Macromolecular characterization of disease resistant red wine varieties (PIWI)

Abstract

AIM: Pilzwiderstandsfähige (PIWI) are disease resistant Vitis vinifera interspecific hybrid varieties that are receiving increasing attention for ability to ripen in cool climates and their resistance to grapevine fungal diseases. Wines produced from these varieties have not been characterized, especially regarding their macromolecular composition. This study characterised and quantified colloid-forming molecules (proteins, polysaccharides and phenolics) of red PIWI wines produced in the UK.

METHODS:
In 2019 6 wines were made from the PIWI varieties Rondo, Cabernet Jura, Cabernet Cortis, Cabernet Noir, Regent and Cabertin grown at the Plumpton Rock Lodge Vineyard in Sussex (UK) and harvested at similar level of maturity (TSS, pH and TA). All juice was chaptalized to the same potential alcohol of 12%. Small scale winemaking (1L) was performed in quadruplicate using Bodum® coffee plungers to manage maceration [1]. Residual sugar content, pH, and titratable acidity were monitored during fermentation. For finished wines, the protein and polysaccharide content was measured by HPLC-SEC [2], while the total phenolic content was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteau method [3]. The protein profile of the wines was further investigated by SDS-PAGE [4].

RESULTS: Fermentations (n=24) were all carried out to completion within 8 days. The resulting wines showed important differences in terms of their macromolecular composition. The total polysaccharide content ranged between 903-1217 mg/L and was higher than the typical content of red wines [5]. Also, the total phenolic content was greater than typical red wines from Vitis vinifera (range 2478-4678 mg/L), while the total protein concentration ranged between 114 -152 mg/L. Typical values for red wine range from 10-200 mg/L [4,6]. The electrophoresis analysis showed the presence of pathogenesis-related (defence) proteins, namely chitinases and thaumatin-like proteins in all wines, while a lipid transfer protein (LTP) was found in all wines except for Cabernet Cortis. This is noteworthy as LTPs can cause severe allergenic reactions [7].

CONCLUSIONS:

Hybrid red grape varieties have the potential to produce wines with chemical and macromolecular composition in line with those from Vitis vinifera. This is a promising result for their future adoption in winegrowing regions subjected to difficult climatic conditions and high disease pressure. However, given that PIWI varieties are likely to over-produce pathogenesis-related proteins as a defence mechanism, future investigations should explore the role of these proteins with regard to colloidal and colour stability and allergenic potential.

DOI:

Publication date: September 16, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Edward Brearley

Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Italy,Matteo MARANGON, Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Italy Daniel JACKSON, Plumpton College, England Tony MILANOWSKI, Rathfinny Wine Estate, England Gregory DUNN, Plumpton College, England

Contact the author

Keywords

disease resistant, piwi, red wines, proteins, polysaccharides, phenolics, colloids

Citation

Related articles…

Leaf vine content in nutrients and trace elements in La Mancha (Spain) soils: influence of the rootstock

The use of rootstock of American origin has been the classic method of fighting against Phylloxera for more than 100 years. For this reason, it is interesting to establish if different rootstock modifies nutrient composition as well as trace elements content that could be important for determining the traceability of the vine products. A survey of four classic rootstocks (110-Richter, SO4, FERCAL and 1103-Paulsen) and four new ones (M1, M2, M3 and M4) provided by Agromillora Iberia. S.L.U., all of them grafted with the Tempranillo variety, has been carried out during 2019. The eight rootstocks were planted in pots of 500 cc, on three soils with very different characteristics from Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). In the month of July, the leaves were collected and dried in a forced air oven for seven days at 40ºC. Then, the samples were prepared for the analysis determination, carried out by X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results obtained showed that in the case of content in mineral elements in leaf, separated by soil type, we can report the importance of few elements such as Si, Fe, Pb and, especially, Sr. The rootstock does not influence the composition of the vine leaf for the studied elements that are the most important in determining the geochemical footprint of the soil. The influence of the soil can be discriminated according to some elements such as Fe, Pb, Si and, especially, Sr.

Anthocyanins in tannat wines rapidly evolve toward unidentified red-coloured pigments

To assess the relationship between the reported low-stability of Tannat colour during wine storage and its pigment composition and evolution

Fluorescence spectroscopy with xgboost discriminant analysis for intraregional wine authentication

AIM: This study aimed to use simultaneous measurements of absorbance, transmittance, and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (A-TEEM) combined with chemometrics as a rapid method to authenticate wines from three vintages within a single geographical indication (GI) according to their subregional variations

Evaluation of mannoprotein formation by different yeast strains by enzymatic analysis of mannose and tribological estimation of astringency

A positive role of mannoproteins on wine stability and red wine mouth sensations has been widely described. Commercial mannoproteins are available and some yeast strains are offered with a higher formation of mannoproteins.

Teasing apart terroir: the influence of management style on native yeast communities within Oregon wineries and vineyards

Newer sequencing technologies have allowed for the addition of microbes to the story of terroir. The same environmental factors that influence the phenotypic expression of a crop also shape the composition of the microbial communities found on that crop. For fermented goods, such as wine, that microbial community ultimately influences the organoleptic properties of the final product that is delivered to customers. Recent studies have begun to study the biogeography of wine-associated microbes within different growing regions, finding that communities are distinct across landscapes. Despite this new knowledge, there are still many questions about what factors drive these differences. Our goal was to quantify differences in yeast communities due to management style between seven pairs of conventional and biodynamic vineyards (14 in total) throughout Oregon, USA. We wanted to answer the following questions: 1) are yeast communities distinct between biodynamic vineyards and conventional vineyards? 2) are these differences consistent across a large geographic region? 3) can differences in yeast communities be tied to differences in metabolite profiles of the bottled wine? To collect our data we took soil, bark, leaf, and grape samples from within each vineyard from five different vines of pinot noir. We also collected must and a 10º brix sample from each winery. Using these samples, we performed 18S amplicon sequencing to identify the yeast present. We then used metabolomics to characterize the organoleptic compounds present in the bottled wine from the blocks the year that we sampled. We are actively in the process of analysing our data from this study.