terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 SENSORY DEFINITION OF A TECHNICAL UNAVOIDABLE TRANSFER OF AROMA COMPOUNDS VIA SEALING IN A BOTTLING LINE IN ORDER TO PREVENT PROSECUTION DUE TO FRAUDULENT AROMATIZATION OF A SUBSEQUENTLY FILLED WINE

SENSORY DEFINITION OF A TECHNICAL UNAVOIDABLE TRANSFER OF AROMA COMPOUNDS VIA SEALING IN A BOTTLING LINE IN ORDER TO PREVENT PROSECUTION DUE TO FRAUDULENT AROMATIZATION OF A SUBSEQUENTLY FILLED WINE

Abstract

In 2020, 12% of all bottled German wines were aromatized, which may increase further due to rising popularity of dealcoholized wines. As sealing polymers of a bottling line absorb aroma compounds and may release them into regular wines in the next filling¹, this unintentional carry-over bears the risk to violate the legal ban of any aromatization of regular wine. However, following EU legislation, German food control authorities accept a technical unavoidable transfer of aroma compounds, if this is of no sensory significance. In order to prevent any legal consequences of aroma migration, we propose how to define the requested absence of sensory significance and how to improve cleaning in respect to aroma compounds.

Using a novel direct analysis of sealing polymers revealed that cleaning of the filler removed only 11–62% of seven studied aroma compounds which are commonly used to aromatize wines, including γ-decalactone, α-ionone or eugenol¹. High temperature of 85 °C revealed the largest cleaning effect, while chemical additives such as caustic soda or ozone exhibited only minor efficacy². Complete removal of absorbed aroma compounds from sealing was not achieved, making a later release into subsequently bottled wines still possible.

Odor detection thresholds were determined separately in water, model wine and white wine for the monitored aroma compounds. Applying the odor activity concept, we could show that migration of aroma compounds into the subsequently bottled wines were of no sensory relevance³.

Studying aroma migration in two industry scale bottling lines we could confirm the uptake of marker compounds into sealing polymers during bottling mulled or aromatized wines. Despite ineffective cleaning, aroma compounds migrating back into the subsequently bottled non-aromatized regular wines were way below their sensory thresholds. Sensory evaluation by a 2-out-of-5-test of the wine before and after bottling indeed revealed no significant difference.

In conclusion, despite migration of aroma compounds into sealing of a bottling line, cleaning and dilution effects in the subsequently filled wine prevented any aroma carry-over of sensory relevance. Thus, the analytical determination of “illegal” added aroma traces in a regular wine due to this technically unavoidable transfer, would not lead to legal prosecution. This legal evaluation could be a show case, how to apply the de-minimis concept to assess traces of pesticides or other contaminants into wine.

 

1. Gottmann, J., Vestner, J., Müller, D., Schuster, J., & Fischer, U. (2021). Uptake and Release of Aroma Compounds by an Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber Sealing Polymer: Investigating Aroma Carryover in a Model Wine System. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 69(38), 11382-11394.
2. Gottmann, J., Müller, D., Becker, A,-M., Vestner, J., Schuster, J., & Fischer, U. (2022), Improved sealing polymers and cleaning procedures to mitigate aroma carryover during bottling of aromatised and regular wine on the same filling line. OenoOne, 56(4), 41-54
3. Gottmann, J., Vestner, J. & Fischer, U. (2022). Sensory relevance of seven aroma compounds involved in unintended but potentially fraudulent aromatization of wine due to aroma carry over. Food Chem, 402, 1341600.

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Jörg Gottmann ¹, Jochen Vestner ¹

1. Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) Rheinpfalz, Institute for Viticulture and Oenology

Contact the author*

Keywords

aroma migration, matrix dependent odor detection threshold, odor activity value, aroma-tized wines

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

FLOW CYTOMETRY, A POWERFUL AND SUSTAINABLE METHOD WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS IN ENOLOGY

Flow cytometry (FCM) is a powerful technique allowing the detection, characterization and quantification of microbial populations in different fields of application (medical environment, food industry, enology, etc.). Depending on the fluorescent markers and specific probes used, FCM provides information on the physiological state of the cell and allows the quantification of a microorganism of interest within a mixed population. For 15 years, the enological sector has shown growing interest in this technique, which is now used to determine the populations present (of interest or spoilage) and the physiological state of microorganisms at the different stages of winemaking.
Read More

PHENOTYPIC DIVERSITY AND BIO-PROTECTION CAPABILITY OF METSCHNIKOWIA SP. IN OENOLOGY

Nowadays, the trend is to reduce the use of chemical inputs in the food sector, including in oenology. One of the inputs widely used in the wine making process are sulfites, for its several properties: antimicrobial and antioxidiant. This use isn’t without consequences on consumer’s health and environment, it can lead for example to allergic reactions and pollution. To limit the addition of chemical inputs, microbial alternatives are used. It consists to inoculate in grape must, a micro-organism able to inhibit the growth of the negative indigenous flora during the phase before the fermentation and to guarantee the sensory qualities of wines.

Read More

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.

Read More

A NEW SPECIFIC LINEAGE OF OENOCOCCUS OENI IN COGNAC APPELLATION WINES

Oenococcus oeni is the main lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species which conducts the malolactic fermentation (MLF) in wine. During MLF, O. oeni converts malic acid into lactic acid, which modulates wine aroma composition leading to better balanced organoleptic properties. O. oeni is a highly specialized species only detected in environments containing alcohol such as wine, cider or kombucha. Genome analysis of more than 240 strains showed that they form at least 4 main phylogenetic lineages and several sublineages, which are associated with different beverages or types of wines.

Read More

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.

Read More