The role of expert judgments in wine quality assessment: the mismatch between chemical, sensorial and extrinsic cues

Purpose The complexity in determining the quality of a credence good like wine increases due to the lack of mandatory ingredient labeling. This has generated a significant information asymmetry in the wine market, leading consumers to delegate their purchase decisions to expert rankings and wine guides. This paper explores whether expert assessments reduce the information asymmetry caused by the absence of ingredient labeling in the wine market.Design/methodology/approach By employing analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a sample of 304 wines included in the Wine Guide of the Spanish Consumers Organization (OCU), this paper assesses the extent to which expert assessments based on sensory evaluations converge with the objective cues provided by laboratory analysis in wine quality evaluations.Findings Results reveal a mismatch between expert assessments and laboratory analyses. Chemical aspects such as SO2 levels or volatile acidity, sensorial factors such as intensity and persistence, and extrinsic variables such as the region of origin or wine type play an important role in the quality ranking of wines.Originality/value These findings call for the inclusion of objective intrinsic cues in expert sensory assessments to provide consumers reliable information about wines and to resolve the apparent dissonances in wine quality assessments.

Fermentation Condition and Quality Evaluation of Pineapple Fruit Wine

This research investigated the impact of the concentration of pineapple juice on the characteristics of pineapple wine during fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. burgundy. Three ratios of fresh pineapple juice to water were mixed to obtain three treatments, which were T1—2:1, T2—1:1, and T3—1:2. The °Brix and pH of all pineapple juice and water ratios were adjusted to 25 and 4, respectively. The results showed that changes in alcohol, pH, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), Total Titratable Acidity (TAA, as citric acid), and Volatile Acidity (VA, as acetic acid) during the 10-day fermentation among three treatments were significantly different. The highest alcohol content was obtained from the 2:1 with values of 10.71% (v/v). The mixed ratio at 1:1 and 1:2 obtained the alcohol value of 9.61 and 8.35% (v/v), respectively. After ten days of fermentation, TSS, pH values, TAA, and VA were in the range of 9.7–13 °Brix, 3.56–3.82, 0.384–0.448, and 0.0013–0.0016, respectively. However, the appearance, aroma, and taste of all ratios were not significantly different. Sweetness and overall liking, wine with pineapple juice/water ratio at 2:1 had the highest score (p ≤ 0.05). The total antioxidant activities determined by DPPH and total phenolic content were 0.91 mmol/L TE and 365.80 mg/L GAE, respectively, as confirmed by FTIR spectral analyses.

Novel Integrated Flow-Based Steam Distillation and Titration System for Determination of Volatile Acidity in Wines

Novel integrated flow-based steam distillation and titration system with spectrophotometric detection was developed for determination of volatile acidity in wines. Using the system, the distillation procedure was carried out in an automatic manner, starting with introducing into a heated steam distillation module a sample and subjecting it to steam distillation. Under selected conditions, all the analyte was transferred to the distillate; therefore, the system did not require calibration. The collected distillate and titrant were introduced into the next monosegments in varying proportions, in accordance with the developed titration procedure, and directed to the detection system to record the titration curve. The titration was stopped after reaching the end point of titration. Procedures for distillation and titration were developed and verified separately by distillation of acetic acid, acetic acid in the presence of tartaric acid as well as acetic acid, tartaric acid, and titratable acidity, with precision (relative standard deviation) and accuracy (relative error) for both procedures lower than 6.9 and 5.6%, respectively. The developed steam distillation and titration systems were used to determine volatile acidity in samples of white and rosé wines separately and as the integrated steam distillation and titration system, both with precision lower than 9.4% and accuracy better than 6.7%.

The comparative analysis of some Hungarian and Moldovan wines: The promise of protected geographical indication

Hungary and Moldova are excelling in unique wines and alcoholic beverages that could qualify for the protected geographical indication (PGI) by emphasizing parameters attributable to the geographical area, production or processing methods. In this study, we have assessed some parameters of wine and brandy samples looking for specificities. The studied samples were of Moldovan and Hungarian Cabernet Sauvignon red wines, Hungarian Furmint white wines, and Moldovan wine distillate/brandy called Divin. The assessed samples were evaluated for: total polyphenol and flavonoid, ethanol, malic, citric, lactic, tartaric acids, reducing sugar, glycerol, carbon dioxide, total and free SO2 content as well as for total acidity, volatile acidity, pH, and wine density. Our results indicate that despite the relatively close geographical vicinity of Hungary and Moldova, the wines produced in the two countries have specific composition, antioxidant activity, and sensorial properties. Thus, the registration of such wines as PGI is clearly justified, and such a label itself does represent a competitive advantage worth promoting.

Chemical Fingerprint of Non-aged Artisanal Sugarcane Spirits Using Kohonen Artificial Neural Network

This study focuses on the determination of the chemical profile of 24 non-aged Brazilian artisanal sugarcane spirits (cachaça) samples through chromatographic quantification and chemometric treatment via principal component analysis (PCA) and Kohonen’s neural network. In total, forty-seven (47) chemical compounds were identified in the samples of non-aged artisanal cachaça, in addition to determining alcohol content, volatile acidity, and copper. For the PCA of the chemical compounds’ profile, it could be observed that the samples were grouped into seven groups. On the other hand, the variables’ bearings were grouped together, making it difficult to separate the components in relation to the sample groups and reducing the chances of obtaining all the necessary information. However, by using a Kohonen’s neural network, samples were grouped into eight groups. This tool proved to be more accurate in the groups’ formation. Among the chemical classes of the compounds observed, esters stood out, followed by alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenol, and copper. The abundance of esters in these samples may suggest that these compounds would be part of the regional standard for cachaças produced in the region of Salinas, Minas Gerais.

Production and characterization of acetic fermentation with different fruit peels

Acetic fermentation or vinegar is the product obtained from fermented alcoholic wort, cereals or hydroalcoholic mixture with a minimum volatile acidity of 4g/100m.L-1. The present study produced, characterized and correlated the total dry extract with the density of the acetic fermented produced from the pineapple and apple peels. The fermentation process used pineapple and apple peel with culture medium, 10% hydroalcoholic solution, room temperature between 28 ± 2°C and irrigation 4 (four) times a day, without aeration for 12 days. Physico-chemical determinations of volatile acidity, density, dry extract, pH and alcohol content at 20°C were performed. The ANOVA variance analysis and the 5% Tukey test identified a difference between the analyzed acetic fermented. The acetic fermentations analyzed showed results within the established by Brazilian legislation. The relationship between the physical-chemical variables and the acetic fermented was studied by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). It was obtained that, with 5 components, more than 97.9% of the variability of the data were explained. There was a significant correlation between dry extract and vinegar density. The acetic fermented produced have similar physical-chemical characteristics to those produced industrially, which makes them suitable for consumption as commercial vinegars.

Effect of Bio-Additives and Kinetic Studies of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae on High Purity Alcohol Production Suitable for Medicinal Use

Alcohol is an indispensable ingredient in medicinal preparations like cough syrup, antiseptic, antidote, disinfectant, etc. In the present study, the alcohol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and its growth kinetics were investigated in presence of the following bio-additives: Liquozyromol (plant extract), Avena sativa (oats), and Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram). The yeast’s specific growth rate and generation time for fermentation during alcohol production were determined to be 1.35 h-1 and 1.57 h-1 respectively. The Optimal concentration of Avena sativa (oats), Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram), and Liquozyromol for alcohol production were determined to be 8.6 g/l, 8.9 g/l, and 9.8 g/l respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the introduction of Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram) and Avena sativa (oats) had a minuscule impact on the alcohol quantity produced, while it increased considerably in presence of Liquozyromol. Also, the rate of fermentation decreased and volatile acidity was affected in presence of additives. Thus, the use of Liquozyromol as an additive greatly reduces the effect of secondary metabolites thereby increasing the quantity and the quantity of ethanol produced.

Impact of wine vessels on the properties of rose wine made from Saperavi

Viticulture - winemaking is one of the oldest activities of mankind, which dates back centuries. In Georgia there are such grape varieties and such traditional methods of winemaking that are not found in other countries. For example, Saperavi grape and production of Qvevri (pitcher) wine. Saperavi is an ancient Georgian grape variety on which Georgian winemaking is based today.We have established experimentally the possibility of making high quality rose wine with various characteristics from Saperavi grown in Kakheti region using different wine vessels, such as stainless steel reservoir, oak barrel, traditional Georgian Qvevri (pitcher), under production conditions. The physical, chemical and organoleptic properties of various wines that provide the individuality of the wine have been determined.The main quantities characteristic to rose wine differ from one another, which is obviously due to the vessel in which the wine was made. For example, the wine, fermented and aged in the barrel has the most density because the tannins from the oak barrel increase it; the rose wine, made in the reservoir, has the lowest extract; in the case of Qvevri (pitcher) wine, the mass of dry matter is increased at the expense of the constituent substances of the clay of the pitcher; the wine made in the pitcher has the lowest titratable acidity because the wine acids go into the reaction with the mineral substances of the pitcher clay and the overall acidity decreases; the barrel and Qvevri rose wine has slightly higher volatile acidity. Here the reason for that should also be found in the porosity of the barrel and the pitcher.The various wines produced differ from one another organoleptically as well, which shows the role of the vessel in forming the taste properties of the wine. The different vessels used change all the components of the sensorics.All three wines are interesting in their own way, but the rose Qvevri wine is special for the taste of the traditional Georgian pitcher is best combined with the rose wine made with European technology and gentle processing.

Quality, Nutritional, Volatile and Sensory Profiles and Consumer Acceptance of Fondillón, a Sustainable European Protected Wine

Sustainable irrigation strategies in Southeast Spain (one of the most arid regions in Europe) are essential to fight against desertification and climate change mitigation. In this way, Fondillón production is based on rain-based vineyards, over-ripe Monastrell grapes, and non-alcohol fortification. Thus, Fondillón is a naturally sweet red wine, protected within the Alicante Denomination of Origin, recognized by the European Union in its E-bachus database. The study aim was to evaluate the effect of the aging (solera factor) on Fondillón: (i) basic enological parameters (e.g., total, and volatile acidity), (ii) chromatic characteristics, (iii) antioxidant activity (ABTS•+, FRAP and DPPH•), (iv) total contents of condensed tannins and anthocyanins, (v) volatile composition, (vi) sensory profile, and (vii) overall liking. Experimental data proved that the wine (1960 solera) with the highest total contents of condensed tannins and anthocyanins and total antioxidant activity was the most liked by Spanish consumers. Experimental results clearly established a positive relationship among Fondillón chemical composition, its antioxidant activity, and overall consumer liking. Exceptional harvest with grapes having extremely high antioxidant power (e.g., 1960 solera) will result, even more than 50 years later, in high quality wines with high consumer acceptance and a high monetary worth.

Changes in physicochemical characteristics, polyphenolics, and amino acids of wax apple cider vinegar during prolonged storage

Several quality attributes of wax apple cider vinegar (WACV) were determined every 30 days for six months at ambient temperature. Acetic acid fermentation significantly increased the acetic acid content in WACV. The light-ness and yellowness gradually decreased, whereas redness increased during storage. Density, viscosity, and pH of WACV continuously retarded, and total acidity, volatile acidity, electrical conductivity, and total nitrogen content increased during storage. Phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant potentials of WACV were affected by storage. Various amino acids and volatile compounds were observed in WACV during storage. Throughout the storage period, the microbial growth in WACV was considerably low.