Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 The impact of acetaldehyde on phenolic evolution of a free-SO2 red wine

The impact of acetaldehyde on phenolic evolution of a free-SO2 red wine

Abstract

AIMS: Some wine producers, in good years, can produce free-SO2 red wines and decide to add the minimum amount of sulphur dioxide only at bottling. To manage this addition, it is important to know the oxidative history of the wine. Acetaldehyde, the main wine oxidation product, is a powerful electrophile that reacts with numerous wine compounds giving desired products as the stable red polymeric pigments and the less astringent tannins but, also negative off-flavours. Although all these reactions are well known, the border between those increasing wine longevity and those decrementing wine quality is difficult to determine. This study has the aim to investigate the kinetics of consumption of acetaldehyde in red wines to give information useful for the further management of sulphur dioxide.

METHODS: Free-SO2 red wines were spiked with increasing levels of acetaldehyde (from 0 to 190 mg/L) and analysed over time. Chromatic properties and main phenolic classes were analysed by conventional spectrophotometric methods. Small phenolics, polymeric pigments (PP) and polymeric tannins (PT) were detected by HPLC, MS and NMR analysis.  Reactivity of tannins towards BSA and saliva was also determined (1-2-3).

RESULTS: Already two hours after the addition of acetaldehyde the 50% was consumed in reactions with phenolic compounds and the consumption increased over time. Also when a great excess of aldehyde was added (190 mg/L) and after one year of aging a loss of 75% of the initial value was detected. The first compounds that were consumed in reactions with acetaldehyde were anthocyanins and flavanols and a contemporary increase of polymeric pigments and tannins occurred. BSA and saliva reactive tannins increased over time when high concentration of acetaldehyde were added.

CONCLUSIONS

For a correct management of sulphur dioxide when bottling a free-SO2 red wine the content of acetaldehyde and phenolic strong reactants (anthocyanins and flavanols) should be determined to limit or favour further acetaldehyde reactions

DOI:

Publication date: September 14, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Francesca Coppola

Department of Agricultural Sciences, Division of Vine and Wine Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Avellino, (Italy),Luigi Picariello, Martino Forino,  Luigi Moio, Angelita Gambuti Department of Agricultural Sciences, Division of Vine and Wine Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Avellino, (Italy)

Contact the author

Keywords

wine longevity, polyphenols

Citation

Related articles…

Soil electrical resistivity, a new and revealing technique for precision viticulture

High resolution spatial information of soil electrical resistivity (ER) was gathered to assess the spatial variability patterns of vegetative growth of two commercial vineyards (Vitis vinifera L. cv.

Evolution of the crown procyanidins during wine making and aging in bottle

Condensed tannins are widely distributed in plant‐derived foods and beverages like grape, red wine, nuts, tea, apples and chocolate in which they contribute to multiple sensorial properties such as flavor, color, and taste (astringency and bitterness). During the wine making process,

La hiérarchisation des Coteaux du Languedoc: une application concrète du zonage vitivinicole

L’A.O.C. Coteaux du Languedoc est située dans le Sud de la France, dans la partie Ouest de la bordure méditerranéenne. Elle forme un vaste amphithéâtre largement ouvert sur la mer méditerranée. L’Appellation a été constituée en 1960 par le regroupement de 14 anciennes petites appellations d’origine représentant 55 communes éparpillées dans les départements de l’Aude, de l’Hérault et du Gard. Par la suite, plusieurs extensions successives ont conduit à un ensemble actuellement composé de 168 communes.

Ecophysiological performance of Vitis rootstocks under water stress

The use of rootstocks tolerant to soil water deficit is an interesting strategy to cope with limited water availability. Currently, several nurseries are breeding new genotypes, but the physiological basis of its responses under water stress are largely unknown. To this end, an ecophysiological assessment of the conventional 110-Richter (110R) and SO4, and the new M1 and M4 rootstocks was carried out in potted ungrafted plants. During one season, these Vitis genotypes were grown under greenhouse conditions and subjected to two water regimes, well-watered and water deficit. Water potentials of plants under water deficit down to < -1.4 MPa, and net photosynthesis (AN) <5 μmol m-2 s-1 did not cause leaf oxidative stress damage compared to well-watered conditions in any of the genotypes. The antioxidant capacity was sufficient to neutralize the mild oxidative stress suffered. Under both treatments, gravimetric differences in daily water use were observed among genotypes, leading to differences in the biomass of root, shoot and leaf. Under well-watered conditions, SO4 and 110R were the most vigorous and M1 and M4 the least. However, under water stress, SO4 exhibited the greatest reduction in biomass while M4 showed the lowest. Remarkably, under these conditions, SO4 reached the least negative stem water potential (Ψstem), while M1 reduced stomatal conductance (gs) and AN the most. In addition, SO4 and M1 genotypes also showed the highest and lowest hydraulic conductance values, respectively. Our results suggest that there are differences in water use regulation among genotypes, not only attributed to differences in stomatal regulation or intrinsic water use efficiency at the leaf level. Therefore, because no differences in canopy-to-root ratio were achieved, it is hypothesized that xylem vessel anatomical differences may be driving the reported differences among rootstocks performance. Results demonstrate that each Vitis rootstock differs in its ecophysiological responses under water stress.

Qualitative and productive characterization of a minority variety: ‘Branco lexítimo’ in DO Ribeira Sacra (Spain)

The actual climate changes, together with the strong regulation of the European Union and Spanish government, in search of sustainable viticulture, have forced the recovery of minority varieties, expanding the range of grape varieties, as well as the possible development of wines with unique profiles. In the Ribeira Sacra DO (Spain), a comparative study of the agronomic and qualitative behavior of the ‘Branco lexítimo’ variety has been carried out, compared to the majority white variety in the DO: ‘Godello’, located in the same study plot, with identic soil and climatic conditions. The study contemplated the analysis of phenology and leaf water potential, as well as the productive results and the analysis of the must quality, during four seasons: 2018 – 2021.