EXPLORING THE ROLE OF TRANSITION METAL IONS IN THE EVOLUTION OF ESTERS COMPOSITION OF YOUNG WHITE WINE DURING AGEING

Riesling wines are appreciated for their diverse aromas, ranging from the fruity fresh characters in young vintages to the fragrant empyreumatic notes developed with aging. Wine tasters often refer to Riesling wines as prime examples showcasing terroir, with their typical aroma profiles reflecting the geographical provenance of the wine. However, the molecular basis of the distinctive aromas of these varietal wines from major Riesling producing regions in Europe have not been fully elucidated. In this study, new lights were shed on the chemical characterization and the sensory contribution of volatile thiols to Riesling wines from Rheingau, Mosel, and Alsace. First, Riesling wines (n = 46) from the three regions were collected and assessed for their aroma typicality by an expert panel.

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a desired process in red and acidic white wines, after alcoholic fermentation (AF), carried out by the lactic acid bacterium (LAB) Oenococcus oeni. The advantages are an increase of pH, microbiological stabilization and organoleptic improvement of the final wine. However, the presence of stress factors such as ethanol, low pH, high total SO2, lack of nutrients and presence of inhibitors, could affect the successful completion of MLF [1]. Changes in amino acid composition and deficiencies in peptides after AF, showed that MLF can be delayed, signaling its importance for bacterial growth and L-malic acid degradation during MLF [2].

Laccases from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are described as multicopper oxidase enzymes with copper union sites. Among their applications, phenolic compounds’ oxidation and biogenic amines’ degradation, have been described. Besides, the role of LAB in the toxicity reduction of ochratoxin A (OTA) has been reported (Fuchs et al., 2008; Luz et al., 2018). Fungal laccases, but not bacterial laccases, have been screened for OTA and mycotoxins’ degradation (Loi et al., 2018). OTA is a mycotoxin produced by some fungal species, such as Penicillium and Aspergillus sp., which infect grape bunches used for winemaking.

The application of different winemaking techniques helps to modify the basic parameters, phenolic profile, and aroma components influencing the final wine quality. In particular, pre-fermentative processes aim to increase the extraction and preservation of grape native compounds. Among them, cold liquid stabulation (macération sur bourbes) consists in maintaining the grape juice on its lees, in suspended condition at low temperature (0-8 °C) for a variable time (generally from 7 to 21 days). The aim of this work is to apply the cold liquid stabulation on two Italian white grape varieties, Arneis and Cortese, to evaluate the impact on basic parameters, color, polyphenolic compounds (TPI), antioxidant power (DPPH), total polysaccharides, and free and glycosylated volatile compounds (GC-MS analysis) during and after the process.

The typicality of a wine, as well as its aromatic identity, are attributes that are highly sought after and requested by the current market. It is therefore of considerable technological interest to investigate the aromatic aspects of specific wines and to identify the odorous substances involved.In this thesis work, the characterization of the aromatic composition of Prosecco wines available on the market with a price range between 7 and 13 euros was carried out. These wines came from three different areas of origin such as Valdobbiadene, Asolo and Treviso.