Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Colour assessment of port wines using colorimetric and spectrophotometric methods

Colour assessment of port wines using colorimetric and spectrophotometric methods

Abstract

Colour is an important quality parameter in wines and is the result of a complex mixture of pigments (including anthocyanins and their derivatives, quinones, xanthyllium compounds, etc.). Red wine colour changes over time as pigments react between themselves and with other wine macromolecules (particularly polyphenols). During wine tasting, colour is normally assessed on the outer rim of the wine profile in a tilted glass, since most wines are too opaque to be analysed in the middle of the glass. Therefore, depending on the depth of observation considered, the perception of wine colour can be different. The precise measurement of wine colour is usually done using molecular (UV-VIS) spectrophotometric methods. In the current official (OIV) method, the transmittance spectrum of a particular sample is measured and used to calculate CIE L*a*b* parameters, which define a single (predominant) colour for a particular wine. Reflectance colorimetry is an alternative well-established method for measuring colour in foodstuffs, which can also be used in transparent samples (such as wines) as long as a reflective background is used. In this work, a reflectance colorimeter was used to measure CIE L*a*b* colour parameters of Port wine samples of different categories at different depths, in Petri dishes. The obtained results were compared with the parameters obtained using the OIV method. Representative profiles of Lightness (L*), Hue (H*) and Chroma (C*) vs. wine depths were obtained using Port wine samples from different categories and ages. Wines from the same category exhibited similar colour (depth) profiles, with Tawny-styled wines showing a more linear profile than Ruby-styled wines regarding the L* and H* parameters. Good correlations between the colorimetric and OIV methods were obtained for the L* (Ruby:R >= 0.97; Tawny:R > 0.86) and H* parameters (Ruby:R >= 0.90; Tawny >= 0.91) with the C* parameter giving inferior results, particularly in Tawny-style wines (Ruby:R >= 0.87; Tawny >= 0.29). The results suggest the colorimetric method can be used as an alternative to the OIV method for estimating the L* and H* parameters (the most important for wine colour definition), being quicker and more informative.

Publication date: May 17, 2024

Issue: Macrowine 2016

Type: Poster

Authors

Francisco Silva*, Bento Amaral, Cristina Silva, Francisco Campos, Manuel Ferreira, Natalia Ribeiro, Tomas Simões

*Escola Sup. Biotecnologia – UCP

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Macrowine | Macrowine 2016

Citation

Related articles…

To a better understanding of the impact of vine nitrogen status on volatile thiols from plot to transcriptome level

Volatile thiols contribute largely to the organoleptic characteristics and typicity of Sauvignon blanc wines. Among this family of odorous compounds, 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) and 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one (4MSP) have a major impact on wine flavor. These thiols are formed during alcoholic fermentation by the yeast from odorless and non-volatile precursors found in the berry and the must. The effect of vine nitrogen status on 3SH and 4MSP in Sauvignon blanc wine and on the glutathionylated and cysteinylated precursors of 3SH (Glut-3SH and Cys-3SH) was investigated in this study.

Towards multi-purpose valorisation of polyphenols from grape pomace: Pressurized liquid extraction coupled to purification by membrane processes

Grape by-products (including skins, seeds, stems and vine shoots) are rich in health promoting polyphenols. Their extraction from winery waste and their following purification are of special interest to produce extracts with high added value compounds. Meanwhile, the growing concern over environmental problems associated with economic constraints, require the development of environmentally sustainable extraction technologies. The extraction using semi-continuous subcritical water, as a natural solvent at high temperature and high pressure a technology is promising “green” technology that is environmentally friendly, energy efficient and improve the extraction process in plant tissues.

Effect of nanofiltration on the chemical composition and wine quality

In Enology the conventional processes of filtration for clarification and stabilization are giving place to alternative membrane processes, including nanofiltration (NF). Furthermore, the increased alcohol content in wines recorded in recent years became an important issue for all the main wine producing countries. Among techniques available to the wine industry to reduce the ethanol content, NF is certainly one of the newest. This study is focused on the evaluation of NF influence on wine physical-chemical composition, including mineral content, which in accordance to our best knowledge is a novelty.

Interest and impact of PVP/PVI (Polyvinylpyrrolidone/ Polyvinylimidazole) on winemaking and final quality of wines

Céline Sparrow a, Christophe Morge a, a SOFRALAB SAS, 79, av. A.A. Thévenet – CS 11031 – 51530 Magenta, France Consumers’ health and security force authorities to limit, in wine as in others food industry products, the concentration in « dangerous » molecules. Therefore the legal limit in heavy metals keeps on decreasing. As per proof EU regulation just decrease the stain concentration in wine from 0,2 to 0,15 mg/l. Certain changes , such as sodium arsenite treatment in vines, disappearance of brass in wineries to the benefit of stainless steel, limit even more the concentration of heavy metals in wines. But the use of copper derivates in vines treatments is difficult to replace. In the case of wine and its elaboration, the problem is even more complex. Indeed, regulation forces the wine producers to control the concentration of certain heavy metals in final wines.

Effect of malolactic fermentation in barrels or stainless steel tanks on wine composition. Influence of the barrel toasting

Ellagitannin, anthocyanin and woody volatile composition of Cabernet Sauvignon wines aged in oak barrels for 12 months was evaluated. Depending on the container where malolactic fermentation (MLF) was carried out, two wine modalities were investigated: wines with MLF carried out in stainless steel tanks and barrel-fermented wines. Three toasting methods (medium toast, MT; medium toast with watering, MTAA; noisette) were considered for ageing of each wine modality. Sensory analyses (triangle and rating tests) were also performed. Two-way ANOVA of the raw experimental data revealed that the toasting method and the container where MLF took place, as well as the interaction between both factors, have a significant influence (p < 0.05) on ellagitannin, anthocyanin and woody volatile profiles of Cabernet Sauvignon wines.