 IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Influence of berry maturity, maceration time and wine maturation on the polyphenols and sensory characteristics of pinot noir and Cabernet-Sauvignon

Influence of berry maturity, maceration time and wine maturation on the polyphenols and sensory characteristics of pinot noir and Cabernet-Sauvignon

Abstract

AIM: Combined investigation of the influence of berry maturity, maceration time and wine maturation on the changes in polyphenols and sensory characteristics of Pinot noir and Cabernet-Sauvignon. This comparative approach was chosen to assess the importance of the term “phenolic maturity” and its impact on polyphenols and sensory characteristics in the context of well-known effects observed during winemaking. Pinot noir and Cabernet-Sauvignon were used due to the huge differences in the climatic growing conditions, in phenolic profiles in grapes and wines and their high international relevance.

METHODS: Pinot noir and Cabernet-Sauvignon grapes of the vintage 2018 were harvested at three different stages of ripening. The grapes were macerated for 6 days or 13 days. Wines were analyzed immediately after pressing and three months after bottling to investigate the influence of wine maturation. Vinification was conducted in 100 L fermenters. All wines were fermented < 1g/L residual sugar and MLF was done after alcoholic fermentation. The phenolic composition was analyzed using HPLC-DAD/FD, LC-QToF-MS and different spectrophotometric assays. The descriptive sensory analysis has been conducted using 19 trained judges.

RESULTS: The sensory analysis showed a higher variance between the wines due to berry maturity than due to maceration time. The sensory perception of wines made out of berries at different stages of ripening could not be influenced towards another stage by extending maceration time. Wine maturation was responsible for the highest variance in phenolic composition. Berry maturity had the lowest impact of the three factors. These observations were made for both grape varieties.

CONCLUSIONS:

The analytical methods are well suited to identify and explain the differences of the wines due to maceration time and wine maturation. The strong influence of berry maturity on sensory perception cannot be explained solely by the phenolic composition of the wines. Further research is needed to identify other parameters that contribute to berry maturity and their interactions with polyphenols to improve the understanding of the term “phenolic maturity”. This study shows that the oenological tool of extended maceration cannot compensate insufficient berry maturity in regard to sensory perception.

DOI:

Publication date: September 10, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Sandra Feifel

Weincampus Neustadt (Germany),Dominik DURNER, Weincampus Neustadt (Germany) Pascal WEGMANN-HERR, Weincampus Neustadt (Germany)

Contact the author

Keywords

phenolic maturity, berry maturity, extended maceration, pinot noir, Cabernet-Sauvignon

Citation

A climatic characterisation of the sub-Appellations in the Niagara Peninsula wine region

This study used climatic and topographic data to characterize the sub-appellations that have been recently delineated in the Niagara Peninsula viticulture area in order to assess their potential for ripening early to late season Vitis vinifera varieties. No major differences were found in the ripening-period mean temperatures, but major differences in the diurnal temperature ranges were observed.

Studio per la caratterizzazione delle produzioni vitivinicole dell’area del Barbera d’Asti DOC

Il Barbera rappresenta sicuramente uno dei più importanti vitigni autoctoni del Piemonte occupando circa il 50% della superficie vitata regionale. Esso è ancora diffuso su un’area molto vasta, che si estende per oltre 200.000 ha, dando origine a diverse produzioni vinicole tutelate da denominazioni d’origine.

Autochthonous yeasts: a microbiological tool to exalt the quality of the apulian sparkling wine

The selection, characterization, and recruitment of autochthonous yeast strains to drive the alcoholic fermentation process is a highly researched practice because it allows the differentiation of the organoleptic properties of wines, assuring process standardization, reducing fermentation times and improving the quality and safety of the final products [1, 2]. Sparkling wines are “special wines” obtained by secondary fermentation of the base wine. In the traditional method (Champenoise method), the re-fermentation takes place in the bottle after the addition to the base wine of the so-called tirage solution. This step, also known as prise de mousse, is followed by an aging period characterized by the release of compounds from the yeast cells that affect the organoleptic properties of the final product. The use of autochthonous yeasts as starter cultures for secondary fermentation is one of the recent innovations proposed to enhance and differentiate these wines’ sensory quality [3,4]. Apulia is the second Italian wine-producing region, and its productive chain is now going through a qualitative evolution by implementing the employment of innovative approaches to exalt the peculiar properties of regional wines.

Salubrity of environment and zoning process: first consideration on the radioactivity of vineyard soils

La salubrité du milieu et des aliments intervient de plus en plus lourdement, et souvent négativement, sur la santé de l’homme, aussi bien sur l’individu que sur la société tout entière.

What triggers the decision to ripen

The decision for grape berries to ripen involves a complex interplay of genetic regulation and environmental cues. This review explores the molecular mechanisms underlying the transition from vegetative growth to ripening, focusing on transcriptomic studies and the role of the NAC gene family. Transcriptomic analyses reveal a significant rearrangement of gene expression patterns during this transition, with up-regulation of ripening-related genes and down-regulation of those associated with vegetative growth. A molecular phenology scale providing a high-precision map of berry transcriptomic development, indicates that key molecular changes occur well before the onset of ripening.