Terroir 2016 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Spontaneous fermentation dynamics of indigenous yeast populations and their effect on the sensory properties of Riesling

Spontaneous fermentation dynamics of indigenous yeast populations and their effect on the sensory properties of Riesling

Abstract

Varietal Riesling aroma relies strongly on the formation and liberation of bound aroma compounds. Floral monoterpenes, green C6-alcohols, fruity C13-norisoprenoids and spicy volatile phenols are predominantly bound to disaccharides, which are produced and stored in the grape berry during berry maturation. Grape processing aims to extract maximum amount of the precursors from the berry skin to increase the potential for a strong varietal aroma in the wine. Subsequent yeast selection plays an important part in this process. While Saccharomyces cerevisiae seems to be limited in their expression of glycosidase enzymes required to cleave and liberate the aroma compounds from their precursors, different non-Saccharomyces yeast genera show more prominence. Due to the infrequent and scarce occurrence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the vineyard and grape samples, many scientific findings report that spontaneous alcoholic fermentation is dominantly conducted by yeast strains originating from the winery environment rather than from the vineyard. However, recent advancements of modern genetic tools have elucidated site-specific microbiota on grapes from different vineyards and vintages. Their role in fermented wine has not yet been clarified.

This study aims to shed light on the roles of vineyard and winery microbiomes in wine fermentations in relation to fermentation dynamics, aroma formation and sensory perception. Riesling grapes from five different Riesling vineyards in the Pfalz region, Germany was picked aseptically during the 2015 vintage. Pilot-scale spontaneous fermentations of each of the individual vineyard with triplicates were conducted with aseptically managed winemaking. Fermentation progress was monitored by density measurements and FTIR-spectroscopy. Yeast population dynamics in the fermentations were monitored and identified with next-generation sequencing technology. Descriptive analysis of the wines was used to evaluate the changes in aroma and flavor sensory profiles.

Results show plausible promise in both the microbial difference occurring in the vineyard as well as clear impact of the winery-derived microbiome. Modulation of aroma and taste was observed and correlated with the occurrence of specific yeast species.

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2016

Type: Article

Authors

Kimmo Siren

Centre DLR RheinPfalz, Institute for Viticulture and Oenology

Contact the author

Keywords

Terroir, enology, Riesling, fermentation, indigenous yeast

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Environmental sustainability in the production of grappa with the use of mould-resistant grape varieties: the aroma characterisation of distillates

Grappa is the most important italian spirit and its production includes elements of history, tradition, and culture of the transalpine country. In accordance with EU laws, grappa is obtained from the fermentation and distillation of the pomace, eventually added with fermentation lees and water. Grappa is one of the richest fruit distillates in volatile compounds that confer to the product its characteristic flagrance. The aroma is largely due to the volatile compounds present in the raw materials, in particular alcohols, esters and carbonyl compounds formed during the alcoholic fermentation, but also to grape aromas such as terpenols and norisoprenoids, that confers grappa the distinctive floral scents.

Application of cyclic voltammetry to the classification of enological tannins in relationship to oxygen consumption rate and botanical origin 

Enological tannins are a diversified group of winemaking products that vary in several aspects such as chemical composition, botanical origin, and production method. In consideration of their richness in phenolic compounds, one of their main application in vinification is related to their antioxidant capacity, in particular their ability to consume oxygen during red wine maturation.

Application of zoning for wine production, digitalisation and traceability

Depuis la création des outils d’amélioration et de suivi de la qualité, le CREDO développe et réalise des zonages de potentialités viticoles.

Better understand the soil wet bulb formation with subsurface or aerial drip irrigation in viticulture

The gradual change in rainfall patterns experienced in the south of France vineyards, especially around the Mediterranean sea, means that the vines are increasingly subject to summer drought. The winegrowers developped the use of irrigation techniques to ensure the maintenance of competitive yields in the production of wines under Protected Geographical Indication label. In practice, drip irrigation pipes can be installed above the ground or buried into the soil as well as at different distances from the vine row. The objective of this study was to examine the profiles of the wet bulbs of the soil obtained from two drip irrigation systems : aerial drip located under the vine row and subsurface drip placed in the middle of the inter-row. This experiment took place over two consecutive seasons (2020-2021) on a 3.4 ha Viognier plot in the Mediterranean region (PGI Oc, France) on sandy clay soil. The annual rainfalls were less than 400 mm. Soil water content probes were installed at different depths (20 – 40 – 60 – 80 cm) and at different lateralities from the vine row (30 – 60 – 90 – 120 cm) to control the formation of the soil wet bulb during irrigation. The mapping and the analysis of the data allowed a better understanding and differentiation of the water percolation when irrigating with subsurface or aerial drip. For the same amount of water and without differences of vine water status, it is shown that in a subsurface drip irrigation situation, the size of the wet bulb formed is larger than in aerial drip irrigation system.

Role of Grape-Extractable Polyphenols in the Generation of Strecker Aldehydes and in the Instability of Polyfunctional Mercaptans during Wine Oxidation

Wine longevity is a complex multifactor phenomenon in which the weight of the different factors is not well known. One of the key factors of wine longevity is related to its resistance to oxidation. This property can be defined as the ability of the wine, under an exposure to oxygen, to keep its color, avoid accumulation of acetaldehyde and Strecker aldehydes (SA), and keep as long as