 IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Enzyme treatments during pre-fermentative maceration of white winegrapes: effect on volatile organic compounds and chromatic traits

Enzyme treatments during pre-fermentative maceration of white winegrapes: effect on volatile organic compounds and chromatic traits

Abstract

AIM: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are very important for the characterisation and quality of the final white wine. An oenological practice to increase the extraction of aroma compounds is the cold pre-fermentative maceration [1,2], although it may also release phenolic compounds that confer darker chromatic traits to white wines, not appreciated by consumers. This practice could be improved by the use of enzymes in order to facilitate the release of the odorous molecules. In this study, the effect of different enzyme treatments during skin contact on the chromatic characteristics and volatile composition of white musts from four winegrape varieties was evaluated.

METHODS: Different enzymes presenting distinct single activities (pectolytic and non pectolytic) were added to the must of four white winegrape varieties (Arneis, Greco, Falanghina and Chardonnay) and then subjected to cold pre-fermentative maceration. For each enzyme and variety tested, three berry replicates of 500 g each were randomly selected, added with 10 mg/kg of potassium metabisulphite and crushed. Enzymes were added at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Then, the must was left in contact with the skins for 13 h at 12 °C. Furthermore, other three berry replicates of 500 g each were used as control following the same procedure without enzyme addition. At the end, the musts obtained were separated from the skins and analysed for total polyphenolic index (TPI), chromatic parameters (absorbance at 420 nm and CIELab coordinates), as well as free and glycosylated VOCs. Volatile composition was determined by solid-phase extraction followed by GC-MS analysis [3].

RESULTS: The use of enzymes during cold pre-fermentative maceration resulted in musts having different technological parameters, such as must yield, pH and organic acids content. The chromatic characteristics related to yellow/brown colour (absorbance at 420 nm and CIELab coordinates) and TPI values were dependent on the enzyme used. Indeed, pectin lyase, polygalacturonase and arabinase reduced the yellow colour component of the must obtained when compared to the control sample. Regarding VOCs, different enzymes modulated the release of free forms differently, which are olfactively perceptible, but also they increased the extraction of glycosylated compounds into the grape must. Particularly, most of enzymes tested had a positive effect on the release of terpenes, however the release of norisoprenoids, C6 compounds, alcohols and benzenoids was influenced by both the enzyme used and the variety treated

CONCLUSIONS: The use of different enzymes influenced technological parameters, chromatic characteristics and VOCs contents but some effects were variety dependent. This study may aid oenologists to better understand the action of these enzymes and thus to manage cold pre-fermentative maceration according to the oenological objective.

DOI:

Publication date: September 27, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Mattia Malabaila, Stefano BOZ, Maria Alessandra PAISSONI, Carlo MONTANINI, Simone GIACOSA, Luca ROLLE, Susana RÍO SEGADE,

University of Torino, Italy.

Contact the author

Keywords

enzymes, pre-fermentative maceration, volatile organic compounds, chromatic characteristics, white winegrapes

Citation

VineyardFACE: Investigation of a moderate (+20%) increase of ambient CO2 level on berry ripening dynamics and fruit composition

Climate change and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is a concern for agriculture, including viticulture. Studies on elevated carbon dioxide have already been on grapevines, mainly taking place in greenhouses using potted plants or using field grown vines under higher CO2 enrichment, i.e. >650 ppm. The VineyardFACE, located at Hochschule Geisenheim University, is an open field Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experimental set-up designed to study the effects of elevated carbon dioxide using field grown vines (Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon). As the carbon dioxide fumigation started in 2014, the long term effects of elevated carbon dioxide treatment can be investigated on berry ripening parameters and fruit metabolic composition.
The present study aims to investigate the effect on fruit composition under a moderate increase (+20%; eCO2) of carbon dioxide concentration, as predicted for 2050 on both Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Berry composition was determined for primary (sugars, organic acids, amino acids) and secondary metabolites (anthocyanins). Special focus was given on monitoring of berry diameter and ripening rates throughout three growing seasons. Compared to previous results of the early adaptative phase of the vines [1], our results show little effect of eCO2 treatment on primary metabolites composition in berries. However, total anthocyanins concentration in berry skin was lower for eCO2 treatment in 2020, although the ratio between anthocyanins derivatives did not differ.
[1] Wohlfahrt Y., Tittmann S., Schmidt D., Rauhut D., Honermeier B., Stoll M. (2020) The effect of elevated CO2 on berry development and bunch structure of Vitis vinifera L. cvs. Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. Applied Science Basel 10: 2486

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