Assessment of the development of browning, antioxidant activity and volatile organic compounds in thermally processed sugar model wines

The Fingerprint of Fortified Wines-From the Sui Generis Production Processes to the Distinctive Aroma

The fortified wines that originated in Mediterranean countries have, in common, a high alcohol content to increase their shelf-life during long journeys to northern Europe and the American continent. Nowadays, the world's better-known wines, including Marsala, Madeira, Port, and Sherry, due to their high alcoholic content, sweet taste, and intense aromatic profile, are designated as dessert wines and sometimes served as aperitifs. This review gives an overview of the traditional vinification process, including the microbiota and autochthonous yeast, as well as the regulatory aspects of the main Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish fortified wines. The winemaking process is essential to defining the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that characterize the aroma of each fortified wine, giving them an organoleptic fingerprint and "terroir" characteristics. The various volatile and odorous compounds found in fortified wines during the oxidative aging are discussed in the last part of this review.

Development and validation of a multiple headspace solid-phase microextraction method for accurate and precise analysis of the aroma of Tawny and White Port wines

An accurate and precise Multiple Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction (MHS-SPME) method was developed and validated for quantifying the volatile composition of White and Tawny Port wines. SPME extraction conditions were optimised using a four-factor three-level Box-Behnken design with three blocks and two replications. Optimal extraction conditions were similar for both Port wines. The method showed good linearity (0.001-50 mg/L), precision (<5%), and detection limits (<1μg/L), well below the olfactory detection threshold. Recoveries higher than 95 % were obtained. Twenty-three aroma compounds were quantified in Tawny and, for the first time, in White Port wines, including five acids, fourteen esters, the most abundant class, and four norisoprenoids, whose levels apparently increased with age. White Port wines had a lower abundance of aroma compounds. Results show that this MHS-SPME method is suitable for analysing volatile composition of White and Tawny Port wines, with reduced costs, manipulation time and eliminating matrix effects.

Impact of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Fermentation in Madeira Wine Chemical Composition

Madeira wine is produced via spontaneous alcoholic fermentation arrested by ethanol addition. The increasing demand of the wine market has led to the need to standardize the winemaking process. This study focuses on identifying the microbiota of indigenous yeasts present during Madeira wine fermentation and then evaluates the impact of selected indigenous non-Saccharomyces as pure starter culture (Hanseniaspora uvarum, Starmerella bacillaris, Pichia terricola, Pichia fermentans, and Pichia kluyveri) in the chemical and phenolic characterization of Madeira wine production. Results showed that the polyphenol content of the wines was influenced by yeast species, with higher levels found in wines produced by Pichia spp. (ranging from 356.85 to 367.68 mg GAE/L in total polyphenols and 50.52 to 51.50 mg/L in total individual polyphenols through HPLC methods). Antioxidant potential was higher in wines produced with Hanseniaspora uvarum (133.60 mg Trolox/L) and Starmerella bacillaris (137.61 mg Trolox/L). Additionally, Starmerella bacillaris stands out due to its sugar consumption during fermentation (the totality of fructose and 43% of glucose) and 15.80 g/L of total organic acids compared to 9.23 g/L (on average) for the other yeasts. This knowledge can be advantageous to standardizing the winemaking process and increasing the bioactive compounds, resulting in the production of high-quality wines.

One-pot tandem synthesis of 5-ethoxymethylfurfural as a potential biofuel

5-Ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) is a potential biofuel, fuel additive and raw material in the chemical and beverage industry.

The Maillard reaction in traditional method sparkling wine

The Maillard reaction between sugars and amino acids, peptides, or proteins generates a myriad of aroma compounds through complex and multi-step reaction pathways. While the Maillard has been primarily studied in the context of thermally processed foods, Maillard-associated products including thiazoles, furans, and pyrazines have been identified in aged sparkling wines, with associated bready, roasted, and caramel aromas. Sparkling wines produced in the bottle-fermented traditional method (Méthode Champenoise) have been the primary focus of studies related to Maillard-associated compounds in sparkling wine, and these wines undergo two sequential fermentations, with the second taking place in the final wine bottle. Due to the low temperature (15 ± 3°C) and low pH (pH 3-4) conditions during production and aging, we conclude that Maillard interactions may not proceed past intermediate stages. Physicochemical factors that affect the Maillard reaction are considered in the context of sparkling wine, particularly related to pH-dependent reaction pathways and existing literature pertaining to low temperature and/or low pH Maillard activity. A focus on the origins and composition of precursor species (amino acids and sugars) in sparkling wines is presented, as well as the potential role of metal ions in accelerating the Maillard reaction. Understanding the contributions of individual physicochemical factors to the Maillard reaction in sparkling wine enables a clearer understanding of reaction pathways and sensory outcomes. Advancements in analytical techniques for monitoring the Maillard reaction are also described, and important areas of future research on this topic are identified.

Unveiling the Evolution of Madeira Wine Key Metabolites: A Three-Year Follow-Up Study

Madeira wine (MW) encompasses an unusual oxidative ageing process that makes it distinctive. Several metabolites have been related to its quality and safety, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural, sotolon, and ethyl carbamate (EC). These compounds were quantified over a three-year period to assess their formation rate according to the ageing procedure used: canteiro vs. estufagem. Estufagem, which includes thermal processing of young MWs, promoted greater HMF, furfural, and sotolon accumulation, especially in sweet wines, in which sotolon contributed significantly to aroma (odour active values up to 17.5). Tinta Negra revealed a higher predisposition to form EC while Malvasia and Sercial were less prone to its formation. The formation of furfural, HMF, and EC strongly correlated with the ageing time. Sotolon had a strong correlation with the ageing time in canteiro (r = 0.79) and a moderate correlation in estufagem (r = 0.65). In both ageing procedures, sotolon, furfural, and HMF formation trends strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.74–0.90). In turn, EC also correlated with all furans (r = 0.51–0.85). Yellow tones (b*) correlated with these metabolites only when wines undergo estufagem. This study provides valuable insights to improve MW quality and safety management procedures.

The Flavor Chemistry of Fortified Wines-A Comprehensive Approach

For centuries, wine has had a fundamental role in the culture and habits of different civilizations. Amongst numerous wine types that involve specific winemaking processes, fortified wines possess an added value and are greatly honored worldwide. This review comprises the description of the most important characteristics of the main worldwide fortified wines-Madeira, Port, Sherry, Muscat, and Vermouth-structured in three parts. The first part briefly describes the chemistry of wine flavor, the origin of typical aroma (primary, secondary and tertiary), and the influencing parameters during the winemaking process. The second part describes some specificities of worldwide fortified wine, highlighting the volatile composition with particular emphasis on aroma compounds. The third part reports the volatile composition of the most important fortified wines, including the principal characteristics, vinification process, the evolution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the aging processes, and the most important odor descriptors. Given the worldwide popularity and the economic relevance of fortified wines, much research should be done to better understand accurately the reactions and mechanisms that occur in different stages of winemaking, mainly during the oxidative and thermal aging.

Impact of Indigenous Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts Isolated from Madeira Island Vineyards on the Formation of Ethyl Carbamate in the Aging of Fortified Wines

The impact of selected non-Saccharomyces yeasts on the occurrence of ethyl carbamate (EC) was evaluated. Hanseniaspora uvarum, Starmerella bacillaris, Pichia terricola, Pichia fermentans and Pichia kluyveri isolated from Madeira Island vineyards were inoculated in Tinta Negra musts. Urea, citrulline (Cit) and arginine (Arg) were quantified when the density of musts attained the levels to obtain sweet (1052 ± 5 g/L) and dry (1022 ± 4 g/L) Madeira wines. The urea concentration varied between 1.3 and 5.3 mg/L, Cit from 10.6 to 15.1 mg/L and Arg between 687 and 959 mg/L. P. terricola and S. bacillaris generated lower levels of urea (<2.5 mg/L), Cit (<11.0 mg/L) and Arg (<845.6 mg/L). The five resulting fortified wines, individually fermented by the selected non-Saccharomyces yeast, were exposed to laboratory-accelerated aging at 70 °C for 1 month. From the studied yeasts, P. terricola and S. bacillaris revealed a lower potential to form EC (<100 µg/L); therefore, both yeasts can be a useful tool for its mitigation in wines.

Oxygen-induced faults in bottled white wine: A review of technological and chemical characteristics

Several changes can take place in wine after blotting. Some of them lead to the desired evolution of wine being more complex, round and pleasant. However, unexpected changes can also occur ascribable to the premature wine oxidation (PremOx) arising when a wine, presumably with aging potential, results oxidized and often undrinkable. The complexity of PremOx, where aromas are also involved, makes difficult to identify all the oxidation products, and to predict its occurrence in wines. Despite most studies have been focused on the effect of time after wine bottling on PremOx as well as pinking phenomena, identification of pinking markers, reliable methods for their detection in wine, and correlations between markers and the wine-bottle-closure system are still unknown. This review aimed to highlight aspects PremOx-related, including wine-bottle-closure system, color change, with particular emphasis on pinking, and aroma decay based on the current knowledge becoming the bases for future perspectives.

Is Sotolon Relevant to the Aroma of Madeira Wine Blends?

Madeira wine (MW) oxidative aging results in the formation of several key aromas. Little is still known about their odor relevance to the aroma of the most commercialized MWs. This report presents an in-depth study of the odor impact of sotolon in MW blends. First, its odor perception was estimated in MWs according to ASTM E679, testing different 3-year-old (3-yo) commercial blends. The odor relevance of sotolon in the aroma of 3-, 5-, and 10-yo commercial blends (89 MWs) was then appraised by calculating its Odor Activity Value (OAV), after determining its content by RP-HPLC-MS/MS. The sotolon odor perception in MW was as low as 23 µg/L, although it was found that little differences in the wine matrix influenced its perception. OAVs varied between 0.1 and 22, increasing with the blend age. Considering that 16% of the OAVs are higher than 10 (mostly ≥ 10-yo), sotolon was found to be a key contributor to the overall aroma MW blends.

Madeira Wine Volatile Profile. A Platform to Establish Madeira Wine Aroma Descriptors

In the present study we aimed to investigate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may potentially be responsible for specific descriptors of Madeira wine providing details about Madeira wine aroma notes at molecular level. Moreover, the wine aroma profile, based on the obtained data, will be a starting point to evaluate the impact of grape variety (Malvasia, Bual, Sercial, Verdelho and Tinta Negra), type (sweet, medium sweet, dry and medium dry), and age (from 3 to 20 years old) on Madeira wine sensorial properties. Firstly, a comprehensive and in-depth Madeira wine volatile profiling was carried out using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS–SPME/GC–qMS). Secondly, a relation among the varietal, fermentative and aging aroma compounds, and their aroma descriptors with the Madeira wine sensorial properties was assessed. A total of 82 VOCs, belonging to different chemical families were identified, namely 21 esters, 13 higher alcohols, ten terpenic compounds, nine fatty acids, seven furanic compounds, seven norisoprenoids, six lactones, four acetals, four volatile phenols and one sulphur compound. From a sensorial point of view, during the aging process the wine lost its freshness and fruitiness odor related to the presence of some varietal and fermentative compounds, whereas other descriptors such as caramel, dried fruits, spicy, toasty and woody, arose during ageing. The Maillard reaction and diffusion from the oak were the most important pathways related with these descriptors. A relationship-based approach was used to explore the impact of grape variety, wine type, and age on Madeira wine sensorial properties based on shared number of VOCs and their odors.

Rapid Determination of Sotolon in Fortified Wines Using a Miniaturized Liquid-Liquid Extraction Followed by LC-MS/MS Analysis

Sotolon (4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one) is a powerful odorant usually pointed out as being responsible not only for the characteristic curry notes of the finest fortified wines but also for the off-flavour notes in prematurely oxidized white wines. Most methods reported in literature for quantifying sotolon in wines are quite laborious and use large volumes of organic solvents. Thus, in the present study, the development of a simple, fast, and environment-friendly method for the quantification of sotolon in fortified wine is herein presented. The proposed method uses a single-step liquid-liquid extraction followed by RP-LC-MS/MS and was optimized using a full factorial design. The method showed good linearity (R ² = 0.9999), intra- and interday precision lower than 10% RSD, recovery of about 95%, and high sensitivity (LOQ of 0.04 μg/L). The method was applied to analyse 44 fortified wines from different styles (from dry to sweet wines) and ages (3-115 years old), and it was found that it covers the concentration range usually found for this compound in this kind of alcoholic beverages, which was found to be within 6.3-810 μg/L. Thus, it can be concluded that this method can be used as an accurate tool for the rapid analysis of sotolon, since the early stages of its formation up to long ageing periods.

The synthesis of two long-chain N-hydroxy amino coumarin compounds and their applications in the analysis of aldehydes

Two long-chain N-substituted coumaryl hydroxylamines were synthesized, which can serve as excellent probes for the analysis of various aldehydes.