 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

A new step toward the comprehensive valorisation of grape marc through subcritical water extraction of polysaccharides

Winemaking generates a significant amount of waste. Grape marc, the main solid residue, constitutes 20-25% of the pressed grapes and approximately 8-9 million tons are produced globally each year.

A novel dataset and deep learning object detection benchmark for grapevine pest surveillance

Flavescence dorée (FD) stands out as a significant grapevine disease with severe implications for vineyards. The American grapevine leafhopper (Scaphoideus titanus) serves as the primary vector, transmitting the pathogen that causes yield losses and elevated costs linked to uprooting and replanting. Another potential vector of FD is the mosaic leafhopper, Orientus ishidae, commonly found in agroecosystems. The current monitoring approach involves periodic human identification of chromotropic traps, a labor-intensive and time-consuming process.

Back to the roots: how an underutilised biotechnological tool can support research to improve grapevine resilience against biotic stressors in an unpredictable future

Hairy roots (HRs) are a symptom of a natural genetic modification by the soil-borne phytopathogen Rhizobium rhizogenes.

Comparison of the free radical-scavenging activity in infected oidium and sound dolcetto grape cultivar grown in a terroir of Central Italy

The importance of polyphenols, which are present in many vegetables and grapes too, is well-know and documented. Specific research works about the red grape

Chemical profiling and sensory analysis of wines from resistant hybrid grape cultivars vs conventional wines

Recently, there has been a shift toward sustainable wine production, according to EU policy (F2F and Green Deal), to reduce pesticide usage, improve workplace health and safety, and prevent the impacts of climate change. These trends have gained the interest of consumers and winemakers. The cultivation of disease resistant hybrid grape cultivars (DRHGC), known as ‘PIWI’ grapes can help with these objectives [1]. This study aimed to profile white and red wines produced from DRHGC in South Tyrol (Italy). Wines produced from DRHGCs were compared with conventional wines produced by the same wineries. The measured parameters were residual sugars, organic acids, alcohol content, pigments and other phenolics by LC-QqQ/MS, colorimetric indexes (CIELab); and volatile profiles (HS-SPME-GCxGC-ToF/MS [2]).