Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Approaches to the classification of wine aroma aging potential. Applications to the case of Valpolicella red wines

Approaches to the classification of wine aroma aging potential. Applications to the case of Valpolicella red wines

Abstract

AIM: Unlike most of other foods, wine sensory quality is thought to reach a peak after an aging period. In the case of the Valpolicella red wines, the PDO regulation requires wines to undergo a minimum period of aging comprised between one and four years depending on the wine type. During this period many changes in wine composition take place, including significant modifications to wine aroma composition, through a wide range of acid hydrolysis reactions, cyclization, rearrangements and oxidations, that to date are only partly understood. Among these, hydrolysis of esters and glycosidic precursors is considered central to wine aroma evolution. Wines with higher content of precursors are expected to have greater aroma potential. However, acid-catalysed degradation also takes place during wine aging, so that the actual content of a given volatile compound after a period of aging is given by the balance between acid-driven release and degradation. The aim of this study was to investigate the fate of some volatile aroma compounds important for the sensory profile of Valpolicella wine.

METHODS: Different Valpolicella wines obtained from grapes harvested in different vineyards and vintages were submitted to two different ageing protocols. In one case wines were kept for 30 days at 16°C and 40 °C (Slaghenaufi et al. 2019) the latter simulating an aging of approximately one years. In the second case, harsher conditions were applied, consisting of 60°C (±0.2°C) for 0, 48, 72, and 168 (Silva Ferreira et al. 2003). Free volatile compounds and glycosidic precursors were analysed with SPE- and SPME-GC-MS techniques.

RESULTS: Several classes of compounds of varietal and fermentative origin like esters, terpenes, norisoprenoids and to a lesser extent of some benzenoids were affected by aging. In particular aged wines were characterized by increased content of 1,4- and 1,8-cineole, p-cymene and p-menthane-1,8-diol, branched chain fatty acids ethyl esters, TDN, TPB, vitispirane, and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. The application of the harsh aging treatment allowed to highlight highly significant relationships between cineole occurrence in aged wines and linalool content of the young wine, in particular the ratio between glycosylated and free forms. Furthermore, most of acetic and ethyl esters were found to decrease with aging in an amount correlated to their initial content.

Conclusions

Occurence and amount of many compounds in aged wines was correlated to the composition of specific compounds in young wines. In particular in aged wines cineole occurrence was linked to linalool content, providing useful clues for the selection of young wines with specific aging attitude.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Azienda Agricola f.lli Tedeschi is acknowledged for financial support

DOI:

Publication date: September 13, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Giovanni Luzzini

University of Verona,Davide SLAGHENAUFI, University of Verona Maurizio, UGLIANO, University of Verona Jessica, SAMANIEGO-SOLIS, University of Verona Riccardo TEDESCHI, Azienda Agricola F.lli Tedeschi

Contact the author

Keywords

aging treatment, cineoles, linalool, balsamic aroma, valpolicella

Citation

Related articles…

Innovative approaches for fungicide resistance monitoring in precision management of grapevine downy mildew

Effective control with fungicides is essential to protect grapevine from downy mildew, a devastating disease caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola. Managing this disease faces challenges in maintaining fungicide efficacy as the number of modes of action decreases and the risk of fungicide resistance increases. Long-term measures should address strains resistant to multiple modes of action, that can be selected by the repeated use of single-site fungicides. For these reasons, a precision management of the disease, that considers the selection of the best fungicide schedule according to the sensitivity profile of the pathogen population, is needed.

Red Grenache variety in Rhône Valley : impact of “terroir” and vintages on the aromatic potential of the grapes

The Grenache Noir grape variety, due to its originality and its representativeness, contributes very directly to the quality and typicality of the wines of the Rhône Valley. It is generally appreciated for its varied aromatic palette and for the roundness and suppleness it gives to wines. Since 1995, the Rhodanien Institute has set up a network of reference plots representative of the different types of terroir present in the southern zone of the Côtes du Rhône Appellation (TRUC, 1997; VAUDOUR et al, 1996 ) . Publications on the aromatic composition of grapes and wines are very abundant, but only a few articles have appeared on the Grenache grape variety PAUMES et al., 1986).

Optimization Of Glutathione Extraction From White Wine Lees By Doelhert Matrix

Glutathione (L-g-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine) is a tripeptide which contains three constitutive amino acids: glutamate, cysteine and glycine. It is present in plants and foods, and fruits like grapes.

Study of varietal wines from the qualified origin denomination Rioja (Spain): analysis of wine colour, polysaccharides, polyphenols and biogenic amines and amino acides 

The cultivar with a greater oenological potential was ‘Monastel’, which showed overall better values than ‘Tempranillo’ in colour intensity, total polyphenol index, wine colour, total anthocyanins, resveratrol and gallic acid.

Physico-chemical properties of vine pruning residues with potential as enological additive

Grapes are one of the world’s primary fruit crops, and pruning activities generate high amounts of annual wood wastes [1]. These pruning shoots contain valuable phenolic compounds and could have numerous potential applications [1,2]. Consequently, the aim of this work was to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of vine pruning residues with potential as enological additives. For this purpose, grapevine shoots from 12 varieties grown in Chile were collected during the winter of 2021.