Influence of Different Dehydration Levels on Volatile Profiles, Phenolic Contents and Skin Hardness of Alkaline Pre-Treated Grapes cv Muscat of Alexandria (Vitis vinifera L.).

A dehydration experiment was carried out on Vitis vinifera L. cv Muscat of Alexandria (synonym Zibibbo) following the process for the production of renowned special dessert wines produced on Pantelleria island (Sicily, Italy). Harvested berries were pre-treated in a sodium hydroxide dipping solution (45 g/L, dipped for 185 s, 25 °C) to accelerate the drying process, rinsed, and dehydrated in simulated conditions (relative humidity 30%, 30 °C temperature, air speed 0.9 m/s). Three dehydration levels were achieved, corresponding to "Passolata", "Bionda", and "Malaga" stages (35%, 50%, and 65% of weight loss, respectively) of the Pantelleria denomination of origin (DOC). Grape skin mechanical properties, technological parameters, phenolics, and aroma profile varied considerably during dehydration. The most important aroma compounds for their olfactory impact, such as linalool, geraniol, nerol, and citronellol, especially in glycosylated forms, significantly increased in dried grapes compared to fresh ones, even if aroma profile modification occurred. A decrease in break skin force could have induced higher release of flavonoids. The findings showed relevant changes, allowing winemakers to better select the ratio of fresh and dehydrated grapes in the function of the final desired wine.

Nero d'Avola and Perricone cultivars: determination of polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins in grapes and wines.

In 2011 vintage, the evolution of monomer and total anthocyanins, as well as of total flavonoids and polyphenols of grapes and wine of Nero d'Avola and Perricone, varieties cultivated in Sicily, was studied. Anthocyanin profiles are commonly used for grapevine cultivar identification because it is currently accepted that this trait is closely related to their genetic characteristics. The concentration of Nero d'Avola and Perricone anthocyanins was determined by HPLC-DAD.

Over-evaluation of total flavonoids in grape skin extracts containing sulphur dioxide.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) proved to increase absorbance at 280 nm of grape skin and seed extracts containing it, diluted with ethanol-HCl to assess total flavonoids and anthocyanins in the same analysis. Additional absorbance at 280 nm was also observed in acetone:H2O extracts, if the acetone had not completely evaporated before the extracts were diluted with a solvent. Flavonoids were correctly quantified in the extracts when SO2 or acetone were removed by solid-phase extraction with a C18 RP as sorbent and methanol as eluting solvent.

Zibibbo nero characterization, a red-wine grape revertant of muscat of Alexandria.

Muscat of Alexandria is known in Italy as Zibibbo. Zibibbo nero, red-wine grapes, is a sport mutation of Zibibbo variety. A biochemical and molecular characterization of berry colour (VvMybA1 and VvMybA2 genes, Vitis vinifera MYeloBlastosis) and aroma Muscat (VvDXS gene, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase) traits in both Zibibbo cultivars was performed, as well as ampelographic and genetic identification analyses. Molecular investigations were performed also for two putative Zibibbo parents (Moscato Bianco and Triboto), in order to prove the white-to-red shift of the red-skinned mutant. Ampelographic and genetic analysis demonstrated the high similarity between Zibibbo and Zibibbo nero, as well as a comparable aroma profile, characterized mainly by high content of linalool, geranic acid and geraniol (about 70 %). The Zibibbo nero anthocyanin profile was characterized by a high proportion in cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (about 69.23 %). The molecular characterization of VvMybA1 and VvMybA2 locus detected non-functional alleles for white-skinned samples, while also the functional alleles were observed for red-skinned samples. About the VvDXS locus, the aromatic varieties showed the typical pattern of Muscat variety, while Triboto (Zibibbo parent) showed the non-Muscat-like flavour pattern. The colour locus structure of Zibibbo and its putative parents suggested that Zibibbo nero is a berry colour revertant of Zibibbo.