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Sparkling wines produced using the ancestral method, also known as Pét-Nats, are gaining more and more market share these days. However, scientific information on these wines is very scarce. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the physicochemical composition and sensory characteristics of a representative selection of commercial sparkling wines produced using the ancestral and traditional methods. Ancestral sparkling wines were more heterogeneous than traditional sparkling wines, as some of them showed lower internal pressure, higher turbidity, higher color intensity and lower effervescence. These differences are probably due to the fact that the protocol for making sparkling wines using the ancestral method is not as well defined as that for traditional sparkling wines. However, the ancestral method has the advantage of being able to work with riper grapes and a lower sulfur dioxide dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to study the cooperage potential of the oak species Quercus pyrenaica, which is widespread throughout the Iberian Peninsula. A red wine of 2016 vintage was aged in new barrels made from Quercus pyrenaica, Quercus petraea and Quercus alba for 12 months. This process was repeated with a similar red wine from the subsequent vintage using the same barrels in order to compare the performances of the new Q. pyrenaica barrels and Q. pyrenaica barrels that had been used for one year with equivalent Q. petraea and Q. alba barrels. The results indicate that Q. pyrenaica releases levels of β-methyl-γ-octalactone similar to those released by Q. alba and clearly higher than Q. petraea, whereas it releases levels of ellagitannins similar to Q. petraea and clearly higher than Q. alba. These data indicate that Q. pyrenaica is more similar to American oak from an aromatic point of view, since it provides mainly coconut notes, but is more similar to French oak in terms of wine structuration. Moreover, based on the preferences of a trained panel, the wines aged in the Q. pyrenaica barrels were ranked in second position, just behind the wines aged in the Q. petraea barrels and ahead of those aged in the Q. alba barrels. Consequently, Q. pyrenaica seems to have characteristics midway between the two most commonly used oak species for cooperage, confirming its high potential in this regard.

This communication studies some possible strategies to reduce or even to replace sulfur dioxide in winemaking. Specifically, the aim of this work was to study the protective effect against oxidation of a commercial inactivated dry yeast (IDY) with very high level of glutathione, and of a selected non-Saccharomyces yeast, Metschnikowia pulcherrima strain in comparison with sulfur dioxide.

This study investigates the impact of inoculating Torulaspora delbrueckii (Td) strains during the initial phase of carbonic maceration (CM) vinification, aiming to enhance the fermentative process and unique characteristics of CM wines. CM is a winemaking technique where whole bunches (without destemming and crushing) are enclosed in tanks filled with carbon dioxide, inducing intracellular fermentation. This study compares the effects of two Td strains on the MLF performance and sensory characteristics of CM wines using both inoculated and spontaneous MLF strategies. Although general physicochemical parameters remained consistent across conditions, organoleptic attributes showed significant differences due to T. delbrueckii presence. T. delbrueckii introduction during CM resulted in wines with increased anthocyanin content and a particular volatile profile. Isoamyl acetate, a key aroma in CM wines, was notably elevated, especially in the TdP strain. Sensory evaluations also revealed distinctions, with TdV wines displaying more pronounced aromas of red fruit, banana, and grass. Regarding MLF, T. delbrueckii presence notably enhanced performance, particularly in spontaneous MLF cases, accelerating fermentation completion. Inoculating the Oenococcus oeni strain OoVP41 also shortened MLF duration. These findings highlight the potential of Td strains to improve MLF efficiency and sensory attributes in CM wines. Using T. delbrueckii strains strategically enables winemakers to optimize MLF and improve sensory profiles, offering an opportunity to produce higher-quality CM wines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapes of Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta and Merlot at very high maturity level were used for red microvinifications using a conventional Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (Lalvin EC 1118®) and new S. cerevisiae strain generated using adaptive evolution-based strategies (IONYS™WF). All microvinifications were performed by triplicate and at low (16°C) and at high (27°C) temperatures. The results show that all the wines fermented with IONYS™WF, independently of the fermentation temperature and grape cultivar have significant lower ethanol content (average 0.60 %), higher glycerol content (average of 5.6 g/L), higher titratable acidity (average of 1.3 g of tartaric acid/L) and lower pH (average of 0.1 units) than their corresponding controls. It seems therefore that IONYS™WF strain can be a useful tool to mitigate the excess of ethanol and the lack of acidity that unfortunately many wines present nowadays. Moreover, the high glycerol production can also be an interesting contribution inasmuch as this compound increases mouthfeel and smooth astringency.

The effect as copigment of (-)-epicatechin and five different oenological tannins has been measured in a model wine solution containing malvidine-3-monoglucoside. The results show that all oenological tannins exert a positive effect on the color of the malvidine solution, increasing the global absorptivity spectrum and changing the Cielab coordinates. Specifically, supplementation with oenological tannins increase a* and b* and decreases L*. Overall, the effect as copigments of all oenological tannins was higher than that of (−)-epicatechin.