Effect of grape pre-drying and static pomace contact on physicochemical properties and sensory acceptance of Brazilian (Bordô and Isabel) red wines

Fungal transformation and reduction of phytotoxicity of grape pomace waste

Grape pomace (GP) from Vitis labrusca, the main byproduct from "American table wine" production, is recalcitrant to degradation, and its accumulation is a serious problem with negative environmental impacts. In this work, transformation of grape pomace using a steam pretreatment followed by incubation of GP during a 90-day period with six different fungi were evaluated. Several fungi tested reduced the phytotoxicity of water-soluble fraction (WSFd) from steam-pretreated GP after 90 days' incubation to lettuce and tomato seeds. U. botrytis caused the largest effective phytotoxicity reduction of WSFd (used in the concentration range of 10-1.25% p/v) and was the only fungus causing the removal of monoaromatic compounds. Therefore, this procedure with U. botrytis effectively reduces the availability of phytotoxic monoaromatic compounds in GP, which opens a way for the development of guidelines for the management of these wastes and their potential use as organic amendments in agricultural soil.

Optimization of Cactus Pear Fruit Fermentation Process for Wine Production

Cactus pear fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica) has a chemical composition that renders it an attractive substrate for wine fermentation. However, there have been serious post-harvest losses of cactus fruit due to its short shelf life. This study aims to investigate wine production from cactus pear fruit juice by optimizing fermentation temperature, pH, and inoculum concentration (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to obtain optimum quality-indicative responses. Response surface methodology coupled with central composite rotatable design was adopted in the present study to achieve optimized fermentation process conditions. The fermentation process was carried out for 6 days with varied input variables, and all the models showed significant p-values for interaction of variance (<0.05). Cactus pear fruit wine with a total acidity of 12.39 ± 1.32 g/L equivalent to tartaric acid (TTAE), alcohol content of 9 ± 0.31%, v/v, total antioxidant concentration of 235.3 ± 9.15 mg/L AAE (Ascorbic acid equivalent), and sensory acceptance of 7.74 ± 0.34 was produced at an optimized temperature of 30 °C, pH of 3.9, and inoculum concentration of 16%. The developed models could predict the quality of wine developed from cactus pear fruit.

Pre-drying and submerged cap winemaking: Effects on polyphenolic compounds and sensory descriptors. Part I: BRS Rúbea and BRS Cora

In contrast to the most worldwide used grape varieties, wine production in Brazil is mainly devoted to the elaboration of table wines from American grapes and hybrids. These grapes show initial disadvantages such as low soluble solids content in their optimal stage of ripening and poor color quality. Based on this, the Brazilian Agency EMBRAPA Grape and Wine has developed BRS type cultivars in order to enhance the quality of the table wines. This study analyzed the phenolic composition and sensory profile of BRS Rúbea and BRS Cora red wines elaborated by traditional and two alternative winemaking technologies: grape pre-drying and submerged cap of chaptalized musts. Pre-dried wines presented low concentrations of anthocyanins/pyranoanthocyanins and flavonols, suggesting that they were partially degraded by the thermal treatment (60°C). These wines were described as bitter and full-bodied because of their higher flavan-3-ols content, suggesting that these compounds were not greatly influenced by thermal degradation. Submerged cap was described as persistent to the palate and with an intense violet hue due to its high anthocyanin and flavonol concentrations. The antioxidant capacity presented a weak relationship with the anthocyanins and stilbenes, but was intensely related to the % of galloylated flavan-3-ols.

Effect of ethanol, dry extract and reducing sugars on density and viscosity of Brazilian red wines

BACKGROUND

Density and viscosity are properties that exert great influence on the body of wines. The present work aimed to evaluate the influence of the alcoholic content, dry extract, and reducing sugar content on density and viscosity of commercial dry red wines at different temperatures. The rheological assays were carried out on a controlled stress rheometer, using concentric cylinder geometry at seven temperatures (2, 8, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 26 °C).

RESULTS

Wine viscosity decreased with increasing temperature and density was directly related to the wine alcohol content, whereas viscosity was closely linked to the dry extract. Reducing sugars did not influence viscosity or density. Wines produced from Italian grapes were presented as full-bodied with higher values for density and viscosity, which was linked to the higher alcohol content and dry extract, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results highlighted the major effects of certain physicochemical properties on the physical properties of wines, which in turn is important for guiding sensory assessments.