Polyphenols extracted from the seeds of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz berries were monitored during berry development. Initially seeds were green, plump and had pliable seed coats, but beginning at veraison the seeds browned in colour, became desiccated and the seed coats hardened. Isolated polyphenols consisted of flavan-3-ol monomers ((+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate) and procyanidins. The procyanidins were maximal in the 3 weeks prior to veraison, increasing little during this period. The amounts of flavan-3-ol monomers increased 5-fold during this same period of time, indicating that the procyanidins and the flavan-3-ol monomers accumulate at different stages. Beginning at veraison, amounts of all polyphenols declined and changed in composition. The decrease in amount followed second-order kinetics. Polyphenol changes after veraison could be explained by oxidation and therefore, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to follow the potential development of radical species in the developing seeds. Spectra consistent with a phenoxyl radical were observed in the developing seeds. The concentration of radicals remained low until veraison but then increased, reaching a maximum three weeks later, declining slowly thereafter. Changes in radical intensity together with other documented changes in the seed are consistent with an oxidative event occurring during fruit ripening. Abbreviations Kennedy et al. Development of seed polyphenols 245Development of seed polyphenols

The aim of this study was to determine how changes in grape composition brought about by artificial shading (sunlight exclusion) influence wine properties including colour, flavonoid composition and sensory attributes. Prior to flowering, bunches of Shiraz grapes were enclosed in boxes designed to eliminate light without altering bunch temperature and humidity. This artificial bunch shading had little effect on berry ripening and accumulation of sugar but at harvest the shaded bunches had smaller berries and higher seed weight, juice pH and titratable acidity. The amount of anthocyanins in the fruit was not changed significantly but anthocyanin composition in the shaded berries was shifted towards dioxygenated anthocyanins (the glucosides of cyanidin and peonidin derivatives). Shaded fruit had increased seed tannins and decreased skin tannins but the largest relative change in flavonoids was a marked decrease in flavonols in the shaded fruit, similar to previous studies. Wines made from shaded fruit had lower wine colour density, total phenolics, anthocyanins and tannins when the wine was bottled and after ageing for up to three years. Analysis of potential flavour compounds following acid hydrolysis indicated that the wines made from shaded fruit had decreased levels of glycosides of β‐damascenone and 1,1,6‐trimethyl‐1,2‐dihydronaphthalene (TDN). Sensory analysis of the wines indicated no significant difference in aroma attributes but the wines made from shaded fruit were rated lower for astringency, fruit flavour and flavour persistence in‐mouth sensory attributes. The results indicate that extreme shading of Shiraz fruit can decrease wine colour, anthocyanins and tannins as well as altering sensory attributes.

No abstract

Volatile sulfur compounds contribute characteristic aromas to foods and beverages and are widely studied, because of their impact on sensory properties. Certain thiols are particularly important to the aromas of roasted coffee, cooked meat, passion fruit, grapefruit, and guava. These same thiols enhance the aroma profiles of different wine styles, imparting pleasant aromas reminiscent of citrus and tropical fruits (due to 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol, 3-mercaptohexyl acetate, 4-mercapto-4-methylpentan-2-one), roasted coffee (2-furfurylthiol), and struck flint (benzyl mercaptan), at nanogram-per-liter levels. In contrast to the usual gas chromatography (GC) approaches, a simple and unique high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for routine analysis of five wine thiols, using 4,4'-dithiodipyridine (DTDP) as a derivatizing agent and polydeuterated internal standards for maximum accuracy and precision. DTDP reacted rapidly with thiols at wine pH and provided stable derivatives, which were enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE) prior to analysis by HPLC-MS/MS. All steps were optimized and the method was validated in different wine matrices, with method performance being comparable to a well-optimized but more cumbersome gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. A range of commercial wines was analyzed with the new method, revealing the distribution of the five thiols in white, red, rosé, and sparkling wine styles.

Background and Aims: The chemical composition and sensory properties of smoke-affected grapes and wine has been the subject of several recent studies. However, while this research has addressed early knowledge gaps surrounding the effect of smoke on grapes and wine, to date, no practical solutions that mitigate the incidence or severity of smoke taint have been reported. The current project therefore aimed to identify winery processing methods that minimise the sensory impact of smoke taint in wine. Methods and Results: Different winemaking techniques were used to process smoke-affected grapes, i.e. cold maceration, the use of different yeast strains for primary fermentation and the use of oak and tannin additives. The extent of smoke taint in the resulting wines was determined by quantification of volatile phenols using GC-MS, followed by descriptive sensory analysis. Conclusions: Applied winemaking practices showed significant impacts on reducing the negative implications of smoke exposure on the chemical composition and sensory properties of wines. Winery processing methods that reduced skin contact time enhanced fruit character, produced wines with reduced 'smoke' aromas and flavours and less apparent taint. Selected yeast strains can be used as a tool for altering smoke-related aromas, flavours, colour and chemical composition of wines. The addition of oak chips and tannin enhanced the complexity of wines thereby reducing the perception of smoke-related attributes. Significance of the Study: These findings will enable winemakers to make more informed decisions when processing smoke-affected grapes, in order to minimise the severity of smoke taint perception in resulting wine.

No abstract

Wine made from grapes exposed to bushfire smoke can exhibit unpleasant smoky, ashy characters, which have been attributed to the presence of smoke-derived volatile phenols, in free or glycosylated forms. Here we report the uptake and glycosylation of volatile phenols by grapes following exposure of Cabernet Sauvignon vines to smoke, and their fate during winemaking. A significant delay was observed in the conversion of volatile phenols to their corresponding glycoconjugates, which suggests sequestration, the presence of intermediates within the glycosylation pathway and/or other volatile phenol storage forms. This finding has implications for industry in terms of detecting smoke-affected grapes following vineyard smoke exposure. The potential for an in-canopy sprinkler system to mitigate the uptake of smoke-derived volatile phenols by grapes, by spraying grapevines with water during smoke exposure, was also evaluated. While “misting” appeared to partially mitigate the uptake of volatile phenols by grapes during grapevine exposure to smoke, it did not readily influence the concentration of volatile phenols or the sensory perception of smoke taint in wine. Commercial sensors were used to monitor the concentration of smoke particulate matter (PM) during grapevine exposure to low and high density smoke. Similar PM profiles were observed, irrespective of smoke density, such that PM concentrations did not reflect the extent of smoke exposure by grapes or risk of taint in wine. The sensors could nevertheless be used to monitor the presence of smoke in vineyards during bushfires, and hence, the need for compositional analysis of grapes to quantify smoke taint marker compounds.

Background and Aims: Wines made from grapes harvested from vineyards exposed to bushfire smoke can exhibit objectionable 'smoky', 'cold ash', 'medicinal' and 'ashy' aroma and flavour characters. This study evaluated a combined reverse osmosis and solid phase adsorption process as a potential amelioration method for the treatment of smoke-tainted wines. Methods and Results: Smoke-tainted wines were treated using either pilot or commercial scale reverse osmosis systems and the chemical composition and sensory properties of wine compared before and after treatment. The concentrations of smoke-derived volatile phenols, including marker compounds, guaiacol and 4-methylguaiacol, decreased significantly with treatment. As a consequence, diminished smoke-related sensory attributes enabled treated wines to be readily differentiated from untreated wines. However, the taint was found to slowly return with time, likely because of hydrolysis of glycoconjugate precursors, which were not removed during the treatment process. Conclusions: Reverse osmosis and solid phase adsorption reduced the concentration of smoked-derived volatile phenols and improved the sensory attributes of smoke-tainted wines. Significance of the Study: This is the first study to evaluate the amelioration of smoke taint in wine using reverse osmosis and solid phase adsorption.