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…

MODULATION OF YEAST-DERIVED AROMA COMPOUNDS IN CHARDONNAY WINES USING ENCAPSULATED DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE TO CONTROL NUTRIENT RELEASE

Yeast-derived aroma compounds are the result of different and complex biochemical pathways that mainly occur during alcoholic fermentation. Many of them are related -but not limited- to the availability of nutrients in the fermentation medium and linked to nitrogen metabolism and biomass produced. Besides, the metabolic phase of yeast also regulates the expression of many enzymes involved in the formation of aroma active compounds. The work investigates the overall effect of continuous supplementation of nutrients during alcoholic fermentation of a grape must on the volatile composition of wines.

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).

GRAPE SPIRITS FOR PORT WINE PRODUCTION: SCREENING THEIR AROMA PROFILE

Port is a fortified wine, produced from grapes grown in the demarcated Douro region. The fortification process consists in the addition of a grape spirit (77% v/v) to the fermenting juice for fermentation interruption, resulting in remaining residual sugars in the wine and increased alcohol content (19-22%). The approval of grape spirits follows the Appellation (D.O. Port wine) rules1 and it is currently carried out based on analytical control and on sensory evaluation done by the public Institute that upholds the control of the quality of Douro Appellation wines. However, the producers of Port wines would like to have more information about quality markers of grape spirits.

ANALYZING THE ROLE OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN GRAPE JUICE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLYFUNCTIONAL MERCAPTANS IN SAUVIGNON BLANC WINES

Sauvignon blanc is characterized by distinctive aromas, both fruity and herbaceous. The “green” character has been attributed to the methoxypyrazines, while the “fruity” character is associated with polyfunctional mercaptans . Polyfunctional mercaptans are of great significance due to their high impact on wines and associated low perception thresholds.
Elemental sulfur (S⁰) is widely used to protect grapevines from powdery mildew.

WINE LEES AS A SOURCE OF NITROGEN FOR OENOCOCCUS OENI TO IMPROVE MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION PERFORMANCE

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].