terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 PREVALENCE OF OAK-RELATED AROMA COMPOUNDS IN PREMIUM WINES

PREVALENCE OF OAK-RELATED AROMA COMPOUNDS IN PREMIUM WINES

Abstract

Barrel fermentation and barrel-ageing of wine are commonly utilised practices in premium wine production. The wine aroma compounds related to barrel contact are varied and can enhance a range of wine aromas and flavours, such as ‘struck flint’, ‘caramel’, ‘red berry’, ‘toasty’ and ‘nutty’, as well as conventional oaky characters such as ‘vanilla’, ‘spice’, ‘smoky’ and ‘coconut’. A survey of commercially produced premium Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines was conducted, assessing the prevalence of compounds that have been proposed as barrel-ageing markers¹ including oak lactones, volatile phenols, furanones, aldehydes, thiazoles2,3, phenylmethanethiol⁴ and 2-furylmethanethiol.⁵

Accurate quantitative data is necessary to help understand the compounds which might influence these aromas but their analysis is often not a trivial undertaking. The furanones, especially furaneol, are difficult to measure accurately in wine as they are very polar. Thus, an improved stable isotope dilution assay was developed using automated liquid–liquid microextraction and multidimensional–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Also, the quantification of aldehydes was simplified using automated headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry with invial derivatisation. Thiazoles were quantified utilising gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrome-try. Other targeted volatile compounds were quantified using previously published stable isotope dilution assay methods that are routinely used in-house. Wide concentration ranges were found for many of the targeted aroma compounds and this information will direct further detailed studies.

 

1. Jarauta, I.; Cacho, J.; Ferreira, V. Concurrent phenomena contributing to the formation of the aroma of wine during aging in oak wood:  an analytical study. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2005, 53 (10), 4166-4177.
2. Gros, J.; Lavigne, V.; Thibaud, F.; Gammacurta, M.; Moine, V.; Dubourdieu, D.; Darriet, P.; Marchal, A. Toward a molecular understanding of the typicality of Chardonnay wines: identification of powerful aromatic compounds reminiscent of hazelnut. 
J. Agric. Food Chem. 2017, 65 (5), 1058-1069.
3. Marchand, S.; de Revel, G.; Bertrand, A., Approaches to Wine Aroma:  Release of aroma compounds from reactions between cysteine and carbonyl compounds in wine. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2000, 48, (10), 4890-4895.
4. Piano, F.; Petrozziello, M.; Vaudano, E.; Bonello, F.; Ferreira, V.; Zapata, J.; Hernández-Orte, P. Aroma compounds and sensory characteristics of Arneis Terre Alfieri DOC wines: the concentration of polyfunctional thiols and their evolution in relation to different ageing conditions. Eur. Food Res. Technol. 2014, 239 (2), 267-277.
5. Blanchard, L.; Tominaga, T.; Dubourdieu, D. Formation of furfurylthiol exhibiting a strong coffee aroma during oak barrel fermentation from furfural released by toasted staves. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2001, 49 (10), 4833-4835. 

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Tracey SIEBERT¹, Flynn WATSON¹, Mark SOLOMON¹, Maddy JIANG¹, Tabea SÖNCKSEN1,2, Lisa PISANIELLO¹, Leigh FRANCIS¹, Marlize BEKKER¹

1.The Australian Wine Research Institute, Waite Precinct, Hartley Grove cnr Paratoo Road, Urrbrae 5064, Australia
2.Technical University of Braunschweig, Universitätsplatz 2, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany

Contact the author*

Keywords

oak barrel, wine, aroma compounds, quantitation

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

EXTRACTIBLE COMPOUNDS FROM MICROAGGLOMERATED CORK STOPPERS

After bottling, the wine continues to evolve during storage. The choice of the stopper is an important factor in this evolution. In addition to the oxygen permeability of the closure, the migration of stopper compounds into the wine can also have an impact on the wine organoleptic properties. Many studies have shown that transfers of volatile compounds from the stoppers into the wine can happen depending on the type of closure used (1). Moreover, when cork-made stoppers are used, the migration of phenolic compounds from the stopper into the wine can also occur (2, 3).

IN DEPTH CHARACTERIZATION OF OENOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO LACHANCEA THERMOTOLERANS STARTER STRAINS

Non-Saccharomyces starter cultures became increasingly popular over the years because of their potential to produce more distinctive and unique wines. The major benefit of the use of Lachancea thermotolerans as a fermentation starter is its ability to produce relevant amounts of lactic acid and reduce alcoholic strength, making it valuable for mitigating negative impacts of climate change on grapes and wine quality. Besides, like any other non-Saccharomyces yeast, L. thermotolerans can significantly affect a whole range of other physico-chemical wine parameters.

VOLATILE AND GLYCOSYLATED MARKERS OF SMOKE IMPACT: EVOLUTION IN BOTTLED WINE

Smoke impact in wines is caused by a wide range of volatile phenols found in wildfire smoke. These compounds are absorbed and accumulate in berries, where they may also become glycosylated. Both volatile and glycosylated forms eventually end up in wine where they can cause off-flavors. The impact on wine aroma is mainly attributed to volatile phenols, while in-mouth hydrolysis of glycosylated forms may be responsible for long-lasting “ashy” aftertastes (1).

CHARACTERIZATION OF ENOLOGICAL OAK TANNIN EXTRACTS BY MULTI-ANALYTICAL METHODS APPROACH

Oak tannin extracts are commonly used to improve wine properties. The main polyphenols found in oak wood extracts are ellagitannins¹ that release ellagic acid upon hydrolysis and comprise numerous structures². Moreover, oak tannin extracts contain other compounds giving a complex mixture. Consequently, the official OIV method based on gravimetric analysis of the tannin fraction adsorbed on polyvinylpolypyrrolidone is not sufficient to describe their composition and highlight their chemical diversity.

SENSORY PROPERTIES IMPORTANT TO AUSTRALIAN FINE WINE CONSUMER SEGMENT PERCEPTION OF CHARDONNAY WINE COMPLEXITY AND PREFERENCE

Wine complexity is considered a multidimensional yet equivocal sensory percept. This project uncovered sensory attributes Australian Chardonnay wine consumers associate with Chardonnay wine complexity
and correlations between expert and consumer perceived wine complexity and preference. A
wine consumer test examined 6 Australian Chardonnay wines of three complexity levels designated low (LC1&2), medium (MC1&2), and high (HC1&2) by an expert panel (n = 8) using a benchtop sensory task. Consumers (n = 81) rated their perceived liking using a 9-point hedonic scale; wine complexity with a 5-point scale anchored “low”, “low-medium”, “medium”, “medium-high”, and “high” and lastly, profiled the wines using Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA). Psychographic segmentation with the Fine Wine Instrument
(FWI) generated three segments; Wine Enthusiasts (WE n=29), Aspirants (ASP n=40) and No- Frills (NF n=12).