terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 EXPLORING THE ROLE OF TRANSITION METAL IONS IN THE EVOLUTION OF ESTERS COMPOSITION OF YOUNG WHITE WINE DURING AGEING

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

Abstract

Young white wines are typically released to the market a few months after harvest, to be consumed within a year, when their fresh fruity aromas are still dominant and appealing to modern consumers. Esters, particularly higher alcohol acetates (HAAs) and ethyl esters of fatty acids (EEFAs), play a central role in the fruity expression of young white wines [1]. However, these esters are known to undergo significant hydrolysis during the first months of aging [1, 2]. Therefore, understanding the factors that affect the hydrolysis of esters is crucial for wine producers. Although the hydrolysis of esters in wine matrices has been extensively studied for decades [3], the role of transition metal ions on the fate of esters in wines is still poorly documented.

This study aimed to explore the influence of Fe, Mn and Cu on the evolution of the ester composition of young white wines after 8-weeks of artificial ageing at 30 ºC under different conditions. Young white wines were spiked with different mixtures of Fe, Mn and Cu, to reach final concentrations of 5 mg/L, 4 mg/L and 1 mg/L of metal ions, respectively. Wines were then aged in 20 mL SPME vials, full and half-full (oxidative conditions).

The presence of gallic acid was also tested in interaction with metal ions added.

The presence of the Fe, Mn, and Cu mixture, described, above significantly increased the hydrolysis of HAAs and EEFAs in two different wine samples, with an 18% and 25% drop in HAAs and a 12% and 15% drop in EEFAs, respectively, compared to the same wine samples without the addition of metal ions. The oxidative aging did not affect this trend, except for EEFAs with long carbon chains (C10 and C12), which showed a decrease in concentration when the vial was half-full in comparison to full vial.

In contrast, the presence of gallic acid at 50 mg/L limited the effect of the metal ion mixture on esters hydrolysis. Each metal ion was also tested individually. Fe alone or in association with Cu had the same impact as the mixture of the three metal ions. Surprisingly, esters hydrolysis was significantly boosted with the addition of Cu and Mn alone or in mixture, but also when Fe was mixed with Mn. The addition of Mn alone had the strongest impact with a drop of 40% and 30% of HAAs and EEFAs concentration, respectively.

This work opens new research perspectives on how transition metal ions can shape the evolution of wine esters and, more broadly, the aromatic composition of wine.

1. Antalick, G.; Perello, M.-C.; de Revel, G. Esters in Wines: New Insight through the establishment of a Database of French wines. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 2014, 65, 293-304.
2. Gammacurta, M; Marchand, S.; Albertin, W.; Moine, V.; de Revel G. Impact of yeast strain on ester levels and fruity aroma persistence during aging of Bordeaux red wines. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2014, 62(23), 5378-89.
3. Ribéreau-Gayon, P., Y. Glories, A. Maujean, and D. Dubourdieu. Handbook of Enology. Vol 2. The Chemistry of Wine: Stabilisation and Treatments. Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2000.

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Tatjana Radovanović Vukajlović¹, Mitja Martelanc¹, Martin Šala², Vid Simon Šelih², Melita Sternad Lemut¹, Guillaume Antalick¹

1. University of Nova Gorica, Wine Research Centre, Lanthieri Palace, Glavni trg 8, SI-5271 Vipava, Slovenia
2. National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Contact the author*

Keywords

esters, transition metal ions, hydrolysis, radical scavengers

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

IMPACT OF THE WINES’ QUALITY ON THE WINE DISTILLATES’ ORGANOLEPTIC PROFILE

Brandy de Jerez (BJ) is a spirit drink made exclusively from spirits and wine distillates and is characterized by the use of casks for aging that previously contained Sherries. The quality and sensory complexity of BJ depend on the raw materials and some factors: grape variety, conditions during processing the wine and its distillation, as well as the aging in the cask. Therefore, the original compounds of the grapes from which it comes are of great interest (1 y 2) being in most cases the Airén variety. Their relationship with the quality of the musts and the wines obtained from them has been studied (3) and varies each year of harvest depending on the weather conditions (4).

FACTORS AFFECTING QUERCETIN SOLUBILITY IN SANGIOVESE RED WINE: FIRST RESULTS

Quercetin (Q) is present in grape in form of glycosides and as aglycone. These compounds are extracted from grape skins during winemaking. In wines, following the hydrolysis reactions, the amount of quercetin aglycon can exceed its solubility value. Unfortunately, a threshold solubility concentration for quercetin in wine is not easy to determine because it depends on wine matrix (Gambuti et al., 2020).

ASSESSMENT OF GRAPE QUALITY THROUGH THE MONITORING OFPHENOLIC RIPENESS AND THE APPLICATION OF A NEW RAPID METHOD BASED ON RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

The chemical composition of grape berries at harvest is one of the key aspects influencing wine quality and depends mainly on the ripeness level of grapes. Climate change affects this trait, unbalancing technological and phenolic ripeness, and this further raises the need for a fast determination of the grape maturity in order to quickly and efficiently determine the optimal time for harvesting. To this end, the characterization of variety-specific ripening curves and the development of new and rapid methods for determining grape ripeness are of key importance.

THE IMPACT OF NON-SACCHAROMYCES YEASTS ON THE WHITE WINE QUALITY

Selected strains of non-Saccharomyces yeasts showed a positive effect on sensory characteristics and aromatic complexity of wine. A sequential microbial culture of non-Saccharomyces and S. cerevisiae species is usually inoculated due to poorer fermentability of non-Saccharomyces species. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in the production of white wines. We evaluated how individual combinations of sequential inoculations of non-Saccharomyces and S. cerevisiae species affect the aromatic compounds (volatile thiols and esters) and sensory characteristics of the wines.

REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ALTERS PHENOLIC PROFILES OF VITIS VINIFERA L. CV. CABERNET GERNISCHT WINE OF YANTAI, CHINA

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is important for grape growth and the quality of wine. It is essential to address the mismatch between N application and wine composition. Cabernet Gernischt (Vitis vinifera L.), as one of the main wine-grape cultivars in China, was introduced to Yantai wine region in 1892. This grape cultivar is traditionally used for quality dry red wine with fruit, spices aroma, ruby red and full-bodied wines. In order to regulate vine growth and improve grape and wine quality, Cabernet Gernischt grapevines were subjected to decreased levels of N treatments, compared to normal N supply treatment, during grape growing seasons of 2019 and 2020.