Potentially smoke tainted red wines: volatile phenols and aroma attributes
Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Society for Enology and Viticulture
Abstract
Malodourous compounds, including volatile phenols (VPs) are frequently found at concentrations below their odour thresholds in wine, and may therefore be considered to present no threat to wine quality. Most investigations into smoke taint quantify compounds by chemical/analytical means, or investigate sensory effects of supra- and peri-threshold contamination in model wine. In this project, twelve wines submitted by the South African industry as ‘faulty’ and/or smoke tainted were screened for VPs using GC-MS, and characterized using Descriptive Analysis (DA) by a sensory panel highly trained in smoke taint evaluation. Results were compared statistically to elucidate relationships between chemical and sensory characteristics. It was demonstrated, using the combined dataset, that concentration and composition of VPs in the wines correlated well with certain sensory attributes. Guaiacol was present in most samples at peri- or supra-threshold levels, but did not cause taint unless in combination with other phenols, when it was associated with ‘smoky’, ‘ashy’ and ‘herbaceous’ attributes. Wines with very low levels of VPs showed more sweet-associated aroma characteristics. Wines with supra-threshold levels of VPs showed negative attributes (‘chemical/plastic’, ‘tar/BR’ and ‘medicinal/Elastoplast™’). In some cases, sensory effects (‘earthy/dusty/potato skin’, ‘mouldy/musty’ and ‘cooked veg’) could not be attributed to peri- or supra-threshold concentrations, but seemed to be due to combinations of volatile phenols at subthreshold levels. Associations between negative attributes and historical bushfire events prior to harvest were found for a number of the wines. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding effects of VPs on wine aroma, and escalating awareness and sensitivity to these issues in the wine industry.
Description
CITATION: McKay, M., et al. 2019. Potentially smoke tainted red wines : volatile phenols and aroma attributes. South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 40(2), doi:10.21548/40-2-3270.
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
Keywords
Red wines, Phenols, Wine and wine making
Citation
McKay, M., et al. 2019. Potentially smoke tainted red wines : volatile phenols and aroma attributes. South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 40(2), doi:10.21548/40-2-3270