terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 INVESTIGATION INTO MOUSY OFF-FLAVOR IN WINE USING GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH STIR BAR SORPTIVE EXTRACTION

INVESTIGATION INTO MOUSY OFF-FLAVOR IN WINE USING GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH STIR BAR SORPTIVE EXTRACTION

Abstract

Mousy off-flavor is one of the defects of microbial origin in wine. It is described as a particularly unpleasant defect reminiscent of rodent urine (a “dirty mouse cage”), and grilled foods such as popcorn, rice, crackers, and bread crust. Prior to the 2010s, mousiness was very uncommon but it has been becoming more frequent in recent years. It is often associated with an increase in pH as well as certain oenological practices, which tend to significantly decrease the use of sulfur dioxide.

Three major compounds, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (APY), 2-acetyltetrahydropyridine (ATHP) and 2-ethyltetrahydropyridine (ETHP), have been identified as responsible for mousiness in wines. A particularity of these compounds is that they are prone to tautomerism and can coexist in several forms. Moreover, the nitrogen atom in the heterocyclic ring can be protonated under specific conditions, i.e. with pH lower than pKa, inducing a positive charge and, as a consequence, an increase of polarity and a loss of volatility of the molecule.

To date quantification data reported in the literature are limited due to analytical issues related to the nature of these compounds. To fill the gap and later understand the parameters influencing mousiness, the objective of this study was to develop a simple and effective method to simultaneously determine trace levels of these three mousy N-heterocycles in wines. Therefore, a stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) followed by GC-MS analysis was developed (1).

Firstly, both previously reported tautomers of ATHP (2), 2-acetyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine and 2-acetyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine were identified, unlike to APY and ETHP. The extraction conditions were then optimized paying particular attention to the pH of the sample. The performance of the developed method was evaluated on white, rosé and red wines and the limits of detection and quantification of the method are lower than previously published concentrations in spoiled wine.

The method was then applied to provide quantitative data by analyzing 6 control wines and 68 wines produced without added sulfites. ETHP was detected in almost all wines produced with limited use of SO₂. ATHP was detected in almost all wines suspected of mousiness whereas APY was only detected in few cases. This method will provide a support for further studies aimed at understanding the phenomena that influence the occurrence of mousy off-flavor and the oenological parameters that modulate its expression.

DOI:

Publication date: February 9, 2024

Issue: OENO Macrowine 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

Céline Franc¹, Daiki Kiyomichi², Pierre Moulis1,3, Laurent Riquier¹, Patricia Ballestra¹, Stéphanie Marchand¹, Sophie Tempère1 and Gilles de Revel¹

1. Univ. Bordeaux, INRAE, Bordeaux INP, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, UMR 1366, OENO, ISVV, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
2. Institute for Future Beverages, Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, 4-9-1 Jonan, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-0057, Japan
3. Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Geisenheim, Germany

Contact the author*

Keywords

mousiness, N-heterocycles, quantification, SBSE-GC-MS

Tags

IVES Conference Series | oeno macrowine 2023 | oeno-macrowine

Citation

Related articles…

REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ALTERS PHENOLIC PROFILES OF VITIS VINIFERA L. CV. CABERNET GERNISCHT WINE OF YANTAI, CHINA

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is important for grape growth and the quality of wine. It is essential to address the mismatch between N application and wine composition. Cabernet Gernischt (Vitis vinifera L.), as one of the main wine-grape cultivars in China, was introduced to Yantai wine region in 1892. This grape cultivar is traditionally used for quality dry red wine with fruit, spices aroma, ruby red and full-bodied wines. In order to regulate vine growth and improve grape and wine quality, Cabernet Gernischt grapevines were subjected to decreased levels of N treatments, compared to normal N supply treatment, during grape growing seasons of 2019 and 2020.

Read More

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.

Read More

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT VITICULTURAL AND ENOLOGICAL PRACTICES ON THE PHENOLIC COMPOSITION OF RED WINES

Global climate change is exerting a notable influence on viticulture sector and grape composition. The increase in temperature and the changes in rainfall pattern are causing a gap between phenolic and technological grape maturities [1]. As a result, the composition of grapes at harvest time and, consequently, that of wines are being affected, especially with regards to phenolic composition. Hence, wine quality is decreasing due to changes in the organoleptic properties, such as color and astringency, making necessary to implement new adaptive technologies in wineries to modulate these properties in order to improve wine quality.

Read More

IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL CHEMICAL MARKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERMISSIVENESS OF BORDEAUX RED WINES AGAINST BRETTANOMYCES BRUXELLENSIS USING UNTARGETED METABOLOMICS

All along the red winemaking process, many microorganisms develop in wine, some being beneficial and essential, others being feared spoilers. One of the most feared microbial enemy of wine all around the world is Brettanomyces bruxellensis. Indeed, in red wines, this yeast produces volatile phenols, molecules associated with a flavor described as “horse sweat”, “burnt plastic” or “leather”. To produce significant and detectable concentrations of these undesired molecules, the yeasts should first grow and become numerous enough. Even if the genetic group of the strain present and the cellar temperature may modulate the yeast growth rate¹ and thus the risk of spoilage, the main factor seems to be the wines themselves, some being much more permissive to B. bruxellensis development than others.

Read More

INCREASING PINOT NOIR COLOUR DENSITY THROUGH SEQUENTIAL INOCULATION OF FLOCCULENT COMMERCIAL WINE YEAST SPECIES

Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot noir can be challenging to manage in the winery as its thin skins require careful handling to ensure sufficient extraction of wine colour to promote colour stability during ageing.1 Literature has shown that fermentation with flocculent yeasts can increase red wine colour density.2 As consumers prefer greater colour density in red wines,3 the development of tools to increase colour density would be useful for the wine industry. This research explored the impact of interspecies sequential inoculation and co-flocculation of commercial yeast on Pinot noir wine colour.

Read More