the sherry wine-seasoning process (Sherry Cask®)[2]. In this work, the physicochemical behaviours of wine spirits and wine distillates aged in Sherry Casks® and Brandy casks have been compared.

Methods: “Wine spirit” obtained at 77%ABV and “wine distillate” at 94.6%ABV were diluted with demineralized water to 68%ABV for ageing in American oak casks, medium toast, 500L of capacity and seasoned by 18%ABV Oloroso Sherry wine for 3 years (Sherry Cask®) and “Brandy casks” were only used for ageing brandy for 3 years. It was carried out in duplicate, following a static ageing for 2 years. Oenological parameters, chromatic characteristics, and total polyphenol index (TPI) were carried out according to OIV methodology. Volatile substances were determined by GC-FID.

Results: A substantial difference was observed between the distillates aged in Sherry Cask® and Brandy cask in the parameters influenced by ageing. Aged in Sherry Cask® showed greater increase in TPI and colour. These 2 types of distillates, despite their different initial characteristics, and therefore, their levels of volatile substances, show a similar evolution in the trends of these compounds.

Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank the University of Cadiz (Spain) and Bodegas Fundador, S.L.U. (Spain) for the industrial predoctoral contract granted to the author Daniel Butrón Benítez.

References:

1) Regulation (EU) 2019/787 European Parliament and Council of 17 April 2019. L130/1-49 (Parlamento europeo y consejo de la unión europea., 2019).

2) Mosedale, J. R., & Puech, J.-L. (1998). Wood maturation of distilled beverages. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 9(3) (1998) 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-2244(98)00024-7

DOI:

Publication date: October 18, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Butrón-Benítez, Daniel1,2*; Valcárcel-Muñoz, Manuel J.2; García-Moreno, M. Valme1; Guillén-Sánchez, Dominico A.1

1 Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto Universitario de Investigación Vitivinícola y Agroalimentaria (IVAGRO) Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
Bodegas Fundador S.L.U., C/ San Ildefonso, nº 3, 11403, Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), Spain.

Contact the author*

Keywords

Brandy, wine spirit, wine distillate, ageing, Sherry Cask®

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Acceptability of canned wines: effect of the level of involvement of consumers and type of wine

In recent years there has been a growing demand for alternative packaging designs in the food industry focused on diminishing the carbon footprint. Despite the environmental advantages of cans versus bottles, the traditional environment of wine has hindered the establishment of less contaminant containers. In this context, the objective of this study was to understand and generate knowledge about consumers´ perception of canned wines in comparison to bottled wines.

Photoprotective extracts from agri-food waste to prevent the effect of light in rosé wines 

Light is responsible for adverse reactions in wine including the formation of unpleasant flavors, loss of vitamins or photodegradation of anthocyanins. Among them, the riboflavin degradation leads to the formation of undesirable volatile compounds, known as light-struck taste. These photo-chemical reactions could be avoided by simply using opaque packaging. However, most rosé wines are kept in transparent bottles due to different commercial reasons. Some agri-food waste extracts have been studied for their photoprotective action which turn to be highly correlated with phenolic content [1].

Genetic study of wild grapevines in La Rioja region

Since the mid-1980s, several surveys have been carried out in La Rioja to search for populations of the sylvestris grapevine subspecies (Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris Gmelin). The banks of the Ebro River and its tributaries (Alhama, Cidacos, Leza, Iregua, Najerilla, Oja and Tirón rivers), as well as the surrounding vegetation of their valleys have been covered. So far, all the populations found are alluvial, forming part of the riparian vegetation of the Najerilla (the first reported population in La Rioja [1]), Iregua, and the vicinity of Oja valleys.

Combined abiotic-biotic plant stresses on the roots of grapevine

In the 19th century, devastating outbreaks of phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch), almost brought European viticulture to its knees. Phylloxera does not only take energy in form of sugars from the vine, but also affects the up- and down- regulations of genes, acts as a carbon sink and reprograms the physiology of the grapevines, including nutrient uptake and the defense system [1]. A key trait of rootstocks is the ability to perform well under high lime conditions as about 30 % of the land surface has calcareous soil. Iron deficiency not only causes the well-known problems of lime-induced chlorosis and stunted growth, but also affects the entire plant metabolism.

Understanding the impact of rising temperatures due to climate change on aromatic compositions in Malbec wines from Mendoza, Argentina

Mendoza is one of Argentina’s most important and outstanding wine regions producing the renowned Malbec wines due to its optimal soil and weather conditions. However, the effects of 21st-century climate change would negatively impact Malbec wines quality. This study investigated the effect of temperature increase and the impact of plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) used to mitigate the negative effect of temperature increase on Malbec wines aromatic composition through GC-MS. Four treatments were applied on vines at field condition: Control, Control + 3 ºC, ABA and ABA + 3 ºC.