terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 EFFECTS OF INDUCED SUNBURN DAMAGES ON WHITE WINE PROPERTIES

EFFECTS OF INDUCED SUNBURN DAMAGES ON WHITE WINE PROPERTIES

Abstract

Climate change is a great challenge for the environment and affects the wine industry as well. Sunburn damage of sensitive grapes increase with severe heat periods. Besides significant loss of yield sunburn, modifies sensory properties of the wines and may cause climate-related off-flavours. To initiate sun-burn in a controlled way, in 2021 sunburn was directly induced in the vineyard with the GrapeBurner device, exposing grapes of the varieties Riesling and Pinot Blanc with UV and IR radiation. This device was first assembled by Kai Müller of the university in Geisenheim and consists of a carriage with 6 UV/IR lamps. A 15 min irradiation was applied in early September at 60°Oe. Due to the colder season in 2021 the grapes were not harmed by previous sunburn damage. Nevertheless, we used non-defoliated grapes facing north of the vines to ensure that putative damage was only due to applied irradiation and not previous sun exposure. Three weeks after the treatment, a control and the irradiated grapes were harvested and directed to small scale winemaking following a standardised protocol. Sensory evaluation using descriptive analysis with a trained panel was complemented by aroma analysis using an established head space solid phase micro extraction GC-MS method.

For Riesling, the control had a sweeter and fruitier taste, and was reminiscent of ripe fruit, which correlated with a high content of ethyl esters. In contrast, wines from irradiated Riesling grapes had a smokier flavour and correlated with plant derived odorants such as vitispirane, linalool, β-damascenone, and 4-vinylguaiacol. Also the sensory panel described the wines from treated grapes as more astringent and bitter, as well as with a more intense yellow colour. These results were backed by Pinot Blanc trials, as the control was perceived more fruity due to enhanced ethyl esters. Vice versa, wines from the irradiated grapes were more smoky and astringent. In addition, 2-aminoacetophenone was enhanced, causing the atypical aging off-flavour.

These promising results stimulated further trials, in which the length of exposure was varied gradually, to determine a threshold from which irradiation is causing negative sensory and compositional changes. In parallel, mitigation strategies such as applying reflecting particles or adaptation to sun exposure by early defoliation will be examined in lieu of varying UV/IR radiation.

1. Droulia, F., Charalampopoulos, I. (2021). Future Climate Change Impacts on European Viticulture: A Review on Recent Scientific Advances. Atmosphere, 12(4), 495. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12040495
2. Gambetta, J. M., Holzapfel, B. P., Stoll, M., Friedel, M. (2021). Sunburn in Grapes: A Review. frontiers in Plant Science, 11, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.604691
3. IPCC. (2014). Climate Change: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]Geneva, Switzerland. ISBN: 978-92-9169-143-2

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Caterina Szmania1, Ulrich Fischer1,2

1. DLR Rheinpfalz, Neustadt an der Weinstraße/Germany
2. RPTU Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau, Kaiserslautern/Germany

Contact the author*

Keywords

climate change, sunburn, white wine, off-flavour

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

INFLUENCE OF THE NITROGEN / LIPIDS RATIO OF MUSTS ON THE REVELATION OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS IN SAUVIGNON BLANC WINE

Production of volatile compounds by yeast is known to be modulated by must nitrogen. Nevertheless, various parameter of must quality have an impact on yeast fermentation. In this study we propose to evaluate the impact of nitrogen / lipids balance on a Sauvignon Blanc grape juice (Val de Loire).
Must was prepared from the same grapes at pilot scale. Three modalities were carried out: direct pressing, direct pressing with a pre-fermentation cold stabulation and pellicular maceration before pressing.

PERCEPTUAL INTERACTIONS PHENOMENA INVOLVING VARIOUS VOLATILE COMPOUND FAMILIES LINKED TO SOME FRUITY NOTES IN BORDEAUX RED WINES

Fruity notes play a key role in the consumer’s appreciation of Bordeaux red wines. If literature provides a lot of knowledge about the nature of volatile compounds involved in this fruity expression, the sensory phenomena involving these compounds in mixture still need to be explored. Considering previous sensory works about the impact of esters and some overripening compounds, the goal of this work was to study the implication of perceptual interactions involving red wine odorant compounds of diverse origins and described as potentially affecting fruity aromatic expression.

MOVING FROM SULFITES TO BIOPROTECTION: WHICH IMPACT ON CHARDONNAY WINE?

Over the last few years, several tools have been developed to reduce the quantity of sulfites used during winemaking, including bioprotection. Although its effectiveness in preventing the development of spoilage microorganisms has been proven, few data are available on the impact of sulfite substitution by bioprotection on the final product. The objective of this study was therefore to characterize Chardonnay wines with the addition of sulfite or bioprotection in the pre-fermentation stage. The effects of both treatments on resulting matrices was evaluated at several scales: analysis of classical oenological parameters, antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, non-volatile metabolome and sensory profile.

NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE FATE OF MARKERS INVOLVED IN FRESH MUSHROOM OFF-FLAVOURS DURING ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION

The fresh mushroom off-flavour (FMOff) has been appearing in wines since the 2000s. Some C8 compounds such as 1-octen-3-one, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-hydroxyoctan-3-one, 3-octanol and others are involved in this specific off-flavour [1-3]. At the same time, glycosidic precursors of some FMOff compounds have been identified in musts contaminated by Crustomyces subabruptus [4], highlighting the role of aroma precursors in this specific taint. However, the fate of these volatile molecules and glycosidic fractions during fermentation is not well known.

DOES LIGNIN AN ACCEPTABLE MARKER OF GRAPESEED MATURATION AND QUALITY?

Usually the winemaker consider polyphenols from the grape berry as an actor of the wine quality. There are frequently consider as a marker of grape maturity. It is commonly known that winemaker consider tannins and anthocyanins as main polyphenol actors for winemaking practices and wine quality. Here we will focus on the characterisation of lignins in grape seeds. Previous studies suggest that the seed is lignified [1], which could explain the change in colour of the seed when it reaches maturity and thus provide a reliable indicator for describing the maturity stage in the seed.