Red Wine Age Estimation by the Alteration of Its Color Parameters: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Monitor Wine Maturation Time.

Color, phenolic content, and chemical age values of red wines made from Cretan grape varieties (Kotsifali, Mandilari) were evaluated over nine months of maturation in different containers for two vintages. The wines differed greatly on their anthocyanin profiles. Mid-IR spectra were also recorded with the use of a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer in ZnSe disk mode. Analysis of Variance was used to explore the parameter's dependency on time. Determination models were developed for the chemical age indexes using Partial Least Squares (PLS) (TQ Analyst software) considering the spectral region 1830-1500 cm-1. The correlation coefficients (r) for chemical age index i were 0.86 for Kotsifali (Root Mean Square Error of Calibration (RMSEC) = 0.067, Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) = 0,115, and Root Mean Square Error of Validation (RMSECV) = 0.164) and 0.90 for Mandilari (RMSEC = 0.050, RMSEP = 0.040, and RMSECV = 0.089). For chemical age index ii the correlation coefficients (r) were 0.86 and 0.97 for Kotsifali (RMSEC 0.044, RMSEP = 0.087, and RMSECV = 0.214) and Mandilari (RMSEC = 0.024, RMSEP = 0.033, and RMSECV = 0.078), respectively. The proposed method is simpler, less time consuming, and more economical and does not require chemical reagents.

Sensory assessment and chemical measurement of astringency of Greek wines: Correlations with analytical polyphenolic composition.

The purpose of this study was to measure the astringency of selected Greek red wines and to assess the relationship between sensory and chemical data. Nine red wines produced by three native Greek grape varieties (agiorgitiko, xinomavro and mavrodafni) were used and their astringency and bitterness was assessed by a trained panel. In addition, their astringency was estimated chemically employing the ovalbumin precipitation method. Their polyphenolic composition was also determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The sensory data showed that mandilaria was the most astringent variety whereas agiorgitiko was the least. Statistical analysis of the results indicated that the chemical data obtained for astringency significantly correlated with the sensory determinations. In addition, significant correlations were obtained between the sensory data and the wine polyphenolic composition.

Evolution of malolactic bacteria and biogenic amines during spontaneous malolactic fermentations in a Greek winery.

AIMS: To study the population dynamics of indigenous malolactic bacteria in a Greek winery and to examine their potential to produce detrimental levels of biogenic amines (BA) under winemaking conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Although the wines studied were of different vintage, grape variety and enological characteristics, molecular typing of malolactic bacteria revealed only a low number of strains within the single-species populations of Oenococcus oeni that developed during spontaneous fermentations. Strain MF1, originating primarily from the vineyards surrounding the winery invariably predominated in almost all samples. HPLC analysis showed a slight increase in the BA, putrescine, tyramine and phenylethylamine after malolactic conversion, while histamine, methylamine and ethylamine remained unaffected. No correlation could be established between the BA profiles and the bacterial compositions or the amino acid concentrations in wine samples studied. CONCLUSIONS: A certain regional bacterial flora is established in the winery that prevails in spontaneous malolactic fermentations (MLF) irrespective of the wine characteristics. In all cases, the BA content of the wines after malolactic conversion was within enologically acceptable levels. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report on the malolactic bacteria occurring naturally in spontaneous MLF in Greek red wines and a preliminary assessment of their impact on wine safety in relation to BA.