Effect of glutathione during bottle storage of sparkling wine.

Reduced glutathione (GSH) is an efficient antioxidant on limiting browning, losing varietal aromas and off-flavor formation. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of GSH addition (10, 20 and 30mgL(-1)) after the disgorging of the sparkling wine during storage. The sparkling wines were analyzed at 1, 6, 12 and 18months of storage according to the color index, concentration of the free SO2, phenolic compounds, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, acetaldehyde, total and reduced glutathione. The results show that GSH concentration decreased to the level of the control sparkling wine during the first 6months, and the total glutathione gradually declined up to 12months. The GSH reduces browning and acetaldehyde formation for up to 12months. However, the presence of glutathione had low or no influence on the concentration of free SO2, total phenolics, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic and coumaric acids.

Effect of glutathione addition in sparkling wine.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of the addition of glutathione (GSH) on secondary aromas and on the phenolic compounds of sparkling wine elaborated by traditional method. It was added 10 and 20 mg L(-1) of GSH to must and to base wine. The determination of aroma compounds was performed by gas chromatography. Phenolic compounds and glutathione content were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Sparkling wines with addition of GSH to must showed lower levels of total phenolic compounds and hydroxycinnamic acids. Furthermore, the sparkling wine with addition of GSH to must showed higher levels of 2-phenylethanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and diethyl succinate, and lower concentrations of ethyl decanoate, octanoic and decanoic acids. The GSH addition to the must show a greater influence on sparkling wine than to base wine, however GSH addition to base wine seems retain higher SO2 free levels. The concentration of GSH added showed no significant difference.

Geographic origin of southern Brazilian wines by carbon and oxygen isotope analyses.

We present a method that can differentiate between the varieties of grapes and the vintages of wines and show the relationship between the grapes, the wine and the geographic location. The place of origin and its geographic and climatic characteristics were determined by the isotopic ratios, (13)C/(12)C of the ethanol and (18)O/(16)O of the water content of wine (wine water), for southern Brazil wines. The producing subregions of Pinto Bandeira, Vale dos Vinhedos and Nova Pádua showed differences in the temperature, rainfall and humidity conditions used for the production under microvinification conditions of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, in the harvests of 2005 and 2006. An isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled to an elemental analyzer was used to measure the (13)C/(12)C of ethanol and the (18)O/(16)O of wine water. Regardless of the grape variety used, it was possible to determine the subregion through measurement of the δ(18)O values in both harvests. The altitudes of the different subregions led to statistical differences and demonstrated an influence mainly on the δ(18)O values of wine water. The δ(18)O value of wine water was determined to be more selective for the determination of the cultivation subregions than the δ(13)C value of the ethanol. The altitude and latitude influenced mainly the δ (18)O values of wine water and the ethanol. The climatic influences are more noteworthy in distinguishing the year of the harvest than the cultivation subregion.