Emerging biotechnologies and non-thermal technologies for winemaking in a context of global warming

In the current situation, wine areas are affected by several problems in a context of global warming: asymmetric maturities, pH increasing, high alcohol degree and flat wines with low freshness and poor aroma profile. The use of emerging biotechnologies allows to control or manage such problems. Emerging non-Saccharomyces as Lachancea thermotolerans are very useful for controlling pH by the formation of stable lactic acid from sugars with a slight concomitant alcohol reduction. Lower pH improves freshness increasing simultaneously microbiological stability. The use of Hanseniaspora spp. (specially H. vineae and H. opuntiae) or Metschnikowia pulcherrima promotes a better aroma complexity and improves wine sensory profile by the expression of a more complex metabolic pattern and the release of extracellular enzymes. Some of them are also compatible or synergic with the acidification by L. thermotolerans, and M. pulcherrima is an interesting biotool for reductive winemaking and bioprotection. The use of bioprotection is a powerful tool in this context, allowing oxidation control by oxygen depletion, the inhibition of some wild microorganisms, improving the implantation of some starters and limiting SO2. This can be complemented with the use of reductive yeast derivatives with high contents of reducing peptides and relevant compounds such as glutathione that also are interesting to reduce SO2. Finally, the use of emerging non-thermal technologies as Ultra High-Pressure Homogenization (UHPH) and Pulsed Light (PL) increases wine stability by microbial control and inactivation of oxidative enzymes, improving the implantation of emerging non-Saccharomyces and lowering SO2 additions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT.

Cluster Thinning and Vineyard Site Modulate the Metabolomic Profile of Ribolla Gialla Base and Sparkling Wines

Depending on the vineyard location, cluster thinning (CT) may represent an effective tool to obtain the desired grape composition and wine quality. The effect of 20% cluster thinning on Ribolla Gialla (Vitis vinifera L.) sparkling wine aroma, lipid compounds, and aromatic amino acid (AAA) metabolites composition was studied for three consecutive seasons in two vineyards located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy. In the examined sparkling wines, the vintage meteorological conditions exhibited significant influences on the metabolic profile of the samples. Data were normalized by season, and the impact of the CT treatment was evaluated for each vineyard site separately. Crop removal showed a limited positive impact on aroma compounds in sparkling wines from vineyards located in the valley. Concerning the AAA compounds, their concentration was higher in the vineyard at the foot of the hills. Cluster thinning resulted in a drop in concentration, reducing the risk of atypical aging. Despite minor differences according to targeted metabolome profiling, the sensory analysis confirmed the effects of the CT treatment in the valley floor vineyard. Reducing crop in this site, where the yield was higher, promoted a moderate improvement of Ribolla Gialla sparkling wine. In contrast, for wine produced in the vineyard at the foot of the hills, the sensory analysis indicated a preference for wines from the unthinned control samples. Overall, the study indicates that cluster thinning is a viticultural technique that could potentially improve the quality of Ribolla Gialla sparkling wines, but only in situations of excessive grape production.

Pulsed Electric Field Processing of Red Grapes (cv. Rondinella): Modifications of Phenolic Fraction and Effects on Wine Evolution

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a non-thermal technology able to promote color and polyphenols extraction from grape skins. Most of the publications about PEF in winemaking report data concerning international varieties, poorly considering minor cultivars and the medium/long-term effects of the treatment on wine composition during storage. PEF was applied at different specific energies (2, 10, and 20 kJ kg-1) on grapes of the low-color red cv. Rondinella, after crushing-destemming. Pressing yield, the evolution of color, and total phenolic index (TPI) were measured during skin maceration. Moreover, the wines were characterized for basic compositional parameters, color, anthocyanin profile, phenolic composition (glories indices), metal content (Fe, Cr, and Ni), and sensory characters, two and twelve months after the processing, in comparison with untreated samples and pectolytic enzymes (PE). PEF did not affect fermentation evolution, nor did it modify wine basic composition or metal content. Treatments at 10 and 20 kJ kg-1 led to higher color and TPI in wines, in comparison to PE, because of increased content of anthocyanins and tannins. The sensory evaluation confirmed these findings. Modifications remained stable in wines after twelve months. Glories indices and vitisin A content highlighted greater potential stability of wine color in PEF-treated wines.

Microemulsions as delivery systems of lemon oil and β-carotene into beverages: stability test under different light conditions

BACKGROUND

Microemulsions have been proposed as delivery systems for different lipophilic substances in transparent water-based systems. The chemical stability of the delivered compounds is a key factor to broaden the application of microemulsions in the food sector. The stability of a model beverage containing a microemulsion delivering β-carotene and lemon oil was tested under increasing light intensity up to 6000 lx at 20 °C.

RESULTS

The transparent microemulsion resulted physically stable during storage indicating that no coalescence phenomenon occurred. On the contrary, both colour and flavour of the microemulsion degraded as a consequence of limonene and β-carotene oxidation. Kinetic data obtained at increasing light intensity were used to estimate the light dependence of beverage spoilage and the mathematical relationship obtained was used to predict spoilage rate under different light conditions. Finally, a shelf life predictive model was proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

Transparent microemulsions can be successfully used to deliver flavoured oil and colourants into beverages. However, the photostability of the delivered compounds should be carefully studied to estimate product shelf life. To this aim, the availability of models predicting shelf life as a function of enlightening conditions could largely contribute to speed up the process. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of leaf removal on aromatic precursor dynamics during maturation of Ribolla Gialla grapes (Vitis vinifera L.)

Leaf removal is a viticultural practice applied in order to improve fruit-zone microclimate and berry quality. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of post-flowering leaf removal on maturation and biosynthesis of terpenes and and C13-norisoprenoids in Ribolla Gialla grapes. In the seasons 2015 and 2016, basic maturation parameters were nearly unaffected by leaf removal. Contrarily, in the second season, 2016, one week before harvest, the concentration of several aroma compounds was significantly improved by leaf removal. In conclusion, the trial here showed that leaf removal improves the concentration of aroma compounds in the grapes, but the selection of the date of harvest is more crucial in order to maintain them during vinification.

Oxidative behavior of (+)-catechin in the presence of inactive dry yeasts: a comparison with sulfur dioxide, ascorbic acid and glutathione

BACKGROUND

The antioxidant capacity of an inactive dry yeast preparation (YD) was investigated by conventional analytical methods (spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography) as well as by cyclic voltammetry in a (+)-catechin model wine and compared with that of some of the most common antioxidants found in wine: sulfur dioxide, ascorbic acid and glutathione.

RESULTS

Sulfur dioxide was the highest-performing substance in protecting (+)-catechin against browning, followed by ascorbic acid and the YD preparation. Sulfites were the only antioxidant whose activity was clearly detectable in the model wines after 29 days of storage. Voltammetric studies demonstrated that the antioxidant capacity of the products tested was connected to their intrinsic characteristics and their molar concentrations (catechin/antioxidant molar ratio).

CONCLUSION

The YD preparation displayed a certain ability to protect polyphenols against browning. The antioxidant activity of YDs towards (+)-catechin appeared to be based on different mechanisms with respect to that of the other products tested: the insoluble portion of these preparations (cell wall residues) might have a non-negligible role, even if the ability of YDs to release compounds able to suppress oxidation cannot be rejected. Direct comparison of the different antioxidants led to interesting indications concerning their mechanism of action in wine-like solution, depending on their concentration and intrinsic characteristics. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Application of multi-pass high pressure homogenization under variable temperature regimes to induce autolysis of wine yeasts

The effects of the number of passes and processing temperature management (controlled vs. uncontrolled) were investigated during high pressure homogenization-induced autolysis of Saccharomyces bayanus wine yeasts, treated at 150MPa. Both variables were able to affect cell viability, and the release of soluble molecules (free amino acids, proteins and glucidic colloids), but the effect of temperature was more important. S. bayanus cells were completely inactivated in 10 passes without temperature control (corresponding to a processing temperature of 75°C). The two processing variables also affected the volatile composition of the autolysates produced: higher temperatures led to a lower concentration of volatile compounds. The management of the operating conditions may allow the compositional characteristics of the products to be modulated, making them suitable for different winemaking applications.

Use of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Torulaspora delbrueckii strains in mixed and sequential fermentations to improve red wine sensory quality

One of the main opportunities in the use of non-Saccharomyces yeasts is its great intraspecific variability in relation to the synthesis of secondary products of fermentation. Thus, mixed or sequential fermentation with non-Saccharomyces can increase the synthesis of certain metabolites that are important for colour stability, such as acetaldehyde and pyruvic acid (vitisin precursors) or vinylphenols (vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanin precursors). Furthermore, the selection and use of non-Saccharomyces yeast strains with good yields in the production of certain volatile compounds (ethyl lactate, 2,3-butanediol, 2-phenylethyl acetate), with limited formation of higher alcohols, is a way to improve the aromatic profile of red wine. The main aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of sequential and mixed fermentations with Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Torulaspora delbrueckii strains on red wine's sensory quality. Anthocyanins and aromatic profiles, as well as glycerol and organic acid content, were analysed in the red wines obtained. Results show that, in general, mixed fermentations can promote an increment in polyols synthesis, while sequential fermentations can enhance the herbaceous aroma. Moreover, the use of T. delbrueckii in mixed fermentations allowed an increase to the fruity character of red wine. The use of S. pombe in sequential fermentations increased the stability of the colouring matter by favouring vitisins and vinylphenolic pyranoanthocyanin formation.

Effect of different lysis treatments on the characteristics of yeast derivatives for winemaking

The effects of three preparation techniques on the oenological properties of a yeast autolysate were investigated: enzymatic autolysis, thermolysis, and the combination of a slow freezing-defrosting and mechanical disruption were carried out on a commercial formulation of active dry yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The powders obtained by freeze drying, were characterized: volatile compounds were analyzed by SPME-GC with mass spectrometric (MS) and olfactometric detection (O); the release of colloids in winelike solution was studied by SDS-PAGE and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Finally, the effects of the powders addition on the aroma composition of a white wine were investigated by SPME-GC-MS, SPME-GC-O, and sensory evaluation. The products obtained were quite different from each other. In particular, enzymatic autolysis led to higher contents of nonglycosilated soluble proteins in the powders and determined a higher retention of wine aroma compounds. On the contrary, thermal autolysate was richer in glycoproteins, and it was able to increase the wine aroma intensity; nevertheless, in the wines treated with such preparation, a slight yeastlike olfactory note was perceived.

Interactions between yeast autolysates and volatile compounds in wine and model solution

The addition of a commercial yeast autolysate to a model solution of five typical wine aroma compounds (ethyl octanoate, linalool, 2-phenylethanol, β-ionone and octanoic acid) was investigated considering different variables, such as temperature, pH and the presence of highly concentrated natural volatile substances in wine (e.g. 3-methyl-1-butanol). The interactions of such compounds with both yeast walls and released colloids were studied using gas chromatography, with liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase microextraction. The results were compared with those obtained by adding the commercial product to a white table wine, spiked with the five standard compounds. The data confirmed that yeast walls mainly bind less polar molecules: their loss in synthetic medium seemed to increase at higher pH values. Temperature and pH affected differently the interactions between yeast colloids and volatile compounds in wine and model solution: in complex solutions (as the addition of 3-methyl-1-butanol demonstrated) the interaction mechanisms could be influenced by competitive or other matrix-related effects, which can reduce the binding of single compounds, or even enhance their volatility.

Modified nondestructive colorimetric method to evaluate the variability of oxygen diffusion rate through wine bottle closures

Some modifications to a previous nondestructive colorimetric method that permits evaluation of the oxygen diffusion rate through wine closures were proposed. The method is based on the reaction of indigo carmine solution with oxygen and the tristimulus measurement of the consequent color change. Simplified preparation and measurement procedures were set up, allowing the analysis of a large number of samples simultaneously. The method was applied to the evaluation of the variability within the lot of 20 different types of stoppers (synthetic, produced by molding, and natural cork). The closures were tested at a storage temperature of 26 degrees C. With regard to oxygen permeability, the natural cork stopper showed a low homogeneity within the lot, especially during the first month after bottling, whereas the synthetic closure showed a greater steadiness in the performance. The limits of the colorimetric method were also analyzed, and three possible causes of degradation of the indigo carmine solution were identified: oxygen, light, and heat.

Sweet-like off-flavor in Aglianico del Vulture wine: ethyl phenylacetate as the mainly involved compound

Interest in high-quality and peculiar products is a recent trend in the enological field; for this reason, production of wines from autochthonous vine varieties is requested by consumers. Aglianico wine from the Italian region "Basilicata" is an example of a promising product strictly connected to the territory; nevertheless, it is affected by a frequent sweet-like off-flavor. In this study the compositional cause of this off-flavor was investigated by SPME-GC-olfactometry, SPME-GC-MS, and sensory tests. Ethyl phenylacetate (EPhA) was found to be the compound mainly responsible, and its sensory threshold was determined near 73 microg/L; products with the odorant concentration near and up to these values were always recognized as significantly different from the other wines and were often far from wine technical pleasantness; besides EPhA gave to the wines a strong honey-like character. Some preliminary hypotheses about its mechanism of formation (shikimate pathway) are presented in this study: these hypotheses could explain the correlation between EPhA and volatile phenols that was found by both sensory tests and GC quantitative analysis of wines affected by different levels of defect.