terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 AGING PATTERNS OF VARIETAL VOLATILE PROFILES OF WHITE WINES: A CASE STUDY ON 18 ITALIAN VARIETAL WHITE WINES

AGING PATTERNS OF VARIETAL VOLATILE PROFILES OF WHITE WINES: A CASE STUDY ON 18 ITALIAN VARIETAL WHITE WINES

Abstract

During wine aging many compositional changes take place. In particular, aroma undergoes dramatic modifications through a wide range of reactions that to date are only partly understood. Italy owns one of the largest ampelographic heritages worldwide, with over three-hundred different varieties. Among these, many white grapes are employed for the production of dry still white wines. Some of these wines are consumed young while others are more prone to aging. For many of these wines, the aging patterns related to volatile composition are still unknown.

An extensive survey was conducted on 18 monovarietal Italian still white wines with the aim of elucidating the behaviours of different volatile compounds during aging. In particular, a range of volatile compounds including terpenes, norisoprenoids, benzenoids and volatile sulfur compounds was investigated. A total of 108 different samples were analysed, including Nosiola, Vermentino, Müller-Thurgau, Greco di Tufo, Garganega, Lugana, Erbaluce di Caluso, Pinot Grigio, Cortese, Arneis, Albana, Pallagrello, Falanghina, Fiano, Ribolla Gialla, Vernaccia, Gewürztraminer, Verdicchio. All wines were adjusted to 30 mg/L of free SO2 and submitted to an accelerated aging protocol involving storage for 30 days 10 °C, 40 °C and 60°C in oxygen-free environment. Volatile compounds were analysed by means a combination of analytical methods based on SPME-GC-MS.

During aging some common trends were observed, among which a decrease in linear terpenes and an increase in bicyclic terpenes, non-megastigmane norisoprenoids and volatile sulfur compounds. From a quantitative point of view, the extent of these transformations varied significantly according to wine type. Besides Gewürztraminer, which was generally rich in terpenes, other wine types such as Vermentino Verdicchio and Lugana showed peculiar terpene patterns, for example accumulation of above-threshold levels of the bicyclic terpene 1,4-cineole. Regarding non-megastigmane norisoprenoids, Falanghina and Vermentino were found to accumulate high levels of TDN and vitispirane, which was not observed in other wines. Greco accumulated during aging the highest amount of DMS, showing an average content above the odor threshold. Müller-Thurgau, Nosiola and Vermentino also showed concentrations of DMS above the odor threshold after aging. In addition, the latter varieties also showed high accumulation of methanethiol.

As most of these patterns were not seen in young wines, this work highlights the important contribution of aging to the expression of aroma characters that are specific to the identity of individual varieties or wine types.

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Article

Authors

Giovanni Luzzini1, Nicole Furlan1, Davide Slagheanufi1, Susana Río Segade2, Paola Piombino3, Giuseppina Paola Parpinello4, Matteo Marangon5, Fulvio Mattivi6,7 Maurizio Piergiovanni6,8, Silvia Carlin7, Maurizio Ugliano1

1. University of Verona, Department of Biotechnology, 37039, San Pietro in Cariano (VR) Italy
2. Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy
3. Department of Agricultural Sciences, Division of Vine and Wine Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, 83100 Avellino (AV), Italy
4. Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 47521 Cesena (FC), Italy
5. Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Le-gnaro (PD), Italy
6. Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, 38098, San Michele all’Adige (TN) Italy
7. Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098, San Michele all’Adige (TN) Italy
8. Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability (SCVSA), 43124, Parma (PR), Italy

Contact the author*

Keywords

Volatile compounds, white wine, Aging pattern, Varietal typicality

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

EFFECTS OF WINEMAKING FACTORS AND AGEING ON THE POLYPHENOLIC AND COLORIMETRIC PROFILES IN RED WINES PRONE TO COLOUR INSTABILITY

The effects of (A) grape freezing, and (B) malolactic fermentation, have been evaluated on the chemical and colorimetric profiles of red wines from Schiava grossa cv. grapes, thus prone to colour instability. The aim was to observe if specific variables (e.g. grape freezing) could improve the extraction and stability of pigments. The samples were studied from musts up to twelve months in bottle. The study was conducted with independent parallel micro-vinifications (12 = 4 theses x 3 replicates) under strictly-controlled conditions.

Read More

WHICH TERROIR-RELATED FACTORS INFLUENCE THE MOST VOLATILE COMPOUND PRODUCTION IN COGNAC BASE WINE?

Cognac is a famous spirit produced in southwest France in the region of the eponymous town from wines mainly from Vitis vinifera cv. Ugni blanc. This variety gives very acidic and poorly aromatic base wines for distillation which are produced according to a very specific procedure. Grapes are picked at low sugar concentrations ranging 13-21 °Brix and musts with high turbidity (>500 NTU) are fermented without sulphite addition [1]. Fermentative aromas, as esters and higher alcohols, are currently the main quality markers considered in Cognac spirits.

Read More

OENOLOGICAL STRATEGIES FOR THE REMOVAL OF PINKING IN WHITE WINE

The pinking of in white wine is the turning of color from yellow to salmon hue. White wines obtained from certain grape varieties (e.g. Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Trebbiano di Lugana) showed to be susceptible to pinking [1] that has been evaluated by an assay providing the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Even if its appearance does not seem to affect the sensory properties [2], strategies are necessary for its removal. Nowadays, the treatment with polyvinylpolipirroline (PVPP) was reported to significantly decrease the pink color [3].

Read More

INSIGHTS ON THE ROLE OF GENES ON AROMA FORMATION OF WINES

Yeast secondary metabolism is a complex network of biochemical pathways and the genetic profile of the yeast carrying out the alcoholic fermentation is obviously important in the formation of the metabolites conferring specific odors to wine. The aim of the present research was to investigate the relative expression of genes involved in flavor compound production in eight different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.
Two commercial yeast strains Sc1 (S.cerevisiae x S.bayanus) and Sc2 (S.cerevisiae) and six indigenous S. cerevisiae strains (Sc3, Sc4, Sc5, Sc6, Sc7, Sc8) isolated during spontaneous fermentations were inoculated in Assyrtiko and Vidiano grape must.

Read More

FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY IN MONITORING THE WINE PRODUCTION

The complexity of the wine matrix makes the monitoring of the winemaking process crucial. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) along with chemometrics is considered an effective analytical tool combining good accuracy, robustness, high sample throughput, and “green character”. Portable and non-portable FTIR devices are already used by the wine industry for routine analysis. However, the analytical calibrations need to be enriched, and some others are still waiting to be thoroughly developed.

Read More