Study of the colour and phenolic evolution of three different tannin/anthocyanin ratios over time in a model wine

Introduction: Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is a common process in winemaking to reduce wine acidity, maintain microbial stability and modify wine aroma. However, successful MLF is often hampered by their sluggish or stuck activity of malolactic bacteria (MLB) which may be caused by nutrient deficiency, especially when MLB are inoculated after alcoholic fermentation (Alexandre et al., 2004; Lerm et al., 2010). Identification and characterization of essential nutrients and growth factors for MLB allows for production of highly efficient nutrient supplements for MLF.

The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has helped understand microbial genetics in oenology. Current studies mainly focus on barcoded amplicon NGS but not shotgun sequencing, which is useful for functional analyses. Since the high percentage of grapevine DNA conceals the microbial DNA in must, the majority of sequencing data is wasted in bioinformatic analyses. Here we present capture depletion of grapevine whole genome DNA.

Anthocyanin accumulation and extractability were studied in Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes produced in the south of Uruguay in two consecutive seasons. Typical cultivation situations employed in the region for each variety were considered. A follow-up was carried out, considering 60 plants per vineyard, and the harvest was determined according to the technological indices of maturity. Samples of grapes were taken in duplicate in each vineyard periodically along grape maturation. The basic composition, polyphenolic potential and anthocyanin extractability were determined. Also, half of grapes were frozen and later peeled; skin extractions over 24 hs with a solution of 12% ethanol and pH 3.2 were carried out. The anthocyanin contents of the extracts obtained were determined by HPLC-DAD. The levels of anthocyanins reached the highest values before technological maturity. Anthocyanin extractability had a decrease during grape maturation.

Oak wood selection and maturation are essential steps in the course of barrel fabrication. Given the existence of many factors involved in the choice of raw material and in natural seasoning of oak wood, it is very difficult to determine the real impact of seasoning and selection factors on oak wood composition. A sampling was done to study the evolution of oak wood chemical composition during four seasoning steps: non matured, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. For this sampling, three selection factors were taken into account: age, grain type and the Polyphenolic Index measured by Oakscan®. Besides extractables
(~10%), three polymers constitute the main part of oak wood: cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignins.

During wine aging, several complex phenomena of gas transfer take place in barrels due to the wine/oak contact. The efficiency of this gas transfer varies according to oak wood’s intrinsic physical properties. This research aims to better understand oxygen transfer phenomena through dry oak staves and especially through stave gaps, in order to reevaluate the importance of barrel-making on a barrel’s supply of oxygen. Experimentation was based on the development of an innovative permeameter of laboratory scale, for which the principal operating conditions concerning applied pressure, the choice of liquid phase/gas phase, and the grain type of oak are taken into account and investigated. With a specially developed tightening system, the existing pressure at stave gaps in a barrel could be reproduced on a laboratory scale in order to estimate its influence on oxygen transfer efficiency.