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…

INFLUENCES OF SO2 ADDITION AND STORAGE CONDITIONS IN THE DETERMINATION OF MEAN DEGREE OF POLYMERIZATION OF PROANTHOCYANIDINS IN AGED RED WINES

The structural diversity is one of the most remarkable characteristics of proanthocyanidins (PA). Indeed, PA in wines may vary in the B-ring and C-ring substitutes, the C-ring stereochemistry, the degree of polymerization (DP) and the linkage between the monomers. Knowing in detail the structural characteristics of the PA of a wine can help us to understand and modulate several sensorial characteristics of the wine, such as color, antioxidant properties, flavor, and mouthfeel properties. In the last years was discovered and confirmed the presence of sulfonated monomeric and oligomeric flavan-3-ols in wine [1], as well as was pointed out their importance in wine quality [1,2].
Read More

NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE EFFECT OF TORULASPORA DELBRUECKII/SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE INOCULATION STRATEGY ON MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION PERFORMANCE

Winemaking is influenced by micro-organisms, which are largely responsible for the quality of the product. In this context, Non-Saccharomyces and Saccharomyces species are of great importance not only because it influences the development of alcoholic fermentation (AF) but also on the achievement of malolactic fermentation (MLF). Among these yeasts, Torulaspora delbrueckii allows in sequential inoculation with strains of S. cerevisiae shorter MLF realizations [5] . Little information is available on the temporal effect of the presence of T. delbrueckii on (i) the evolution of AF and (ii) the MLF performance.

Read More

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.

Read More

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

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VOLATILE COMPOUNDS PROFILE OF COMMERCIAL GRAPPAS OBTAINED FROM THE POMACE OF AMARONE WINES

Grappa is a traditional Italian alcoholic beverage, with an alcohol content generally between 40-60% vol., obtained from the distillation of grape pomace used for the production of wine. Grappa are often aged in wooden barrels. There are various types of grappa: young, aromatic, aged, extra-aged depending on whether the distillate comes from aromatic vines or is aged in wooden barrels for shorter or longer periods. There is also flavored grappa if herbs, fruit or roots are added. All this makes it an extremely heterogeneous product both from an organoleptic and compositional point of view.

Read More