Towards Accelerated Autolysis? Dynamics of Phenolics, Proteins, Amino Acids and Lipids in Response to Novel Treatments and during Ageing of Sparkling Wine

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.

Effect of the cold pre-fermentative maceration and aging on lees times on the phenolic compound profile, antioxidant capacity and color of red sparkling wines

This was the first study evaluating the impact of cold pre-fermentative maceration using refrigeration on the nutraceutical quality and color of red sparkling wines elaborated with the cultivar Syrah, and the evolution of these variables with different autolysis times. The sparkling wines were elaborated using the traditional method with different maceration times (NM, 24 and 72 h) and aging on lees (3 and 18 months of autolysis). In the sequence, it was conducted the characterization of the phenolic compound profile by HPLC-DAD (n = 21), the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays), and the color (CIELab and CIEL*C*h systems). The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AOX) were higher with longer maceration (M72) and autolysis (18 months) times, reaching 453.54 mg L-1 of TPC, and AOX above 2.11 mmol TEAC L-1 by the three in vitro assays conducted. Cis-resveratrol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-β-d-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and petunidin-3-O-glucoside showed a good correlation (r > 0.8; P < 0.05) with the antioxidant capacity and were found in higher concentrations in the sparkling wines elaborated with maceration. In addition, maceration promoted a more intense red (a*) and saturated (C*) color. Thus, the results indicated that cold pre-fermentative maceration and autolysis positively influenced the bioactive potential and the color of the red sparkling wines. This practice should be better explored through the elaboration of this product.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05531-z.