Attitudes towards natural wines among Spanish winemakers: Relationship with environmental awareness

this research pioneers in revealing the complex interplay of ecological awareness, sensory perceptions, and market understanding in shaping Spanish winemakers’ attitudes towards NWs. It underscores the need for further research to bridge the gap in consumer and producer perceptions and to address the current asymmetry of information in the wine market. The study’s limitations include its reliance on convenience sampling, suggesting a need for more comprehensive future research designs.

Read More

Application of white wine lees for promoting lactic acid bacteria growth and malolactic fermentation in wine

This study explored the potential of utilising white wine lees, a by-product of winemaking, in the industrial application of wine production. By examining the growth of wine lactic acid bacteria and their impact on the malolactic fermentation process, this study highlights the potential of using wine lees as a beneficial agent for MLF in red wines. The study also confirmed that the inclusion of white wine lees does not negatively impact the quality of wine and does not encourage the growth of spoilage microorganisms. Overall, this study proposes a sustainable recycling strategy for wine by-products in winemaking.

Read More

Winemaking: “With One Stone, Two Birds”? A Holistic Review of the Bio-Functional Compounds, Applications and Health Benefits of Wine and Wineries’ By-Products

The paper titled “Winemaking: ‘With One Stone Two Birds’? A Holistic Review of the Bio-Functional Compounds, Applications and Health Benefits of Wine and Wineries’ By-Products” provides a comprehensive review of the health benefits and applications of bio-functional compounds found in wine and by-products of wineries. It explores the nutritional value, bio-functional components, and health-promoting properties of these compounds, particularly their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antithrombotic effects. The paper also discusses the beneficial effects of moderate wine consumption as part of a balanced diet and examines the potential of wineries’ by-products in developing functional foods, supplements, and nutraceuticals. Limitations and future perspectives of these bioactive compounds are also addressed.

Read More

Kinetics of aroma formation from grape-derived precursors: Temperature effects and predictive potential

This study examined the accumulation and degradation of aroma molecules resulting from the acid hydrolysis of aroma precursors in winemaking grapes. It utilizes a first-order kinetic model to effectively describe both processes. This study categorizes grape-derived aroma molecules into three groups based on their stability through experiments conducted at three different temperatures. The analysis of 12 samples from two grape varieties subjected to hydrolysis at varying temperatures confirmed that fast hydrolysis at 75°C accurately reproduced varietal and between-sample aroma differences. Additionally, the study found a strong correlation between the accumulated levels of 21 relevant grape-derived aromas at 75°C and 50°C, indicating that fast hydrolysis at 75°C is a reliable predictor of grape aroma potential.

Read More

A key to wine conservation lies in the glass–cork interface

Discover the key to preserving the exquisite flavors of premium wines! In a groundbreaking study published in PNAS Nexus, researchers delve into the glass–cork interface, unraveling the mysteries of oxygen entry during long-term wine aging.
The study, led by Julie Chanut et al., explores the evolution of oxygen barrier properties in the bottleneck–stopper system over 24 months. Surprisingly, temperature and bottle position (vertical or horizontal) don’t impact the intrinsic oxygen diffusion of microagglomerated corks. However, storing wines at higher temperatures accelerates oxygen transfer at the glass–cork interface after specific periods.

Read More

Enhance Wine Production Potential by Using Fresh and Dried Red Grape and Blueberry Mixtures with Different Yeast Strains for Fermentation

Our colleague Juan Martín-Gómez from Universidad de Córdoba, Spain presented a fascinating research study on the ‘Sustainability of wine production and food systems in the Mediterranean region’ at the 3rd World Science & Wine Congress. This study focused on replacing traditional sun-drying methods in Mediterranean winemaking with controlled-airflow chamber-drying. This alternative technique improves the quality, phenolic content, and antioxidant properties of red grapes and blueberries. Furthermore, the post encourages researchers to consider submitting their work to a special joint issue. Because these issues are interdisciplinary, authors are given the flexibility to choose from several participating journals based on their research scope. The options include Foods; Sustainability; IJERPH; Agriculture.

Read More

Effects of Global Warming on Grapevine Berries Phenolic Compounds—A Review

As autumn heat reaches unprecedented levels, a groundbreaking study delves into the impact of climate change on phenolic compounds in grapevine berries. These findings challenge traditional winemaking norms, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to combat climate challenges. The study advocates for a nuanced, “single case” perspective, recognizing the diversity of grapevine environments. Standardizing treatments across different cultivars, legislations, and regions is impractical. Instead, the focus has shifted to individual vineyards, embracing the concept of terroir, where unique natural, physical, and climatic conditions influence wine characteristics. This flexible approach encourages winegrowers and consumers to appreciate each vintage’s distinctiveness. By acknowledging and adapting to climatic changes, winemaking can evolve and foster innovative techniques and novel taste experiences. Resisting the urge for uniformity might simply unlock new dimensions in the wine world.

Read More

DNA-based micro-total analysis system, a breakthrough in wine traceability and authenticity

For the first time, it was presented a DNA-based analytic tool for grapevine varietal discrimination using an integrated portable biosensor based on a monolayer graphene field-effect transistor array. The system comprises a wafer-scale fabricated graphene chip operated under liquid gating and connected to a miniaturized electronic readout. The platform can distinguish closely related grapevine varieties, thanks to specific DNA probes immobilized on the sensor, demonstrating high specificity even for discriminating single-nucleotide polymorphisms, which is hard to achieve with a classical end-point polymerase chain reaction or quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The reported biosensor provides a promising way toward developing decentralized analytical tools for tracking wine authenticity at different points of the food value chain, enabling data transmission and contributing to the digitalization of the agro–food industry.

Read More

The enigm of natural wines: a first step to shed light on them

Natural wine (NW) lacks an official or agreed definition, but it can be generally described as wine produced with organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention in the cellar, and with minimal or no use of oenological additives. The present study aimed to test the hypotheses that self-defined NWs differ from conventional wines (CW) in their chemical composition and main sensory characteristics. The levels of conventional oenological parameters, turbidity, biogenic amines, ochratoxin A, ethyl carbamate, sulphites, chlorides, some metals, major, trace and Strecker aldehyde volatile compounds were determined in 28 wines, including natural and conventional Spanish commercial white wines. Wines were also sensory described following a labelled free sorting task.

Read More

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic rosé wines made with Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii probiotic yeast

The production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic rosé wines using Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii probiotic yeast is described in this study for the first time. The outcomes revealed that the rosé wine made with S. cerevisiae var. boulardii had the same values and preliminary sensory characteristics as other commercial wines made with S. cerevisiae EC-1118. The S. cerevisiae var. boulardii yeast successfully survived the high alcohol level produced during fermentation and vacuum distillation. The study also revealed that this unique rosé wine retains its probiotic viability for at least 6 months when stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator, making it a suitable candidate for large-scale production where long storage intervals are required by both producers and consumers.

Read More