Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Tropical fruit aroma in white wines: the role of fermentation esters and volatile thiols

Tropical fruit aroma in white wines: the role of fermentation esters and volatile thiols

Abstract

Volatile thiols are impact aroma compounds, well-known in the literature for imparting tropical fruit aromas such as passion fruit, guava, grapefruit, and citrus in white wines [1]. More recent evidence suggests that tropical fruit aromas are also caused by other aroma compounds besides thiols, such as fermentation esters, or the interaction between these volatile families. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of combining esters and/or thiols to determine their impact on the fruitiness aroma perception of white wines. Pinot gris wine was produced at the OSU research winery and was dearomatized using Lichrolut® EN. Combinations of fermentation volatile compounds were added to the wine, forming the aroma base. Treatment wines were composed of additions of different concentrations and combinations of thiols and/or esters. Samples were subjected to sensory analysis where forty-six white wine consumers evaluated the orthonasal aroma of the wines and participated in Check-All-That-Apply (CATA). Following the results obtained by CATA, samples were subjected to a Sensory Descriptive Analysis (SDA) panel where 13 trained panellists evaluated the intensity of the most used aroma attributes elicited by consumers. Thiol treatments without the presence of esters contributed to earthy and grassy aromas. Overall, tropical fruit aromas were detected in the several treatments containing esters and esters + thiols. Differences in the intensity of the aroma attributes were observed as well . This study showed that esters and thiols are necessary for tropical fruit aroma causation in white wines. Therefore, grape growers and winemakers should adapt viticultural and winemaking conditions to increase the concentrations of both aroma families and therefore enhance the tropical fruit aroma perception in white wines.

DOI:

Publication date: September 24, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Angelica Iobbi, Elizabeth Tomasino

Oregon State University, OR, USA, 

Contact the author

Keywords

aroma causation, check-all-that-apply, sensory descriptive analysis, tropical fruit aroma, white wine

Citation

Related articles…

Effects of graft quality on growth and grapevine-water relations

Climate change is challenging viticulture worldwide compromising its sustainability due to warmer temperatures and the increased frequency of extreme events. Grafting Vitis vinifera L.

Zonificación vitícola y aplicación a la D.O. Montilla-Moriles, usando como referencia la variedad ‘Pedro Ximenes’

Se señalaron 28 parcelas, en la zona de D.O. Montilla-Moriles, repartidas por toda la superficie de viñedo, de ellas 12 se localizan en las Zonas de calidad Superior, en los términos municipales de Montilla

Modelling vine water stress during a critical period and potential yield reduction rate in European wine regions: a retrospective analysis

Most European vineyards are managed under rainfed conditions, where seasonal water deficit has become increasingly important. The flowering-veraison phenophase represents an important period for vine response to water stress, which is seldomly thoroughly evaluated. Therefore, we aim to quantify the flowering-veraison water stress levels using Crop Water Stress Indicator (CWSI) over 1986–2015 for important European wine regions, and to assess the respective potential Yield Lose Rate (YLR). Additionally, we also investigate whether an advanced flowering-veraison phase may help alleviating the water stress with improved yield. A process-based grapevine model STICS is employed, which has been extensively calibrated for flowering and veraison stages using observed data at 38 locations with 10 different grapevine varieties. Subsequently, the model is being implemented at the regional level, considering site-specific calibration results and gridded climate and soil datasets. The findings suggest wine regions with stronger flowering-veraison CWSI tend to have higher potential YLR. However, contrasting patterns are found between wine regions in France-Germany-Luxembourg and Italy-Portugal-Spain. The former tends to have slight-to-moderate drought conditions (CWSI<0.5) and a negligible-to-moderate YLR (<30%), whereas the latter possesses severe-to-extreme CWSI (>0.5) and substantial YLR (>40%). Wine regions prone to a high drought risk (CWSI>0.75) are also identified, which are concentrated in southern Mediterranean Europe. An advanced flowering-veraison phase may have benefited from cooler temperatures and a higher fraction of spring precipitation in wine regions of Italy-Portugal-Spain, resulting in alleviated CWSI and moderate reductions of YLR. For those of France-Germany-Luxembourg, this can have reduced flowering-veraison precipitation, but prevalent alleviations of YLR are also found, possibly because of shifted phase towards a cooler growing season with reduced evaporative demands. Overall, such a retrospective analysis might provide new insights towards better management of seasonal water deficit for conventionally vulnerable Mediterranean wine regions, but also for relatively cooler and wetter Central European regions.

Prototype development for the recovery of wine aromas from fermentation gases

Dealcoholised beverages are trendy. But this market segment is slowed down by flavour losses during dealcoholisation and by the reduced perception of flavours in the absence of alcohol.

Phenolic extraction and mechanical properties of skins and seeds during maceration of four main italian red wine grape varieties

AIM: Red grape varieties are characterized by different phenolic contents (prominently tannins and anthocyanins) found in skins and seeds.