Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 The valorization of wine lees as a source of mannoproteins for food and wine applications

The valorization of wine lees as a source of mannoproteins for food and wine applications

Abstract

AIM. Wine yeast lees constitute a winemaking by-product that, unlike grape skins and seeds, are not sufficiently exploited to add value to the winemaking sector, as their treatment and disposal generally represents a cost for wineries [1]. Recently, some valorization strategies proposed the integrated extraction of ethanol, polyphenols, and tartaric acid, while only a few studies investigated ways to exploit the remaining wine lees’ yeast biomass. In particular, no studies attempted the extraction of mannoproteins (MPs), yeast cell wall polysaccharides with known foaming, emulsifying and wine-stabilizing activities [2], from the wine lees’ yeast biomass. To fill this gap, this research aims at developing an efficient and food-grade method for the extraction of yeast MPs from commercial wine lees, and to test the obtained extracts as wine stabilizers, foaming agents, and food emulsifiers.

METHODS. Several protocols were studied to extract MPs from wine lees. Ultimately, commercial wine yeast lees were extracted at pH 3.4 using an autoclave-based treatment (121°C, 20 min). The obtained MPs extracts were characterized by SEC-HPLC, SDS-PAGE or CI-ELLSA [3]. The functionalities of the MPs’ extracts were tested in wine by assessing their foam-promoting ability and their stabilizing potential against protein and tartrate instabilities. Additionally, MPs extracts were tested as emulsifying and foaming agents in model food matrices. The results were compared to those obtained using commercial MPs-based products and/or MPs extracts from pure cultures of the same yeast strains.

RESULTS. Among the extraction protocols tested, the autoclave emerged as the best performing in terms of extract’s effectiveness and, therefore, it was selected for the subsequent extractions. Firstly, MPs obtained from white winemaking lees positively impacted both wine’s foaming properties (+260% height; +360% stability) and tartrate stability (-11%) compared to untreated wine samples. Conversely, the extracts were ineffective in stabilizing wine against protein haze formation [4]. Subsequently, MPs extracts obtained autoclaving red and white wine lees and tested in model food matrices showed encouraging emulsifying activity (≃55% emulsion stability) and foaming properties (stability >3h). In this case, the extract from red wine lees performed better than its analog derived from the same yeast strain grown in the laboratory, thus suggesting a possible impact of wine polyphenols in enhancing the surfactant action of MPs [5].

CONCLUSIONS

The extraction of MPs from wine lees with a simple and food-grade autoclave-based method can represent an effective valorization strategy that, if integrated with the already available techniques to recover ethanol, tartaric acid, and polyphenols, would result in a better exploitation of this by-product with a consequent improvement of the environmental and economic sustainability of the wine industry.

DOI:

Publication date: September 7, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Alberto De Iseppi

Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Italy, Andrea CURIONI1,2; Matteo MARANGON1; Giovanna LOMOLINO1; Simone VINCENZI1,2; Benoit DIVOL3

¹ Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Italy
² Centre for Research in Viticulture and Enology (CIRVE), Conegliano, Italy
³ South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Contact the author

Keywords

wine yeast lees, by-product valorisation, mannoproteins, stability, foam, emulsion

Citation

Related articles…

Anthocyanin content and composition of Merlot grapes under temperature and late pruning conditions 

One of the main aspects of Climate Change is the increase of temperatures during summer and grape maturity period. Physiological processes are influenced by these high temperatures and result in grapes with higher sugar concentration, less acidity and less anthocyanin content among other quality changes. One strategy to deal with the climate change effects is the implementation of late winter pruning to alter the effect of high temperatures during key periods by delays in maturity time.

Behaviour of two training systems for mechanical pruning combined with different nitrogen fertilizations on cv. Colombard

Today winegrowers involved in mechanical winter pruning are applying this viticultural technique on two main training systems, the free cordon, appearing to be the more efficient, and the trellised vertical shoot positioning (VSP) system. The main reasons for maintaining the trellis are generally due to common habits in vineyard management, risk of wind damage for the shoots, or risk of decrease in photosynthesis potential. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of the two training systems on vine. In addition, different nitrogen fertilization levels were applied on the two systems to evaluate the best combination to achieve yield and grape quality.

Impact of agrivoltaics on berry ripening: preliminary results for the white cv. Viosinho

Climate change poses significant challenges for viticulture, particularly in Mediterranean regions like Portugal, where extreme heat and drought conditions are becoming more frequent.

Using climate services to project grapevine varietal adequation under climate change – application to cv. Tempranillo in the Douro wine region

Vine growth circumstances are becoming warmer and drier because of climate change. Higher temperatures advance ripening to a point in the season less conducive to the production of fine wine, while drought reduces yields (Van Leeuwen et al., 2019). Several wine-producing regions around the world have already recognized threats to their viticultural viability (Santos et al., 2020). An economical and cost-effective strategy for adaptation is the employment of late-ripening, drought-resistant plant material (varieties, clones, and rootstocks).

Visualization of wine origin, quality level and terroir by the landscape

The communication of the aims of a viticulture under the premise of terroir is presently discussed in a lot of wine-growing regions around the world. To encourage this discussion the differences in knowledge, understanding, and preference concerning wine and landscape should be regarded more closely: the wine should be perceived as a representative of its region and one of the most characteristic features of a region is the landscape.