Influence of grape withering on corvina and corvinone aroma composition

Abstract

AIM:Valpolicella is a wine region located in Italy north-east, famous for the production of dry and sweet red wines from withered grapes, including Amarone and Recioto. The aim of this study is to understand the influence of the withering process on Corvina and Corvinone wines aroma profiles.

METHODS:Wines were produced with a standard red wine winemaking protocol with Corvina and Corvinone grapes from different Valpolicella vineyards and vintages. In consideration of the local traditional practice of post-harvest withering of the grapes, wines from each vineyard were obtained from either fresh and withered grapes. Wines were analysed by Solid Phase Extraction and Solid Phase Micro Extraction gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

RESULTS:Within each variety, multivariate analysis showed a greater effect of the withering process compared to grape geographical origin. Withered grapes wines exhibited higher content of norisoprenoids, in particular TPB, vitispirane e β-damascenone, with increases up to 2,8-folds compared to wines produced with fresh grapes. Withering also induced an increase in benzenoids such as vanillin, methyl vanillate, ethyl vanillate and benzyl alcohol. Terpene content of withered wines was lower compared to fresh grape wines except for β-citronellol which generally increased. Wine esters content, except ethyl butanoate, generally decreased with grape withering.

CONCLUSIONS:

The withering process deeply changes wines aroma profile. Modifications induced by withering cannot be simply ascribed to the concentration effect of evaporation, but involve more complex phenomena affecting grape and yeast metabolism.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

Azienda Agricola f.lli Tedeschi is acknowledged for financial support

DOI:

Publication date: September 15, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Giovanni Luzzini 

University of Verona,Davide SLAGHENAUFI, University of Verona Maurizio, UGLIANO, University of Verona

Contact the author

Keywords

amarone, valpolicella, withered grapes wines, red wines aroma

Citation

Related articles…

REMEDIATION OF SMOKE TAINTED WINE USING MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMERS

In recent years, vineyards in Australia, the US, Canada, Chile, South Africa and Europe have been exposed to smoke from wildfires. Wines made from smoke-affected grapes often exhibit unpleasant smoky, ashy characters, attributed to the presence of smoke-derived volatile compounds, including volatile phenols (which occur in free and glycosylated forms). Various strategies for remediation of smoke tainted wine have been evaluated. The most effective strategies involve the removal of smoke taint compounds via the addition of adsorbent materials such as activated carbon, which can either be added directly or used in combination with nanofiltration. However, these treatments often simultaneously remove wine constituents responsible for desirable aroma, flavour and colour attributes.

LARGE-SCALE PHENOTYPIC SCREENING OF THE SPOILAGE YEAST BRETTANOMYCES BRUXELLENSIS: UNTANGLING PATTERNS OF ADAPTATION AND SELECTION, AND CONSEQUENCES FOR INNOVATIVE WINE TREATMENTS

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is considered as the main spoilage yeast in oenology. Its presence in red wine leads to off-flavour due to the production of volatile phenols such as 4-vinylphenol, 4-vinylguaiacol, 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol, whose aromatic notes are unpleasant (e.g. animal, leather, horse or pharmaceutical). Beside wine, B. bruxellensis is commonly isolated from beer, kombucha and bioethanol production, where its role can be described as negative or positive. Recent genomic studies unveiled the existence of various populations.

Impact of high temperatures on phenolic profile of Babić grapes

Babić is a Croatian native grapevine variety grown in the Coastal region, mainly in the Šibenik and Primošten areas, famous for high quality red wines. The region is known for its warm Mediterranean climate and karst relief. Vineyards are found on the hillsides of varying slopes and exposition usually giving low yields of exceptional quality.

Impacts of fumaric acid addition at the bottling on Cabernet Sauvignon wine quality. Comparison with tartaric acid addition.

Climate change and reduction of inputs are two major challenges for viticulture and oenology. With increasing temperature, wines become less acid and microbiologically less stable (1).

The effect of sulfur compounds on the formation of varietal thiols in Sauvignon Blanc and Istrian Malvasia wines

Varietal thiols 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH), 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate (3SHA) and 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one (4SMP) are essential for fruity aromas of Sauvignon Blanc wines. The concentration of varietal thiols in wines was thought to be related to the concentration of their precursors in grapes, however only a small proportion of precursors are released to varietal thiols during fermentation. New findings suggested that specific grape juice metabolites could significantly impact on the development of three major varietal thiols and other aroma compounds of Sauvignon Blanc wines.