Pre-fermentation approaches to producing lower alcohol wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz: Implications for wine quality based on chemical and sensory analysis

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2019Source: Food ChemistryAuthor(s): Olaf J. Schelezki, Guillaume Antalick, Katja Šuklje, David W. JefferyAbstractPre-fermentative juice substitution with water or early harvest wine has the potential to produce lower alcohol wines without critically modifying colour or tannin properties and only marginally changing volatile and sensory profiles. Whether this approach is suited to producing lower alcohol wines in the absence of excessive grape ripeness remained to be determined. The current study extends on pre-fermentative approaches to alcohol management under milder grape ripening conditions and builds on an existing study with McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, allowing for a direct comparison under two distinct vintage conditions. Given its importance to Australia, Shiraz was also included and underwent the same consecutive harvest and juice substitution treatments. Cultivar-dependent implications on wine chemical properties were apparent and declines in wine colour and tannin were particularly evident in Shiraz wines, although impacts on overall wine quality and sensory parameters were minor when adjusting musts within the limit of 13.5 °Baumé.

Source: Food Chemistry - October 22, 2019 Category: Food Science Source Type: research