terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 WHICH TERROIR-RELATED FACTORS INFLUENCE THE MOST VOLATILE COMPOUND PRODUCTION IN COGNAC BASE WINE?

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

Abstract

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. Hence it is important to better understand the effect of potential influential factors on the production of these compounds as well as on their precursors in berries. This communication deals with the study of the impact of various terroir components among maturity, vine rootstocks, water and nitrogen status that can influence grape and corresponding wine composition. All experiments used Ugni blanc grapes and were conducted in commercial vineyards in the Cognac region as well as in the GreffAdapt plot (13 rootstocks selected) [2]. Fermentations were performed at laboratory scale in triplicate similar to Cognac base wine elaboration under harvest-like conditions and standardized conditions, where sugars and YAN were all corrected to the same values [3]. Berry composition at harvest, including detailed amino acid profile, and wine fermentative aromas, such as higher alcohols and esters, were determined. All the parameters tested here could be ranked from the most influential to the least on ester concentrations. Under harvest-like conditions, nitrogen status was found to be the most influential followed by maturity level and finally water status, which was the least impactful parameter despite a very warm and dry 2022 grape-growing season. Higher alcohol acetates were about twice higher in the high nitrogen-status vines (+ 30 mg/L of YAN) compared to the control. Under standardized conditions, maturity was found the most impactful although the initial differences in must sugars and nitrogenous compounds were smoothed, and nitrogen status was the least. Indeed, fatty acid ethyl esters differed considerably depending on maturity and their concentrations were the lowest when grapes were picked around 13-15 °Brix compared to the other two more advanced maturities. These findings highlight the importance of maturity as a key parameter for growers to take into consideration for Cognac production.

 

1. Guittin, C., Maçna, F., Sanchez, I., Poitou, X., Sablayrolles, J.-M., Mouret, J.-R., & Farines, V. (2021). Impact of high lipid contents on the production of fermentative aromas during white wine fermentation. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 1-15.
2. Marguerit, E.; Lagalle, L.; Lafargue, M.; Tandonnet, J.-P.; Goutouly, J.-P.; Beccavin, I.; Roques, M.; Audeguin, L.; Ollat, N. Gref-fAdapt: A relevant experimental vineyard to speed up the selection of grapevine rootstocks. In Proceedings of the 21st Inter-national Giesco meeting, Tessaloniki, Greece, 24–28 June 2019; Koundouras, S., Ed.; pp. 204–208.
3. Trujillo, M., Bely, M., Albertin, W., Masneuf-Pomarède, I., Colonna-Ceccaldi, B., Marullo, P., & Barbe, J.-C. (2022). Impact of Grape Maturity on Ester Composition and Sensory Properties of Merlot and Tempranillo Wines. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 70(37), 11520-11530.

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Julia GOUOT1,2,3*, Mathilde BOISSEAU3, Xavier POITOU3, Nicolas LE MENN1,2, Laura FARRIS1,2, Marine MOREL4, Elisa MARGUE-RIT4 & Jean-Christophe BARBE1,2

1. Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, INRAE, OENO, UMR 1366, ISVV, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
2. Bordeaux Sciences Agro, Bordeaux INP, INRAE, OENO, UMR 1366, ISVV, F-33170 Gradignan, France
3. R&D Department, JAS Hennessy & Co, Cognac, France
4. EGFV, Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ISVV, F-33882, Villenave d’Ornon, France

Contact the author*

Keywords

Aroma compounds, Grape composition, Base wine for Cognac distillation, Ugni blanc

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

POTENTIAL DEACIDIFYING ROLE OF A COMMERCIAL CHITOSAN: IMPACT ON PH, TITRATABLE ACIDITY, AND ORGANIC ACIDS IN MODEL SOLUTIONS AND WHITE WINE

Chitin is the main structural component of a large number of organisms (i.e., mollusks, insects, crustaceans, fungi, algae), and marine invertebrates including crabs and shrimps. The main derivative of chitin is chitosan (CH), produced by N-deacetylation of chitin in alkaline solutions. Over the past decade, the OIV/OENO 338A/ 2009 resolution approved the addition of allergen-free fungoid CH to must and wine as an adjuvant for microbiological control, prevention of haziness, metals chelation and ochratoxins removal (European Commission. 2011). Despite several studies on application of CH in winemaking, there are still very limited and controversial data on its interaction with acidic components in wine (Colan-gelo et al., 2018; Castro Marin et al., 2021).

WINE FERMENTATION METABOLITES PRODUCED BY TWO TORULASPORA DELBRUECKII STRAINS ISOLATED FROM OKANAGAN VALLEY, BC, CANADA VINEYARDS

Wine aroma is influenced by various factors, from agricultural practices in the vineyard to the enological choices made by winemakers throughout the vinification process. Spontaneous fermentations have a characteristically deeper complexity of aromas when compared to fermentations that have been inoculated with Saccharomyces (S.) cerevisiae because of the diversity of microflora naturally present on grape skins. Non-Saccharomyces yeast are being extensively studied for their ability to positively contribute to wine aroma and flavour. These yeasts are known to liberate more bound volatile compounds present in grape must than S. cerevisiae through the enzymatic action of β-glucosidases and β-lyases1.

VOLATILE, PHENOLIC AND COLORIMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THREE DIFFERENT LAMBRUSCO APPELLATIONS

Lambrusco is a commercially successful sparkling red and rosé wine. With 13.06 million litres sold in 2021 was the second best-selling Italian wine after Chianti. According to National Catalogue of Vine Varieties there are thirteen Lambrusco Varieties with which to date are produced seven PDO wines. Among these, “Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce”, “Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro” and “Lambrusco di Sorbara” are the only ones that can be considered mono-varietal appellations, all located in Modena area. The PDOs contemplate the possibility of producing wines by secondary fermentation either in tank (Charmat method), or in bottle (Classico method). Sur lie is a third method commonly employed for Lambrusco, similar to the Classico method, from which differs for the absence of disgorgement.

MOVING FROM SULFITES TO BIOPROTECTION: WHICH IMPACT ON CHARDONNAY WINE?

Over the last few years, several tools have been developed to reduce the quantity of sulfites used during winemaking, including bioprotection. Although its effectiveness in preventing the development of spoilage microorganisms has been proven, few data are available on the impact of sulfite substitution by bioprotection on the final product. The objective of this study was therefore to characterize Chardonnay wines with the addition of sulfite or bioprotection in the pre-fermentation stage. The effects of both treatments on resulting matrices was evaluated at several scales: analysis of classical oenological parameters, antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, non-volatile metabolome and sensory profile.

AROMA ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL SFORZATO DI VALTELLINA WINES BYINSTRUMENTAL AND SENSORY METHODOLOGIES

Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG is a special dry red wine produced from partially dehydrated Nebbiolo wine-grapes growing in the Rhaetian Alps valley of Valtellina (Lombardy, Italy). Valtellina terraced vineyards are located at an altitude of 350–800 m according to ‘heroic’ viticulture on steep slopes. The harvested grape bunches are naturally dehydrated indoors, where a slow and continuous withering occurs (about 20% w/w of weight loss), until at least 1st December when the grapes reach the desired sugar content and can be processed following a normal winemaking with maceration.