Enoforum 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Enoforum Web 9 Enoforum Web Conference 2021 9 Fingerprinting as approach to unlock black box of taste

Fingerprinting as approach to unlock black box of taste

Abstract

The black box of taste is getting unlocked. The starting point is to distinguish taste from tasting. Consider taste as a product characteristic; tasting is a sensorial activity. Consequently, taste can be studied on a molecular level and therefore be assessed more objectively, whilst tasting is a human activity and by definition subjective.

 

P. Klosse (2004) developed a model to describe taste. This model has been further developed and tested in practice to analyse the taste profile of wines and beers. Mouthfeel sensations and their intensities are the key parameters of this model. Three classes of mouthfeel are distinguished: ‘contracting’, ‘coating’ and ‘drying’. The molecular compounds and the intensity of their contribution to mouthfeel have been identified, just like interaction effects. Newly developed instruments are used to measure the physico-chemical characteristics of these molecules. The individual scores of coating, contracting and drying elements of a sample give a ‘fingerprint’. A computer model calculates the coordinate that indicates the taste of the product.

 

This system has been successfully tested to classify wines and beers. Results indicate this approach gives useful insights in flavor composition. From a production perspective these insights can be used to enhance desired or suppress undesired compounds. The fingerprints allow an objective comparison of different wines. From a commercial perspective, producers can gather insights in consumer liking. In addition, the consumer gets more certainty that the purchased wine meets his expectations. Furthermore, the profile can be used in food pairing and as a basis for machine learning. The first web application of this approach has been introduced to the market.

DOI:

Publication date: April 23, 2021

Issue: Enoforum 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Peter Klosse1, Boudewijn Klosse2, Georgios Agorastos3, Adam Dijkstra4 

1 The Academy for Scientific Taste Evaluation, T.A.S.T.E. foundation, Garstkampsestraat 11, 6611 KS Overasselt, The Netherlands
2 Tasters International, Amersfoortseweg 90, 7346AA Hoog Soeren, The Netherland
3 Faculty of Science and Engineering department, Maastricht University Campus Venlo, Maastricht University, 5911 AA Venlo, The Netherlands
4 Analysis Center De Colonjes, Bredeweg 2, 6562 DE Groesbeek, The Netherlands

Contact the author

Keywords

fingerprinting, mouthfeel model, classification, chemometrics, consumer preferences, taste

Tags

Enoforum 2021 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Carbon sequestration in vineyard soils: biomass utilization in a climate change scenario–the SUSTAIN project

The SUSTAIN project aims at assessing the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and vulnerability in vineyard soils under a climate change scenario.

Scalable asymptomatic grapevine leafroll virus complex-3 detection through integrated airborne imaging spectroscopy, autonomous robotics, and cloud computing

The past three decades of terrestrial remote sensing research have delivered unprecedented insights into our fundamental ability to detect, quantify, and differentiate plant disease (Gold 2021). However, much of our fundamental knowledge in this domain has come from studies in non-agricultural systems and until recently, most agricultural studies, when extant, have focused on tree crops where canopy closure and large plot and plant size facilitate stress detection at low spatial resolution. Recent engineering innovations and advancements in constellation architecture design have refined the accuracy and scalability of airborne and spaceborne sensing platforms, enabling us to monitor diverse specialty crops, including grapevine, planted in smaller, spatially varied fields.

Pharmacological basis of the J-shaped curve in biological effects of wine

The classical pharmacological model assumes that the effect of a drug is proportional to the fraction of receptors occupied by the drug. In the simplest circumstances, the relationship between dose of a drug and response, when plotted on a logarithmic scale for drug concentration, is described by a sigmoidal curve. It presumes the existence of a threshold dose, below which no biological effect appears, and a maximal response in the form of a plateau, when a further increase in the dose of drug has no effect.

Preserving wine typicity in a climate change scenario: Examples from the Willamette Valley, Oregon

Aims: Wine typicity is defined as a reflection of varietal origins, cultures and traditions of the wine. These aspects are many times also extremely important when considering a wines quality. However, as climate change occurs the typicity of wines may also change. With the long history of winemaking it is possible to define a wines typicity and how it has changed as climate alters. 

Grapevine nitrogen dynamics as a function of crop thinning

Context and purpose. Nitrogen (N) is crucial for plant development but is used inefficiently, with only 30–40% of the fertilizer assimilated by crops, leading to significant environmental losses.