Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 On the losses of dissolved CO2 during champagne aging

On the losses of dissolved CO2 during champagne aging

Abstract

A misconception lingers in the minds of some wine consumers that Champagne wines don’t age. It’s largely a myth, certainly as far as the best cuvees are concerned. Actually, during the so-called autolysis period of time (in the closed bottle, after the “prise de mousse”), complex chemical reactions take place when the wine remains in contact with the dead yeast cells, which progressively bring complex and very much sought-after aromas to champagne. Nevertheless, despite their remarkable impermeability to liquid and air, caps or natural cork stoppers used to cork the bottles are not 100% hermetic with regard to gas transfers. Gas species therefore very slowly diffuse through the cap or cork stopper, along their respective inverse partial pressure. After the “prise de mousse”, because the partial pressure of CO2 in the bottleneck reaches up to 6 bars (at 12 °C), gaseous CO2 progressively diffuse from the bottle to the ambient air (where the partial pressure of gaseous CO2 is only of order of 0,0004 bar). Moreover, because gaseous and dissolved CO2 experience thermodynamic equilibrium in the closed bottle (through the so-called Henry’s law), the level of dissolved CO2 also inevitably decreases as time proceeds during aging on lees. Actually, in champagne tasting, the level of dissolved CO2 is indeed a parameter of paramount importance since it is responsible for the bubbling process (the so-called effervescence). Keeping the dissolved CO2 as long as possible inside the bottle during aging is therefore a challenge of importance for Champagne wine elaborators, especially for old vintages collections likely to age on lees for long periods of time. Here, measurements of dissolved CO2 concentrations were done in a collection of various vintages (from a prestige cuvee provided by our partner), initially holding the same level of CO2 after the “prise de mousse” (classically close to 11.5 g/L), but having experienced different periods of aging on lees (ranging from several months up to 35 years). Progressive losses of dissolved CO2 concentrations were evidenced, depending on the period of time spent in contact with lees. Our results were compared with a previous set of experimental data, and with a multi-parameter model recently developed which provides the level of dissolved CO2 in wine as a function of time. It is worth noting that both the diameter of the bottleneck, and the bottle volume, were found to be key parameters as concerns the losses of dissolved CO2 during champagne aging. Equipe Effervescence (GSMA), Université de Reims, France Laboratoire de Recherches, Champagne Moët & Chandon, Epernay, France

Publication date: May 17, 2024

Issue: Macrowine 2016

Type: Poster

Authors

Gérard Liger-Belair*

*Equipe Effervescence (GSMA)

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Macrowine | Macrowine 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Interaction between the enzymes of central carbon metabolism and anthocyanin biosynthesis during grape berry development

Primary and secondary metabolites are major components of grape quality and wine typicity. Their accumulation is interconnected through a complex metabolic network, which is still not well understood. This study aims to investigate how the enzymes of central carbon metabolism interact with anthocyanin biosynthesis during grape berry development: does the accumulation of anthocyanins, which represents a non-negligible diversion of carbon metabolic fluxes, require reprogramming of central enzymes or is it controlled downstream of central metabolism? To this end, 23 enzymes involved in central carbon metabolism pathways have been analyzed in the berries of 3 grape cultivars, which have close genetic background but distinct temporal dynamics of anthocyanin accumulation.

The commercial yeast strain as a significant source of variance for tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol in white wine

Tyrosol (TYR) and hydroxytyrosol (HYT) are bioactive phenols present in olive oil and wine, basic elements of the Mediterranean diet. TYR is reported in the literature for its interesting antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. In wine, its concentration can reach values as high as about 40 mg/L
[Pour Nikfardjam et al. 2007] but, more frequently, this phenol – derived from yeast metabolism of tyrosine during fermentation – is present at lower levels, generally higher in red wines compared to whites. HYT was measured for the first time by Di Tommaso et al. [1998] in Italian wines – with maximum values of 4.20 mg/L and 1.92 mg/L for red and white wines, respectively – while definitely lower concentrations have been found later in Greek samples.

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.

Oak wood seasoning: impact on oak wood chemical composition and sensory quality of wine

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.

Development of a new sustainable filtering media for wine and beer clarification and sterilisation

Different separation techniques are frequently used during vinification process. Nowadays, clarification and microbiological stabilization of wine or beer can be done using precoat filters or crossflow filters to remove yeast and bacteria. Kieselguhr powders are the most used filter aids for precoat filtration. Their crystalline structure and their pulverulent nature induce ecotoxicological risks when used. Moreover, regeneration and reuse of these filter aids is not efficient and the filtration waste requires cost effective retreatment.