OENO IVAS 2019 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Can varietal ‘apricot’ aroma of Viognier wine be controlled with clonal selection and harvest timing?

Can varietal ‘apricot’ aroma of Viognier wine be controlled with clonal selection and harvest timing?

Abstract

Recent wine-like reconstitution sensory studies confirmed that several monoterpenes were the key aroma compounds in the perception of an ‘apricot’ aroma attribute in Viognier wine. Other aroma compounds, including a set of aldehydes and several γ-lactones, were also indicated to be related to ‘apricot’ aroma in that study, but the addition of these compounds to the reconstitution gave ambiguous results. 

To investigate these interactions, further reconstitution sensory studies were conducted. Firstly, in a wine-like model matrix, the aldehydes were found to suppress ‘apricot’ aroma intensity, while γ-lactones significantly enhanced the intensity of ‘apricot’, but only in the presence of a higher concentration of monoterpenes. Secondly, a neutral Chardonnay wine base spiked with the monoterpenes and γ-lactones together, or with only the monoterpenes added, was considered to have a similar ‘apricot’ aroma to a typical Viognier wine, whereas if spiked with only γ-lactones, then its aroma was not similar. Finally, a sensory difference study was conducted by comparing single or double strength γ-lactones in Chardonnay wine with added monoterpenes. No significant difference was found between the monoterpene-spiked Chardonnay wine and when γ-lactones were also added. Thus, γ-lactones are unlikely to impart or enhance ‘apricot’ aromas in white wine. 

Monoterpenes are grape-derived aroma compounds, but little is known regarding their accumulation in Viognier grapes. Having established the importance of monoterpenes to the perception of varietal ‘apricot’ aroma in Viognier wines, it is likely that controlling their concentration in the grapes can influence the ‘apricot’ aroma intensity in the resultant wine. 

To establish if clonal selection and harvest timing could be used as tools to modulate ‘apricot’ aromas in Viognier wines, vineyard studies were conducted. Eleven Viognier clones were assessed over three vintages. Large differences were found in the concentration of the monoterpenes between the clones. In a further study of four Viognier clones, two clones showed similar monoterpene concentration profiles throughout ripening, but the other clones were substantially lower in monoterpene concentration. Subsequently, a winemaking study was carried out to assess the effect of clone and grape ripeness on ‘apricot’ character in Viognier. Grapes from two Viognier clones were both picked at two ripening timepoints and from two wine regions with different climates.

Section for all references

DOI:

Publication date: June 19, 2020

Issue: OENO IVAS 2019

Type: Article

Authors

Tracey Siebert

The Australian Wine Research Institute, P.O. Box 197, Glen Osmond (Adelaide), SA, 5064, Australia

Contact the author

Keywords

List of different keywords (keyword1, keyword2, keyword3)

Tags

IVES Conference Series | OENO IVAS 2019

Citation

Related articles…

The influence of pre-heatwave leaf removal on leaf physiology and berry development

Due to climate change, the occurrence of heatwaves and drought events is increasing, with significant impact on viticulture. Common ways to adapt viticulture to a changing climate include site selection, genotype selection, irrigation management and canopy management. The latter mentioned being for instance source-sink manipulations, such as leaf removal, with the aim to delay ripening.

MICROFLUIDIC PLATFORM FOR SORTING YEAST CELLS ACCORDING TO THEIR MORPHOLOGY

In this work we briefly present a microfluidic device aiming to sort yeast cells according to their morphology. The technology is based upon microfluidic chips made out of Polydimethylsiloxane and glass using soft lithography processes and replica molding. The microfluidic device was used for encapsulating single yeast cells in liquid droplets containing growth medium. Liquid droplet containing yeast cells were sorted using a real time imaging and decision-making process.

Inert gases persistence in wine storage tank blanketing

It is common to find tanks in the winery with wine below their capacity due to wine transfers between tanks of different capacities or the interruption of operations for periods of a few days. This situation implies the existence of an ullage space in the tank with prolonged contact with the wine causing its absorption/oxidation. Oxygen uptake from the air headspace over the wine due to differences in the partial pressure of O2 can be rapid, up to 1.5 mL of O2 per liter of wine in one hour and 100 cm2 of surface area1 and up to saturation after 4 hours.

Technical innovation and quality control of wine production in China

Recent decades have witnessed an evolving trend of diverse product types, improved quality, and green, low-carbon, and sustainable development in chinese wine market. A quality evaluation system, namely, with a dual orientation of “flavor compounds” and “sensory evaluation” is used as guidance for winemaking innovation in China.

Leaf vine content in nutrients and trace elements in La Mancha (Spain) soils: influence of the rootstock

The use of rootstock of American origin has been the classic method of fighting against Phylloxera for more than 100 years. For this reason, it is interesting to establish if different rootstock modifies nutrient composition as well as trace elements content that could be important for determining the traceability of the vine products. A survey of four classic rootstocks (110-Richter, SO4, FERCAL and 1103-Paulsen) and four new ones (M1, M2, M3 and M4) provided by Agromillora Iberia. S.L.U., all of them grafted with the Tempranillo variety, has been carried out during 2019. The eight rootstocks were planted in pots of 500 cc, on three soils with very different characteristics from Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). In the month of July, the leaves were collected and dried in a forced air oven for seven days at 40ºC. Then, the samples were prepared for the analysis determination, carried out by X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results obtained showed that in the case of content in mineral elements in leaf, separated by soil type, we can report the importance of few elements such as Si, Fe, Pb and, especially, Sr. The rootstock does not influence the composition of the vine leaf for the studied elements that are the most important in determining the geochemical footprint of the soil. The influence of the soil can be discriminated according to some elements such as Fe, Pb, Si and, especially, Sr.