Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Prediction of astringency in red wine using tribology approach to study in-mouth perception

Prediction of astringency in red wine using tribology approach to study in-mouth perception

Abstract

AIM: Astringency is described as a ‘dry puckering‐like sensation’ following consumption of tannins1 that affect consumer preference of foods and beverages, including red wine2. To improve the understanding of astringency, which is a complex interaction due to multiple mechanisms occurring simultaneously, further studies are needed. In this view, oral tribology is considered a useful technique for beverage study to evaluate the thin-film lubrication properties of saliva resulting in oral friction‐related sensations3. The aim of this study was to examine the film behavior of selected protein-based fluids under controlled friction conditions, to understand polyphenol-protein interactions involved in the sensation of astringency.

METHODS: A mini-traction device was self-assembled to evaluate friction during a dynamic process under different test conditions. Moreover, several oenological tannins and red wines were analyzed to relate instrumental and sensory results, and the effect of selected parameters involved in astringency perception (acidity, ethanol, polysaccharides) was investigated.

RESULTS: After a preliminary screening of several proteic fluids based on friction behavior, the addition of oenological tannins at increasing levels showed empirical evidence of linear range of interaction with protein (R2 up to 0.97) with increasing friction values. Results were greatly affected by the botanical origin of tannins, their degree of purity and the tannin-to-protein ratio. The tribological findings were confirmed by the chemical and sensory analysis of red wines, which highlighted the great contribution of phenolic compounds, in particular tannins.

CONCLUSIONS:

The inherent properties of the selected protein-based fluid allow a satisfactory prediction of astringency in wine and future work will focus on friction and film formation across a broader set of conditions to improve the characterization of wine astringency based on tribology-sensory relationship.

DOI:

Publication date: September 22, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Andrea Versari , Arianna RICCI, Giuseppina Paola PARPINELLO, Luigi RAGNI, Elena BABINI, 

Università degli Studi di Bologna (ITALY), 

Contact the author

Keywords

sensory analysis; red wine; astringency; phenolic compounds; tribometry

Citation

Related articles…

Territoires et zones viticoles. Aspects climatiques, pédologiques, agronomiques. Caractérisation des terroirs viticoles: une étude systémique

On assiste actuellement à l’émergence d’une demande sociale forte à l’égard de fonctions par ailleurs traditionnelles de l’agriculture, qui concernent la gestion des ressources du milieu, le maintien d’un tissu social rural, la valorisation des territoires ruraux et l’entretien des paysages.

Biotype diversity within the autochthonous ‘Bobal’ grapevine variety

Bobal is the second most widely grown Spanish red grape variety (54,165 has), mainly cultivated in the Valencian Community and especially, in Utiel-Requena region (about 67% of 34,000 has). In this study, agronomic and enological parameters were determined in 98 biotypes selected during 2018 and 2019 in more than 50 vineyards over 50 years-old in the Utiel-Requena region. Moreover, a multi-criteria approach considering temperature and rainfall (Fig. 1A), among other parameters, was made to establish three different zones within the region (Fig. 1B), where in the future the selected biotypes will evaluated. In fact, in 2020, 4 replicates and 12 vines per biotype were planted in an experimental vineyard to preserve this important intra-cultivar diversity.

Soil and topography effects on water status and must composition of chardonnay in burgundy & a mini meta‐analysis of the δ 13C/water potentials correlation

The measurement of carbon isotopic discrimination in grape sugars 13 at harvest (δ C) is an integrated assessment of water status during ripening.

Are my bubbles shrinking? A deeper look at oxygen desorption in wine

In the past decade, there has been an increasing amount of work dedicated to understanding micro-oxygenation in wine.

Black foot disease in South African vineyards and grapevine nurseries

Over the last few years a drastic reduction has been noted in the survival rate of vine cuttings in nurseries, as well as in young vineyards in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The low average take percentages of young vines can be attributed to several factors, including fungal, bacterial and viral diseases, insect and nematode pests,