Search Results (150)

Grapes are valued for their high anthocyanin content, but the biological efficacy of these compounds is limited by their low digestive recovery. This study evaluated whether milk caseins improve the digestive recovery of anthocyanins from three red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars. Anthocyanins were profiled by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, total phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity were determined spectrophotometrically, the effect on cell viability was assessed on B16-F10 murine melanoma cells, and the digestive recovery of anthocyanins was measured after standardized static in vitro digestion (INFOGEST protocol) with and without α- or β-casein. Thirteen anthocyanins were detected, with malvidin-3-O-glucoside predominating in all cultivars. Fetească Neagră showed the highest total phenolic content (535.01 ± 38.43 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh weight), flavonoid content (202.52 ± 30.61 mg catechin equivalents/100 g) and antioxidant activity, and its extract reduced melanoma cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, with viability remaining above 50% over the range tested. Total anthocyanin recovery during digestion decreased from 43.29–46.22% after the gastric phase to 8.82–12.25% after the intestinal phase. α-Casein significantly increased these values to 53.48–55.84% and 15.58–24.74%, respectively, in all cultivars. β-Casein had no significant effect in the gastric phase and was effective only in Pinot Noir after the intestinal phase (10.51% to 19.10%). α-Casein thus limited the intestinal degradation of grape anthocyanins, while cultivar composition determined the extent of the effect. Full article

Harvest timing is an important management factor associated with the volatile composition of wine. This one-vintage study investigated selected free aroma-related volatile compounds in Blaufränkisch and Pinot Noir wines produced under standardised microvinification from grapes harvested at early, standard and late maturity-related stages in four commercial vineyards. Free volatile polyfunctional thiols, six-carbon (C₆) alcohols, free monoterpenes, rotundone and free 13-carbon (C₁₃) norisoprenoids were quantified using gas chromatographic methods, and data were evaluated using exploratory univariate and multivariate statistics. Harvest-stage responses were compound-specific and depended on the investigated grape-variety/regional sample sets. The concentration of 1-hexanol generally decreased with advancing harvest stage, whereas 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3-SH) tended to increase across several vineyard origins. An exploratory pooled correlation between 1-hexanol and 3-SH was weakly negative, indicating only a limited association between the two compounds in bottled wines. Free monoterpenes and free C₁₃-norisoprenoids showed non-linear, compound-dependent patterns, while rotundone showed no consistent overall harvest-stage response. Principal component analysis (PCA) separated the wines mainly according to grape-material background, with additional harvest-stage-related structuring. Overall, under the specific conditions of this one-vintage study, operationally defined maturity-related harvest timing was associated with compound- and background-dependent changes in selected free aroma-related volatile compounds in the investigated red wines. Full article

The substantial volume of agrifood processing side streams represents a global sustainability challenge that requires transformation of agricultural residues into high-value molecular components. Grape pomace (GP) is a major winemaking co-product whose chemical diversity remains underutilized due to a lack of high-resolution structural data. This study applies advanced analytical platforms to provide a comprehensive molecular characterization of oligosaccharides (OS) and phenolics in GP from four grape varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Merlot) from California. Results demonstrate that the molecular signature of the material is highly dependent on the variety and its corresponding processing; white wine pomaces exhibited significantly higher residual sugars and generally greater OS diversity compared to red wine pomaces. Using LC-Q-ToF-MS, 39 oligosaccharides were identified, primarily composed of hexoses and pentoses. Characterization of the OS building blocks via LC-QqQ-MS revealed the dominance of glucose and fructose, followed by arabinose and xylose. In parallel, targeted phenolics quantification by UPLC-DAD showed that (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin accounted for up to 50% of quantified phenolics in Chardonnay pomace and 45% in Pinot Noir pomace. This work highlights the molecular intricacies of GP, providing a compositional foundation for its targeted valorization. Full article

This study was designed to demonstrate the effect of Pinot Noir grape pomace extract (GPE) on the quality and shelf-life of frankfurter sausages during 35 days of storage at 4 °C. Due the high polyphenolic compounds of GPE, there is an increasing interest in potentially replacing the artificial additives with natural alternatives generated from waste. The GPE was prepared using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Following ultrasound-assisted extraction, the extracts were filtered through filter paper to remove solid residues. The meat batter was divided into four groups: control (NFC) and three experimental batches with 1%, 2%, and 3% Pinot Noir grape pomace extract (FE1, FE2, FE3). Results showed that increasing GPE significantly raised water and protein levels while reducing fat content and water activity (p < 0.05). Except for a decrease in the b* color value, GPE did not notably affect pH, collagen, or L* and a* color parameters. Although the chemical parameters changed, the collagen content remained unchanged, indicating that GPE does not significantly affect connective tissues. The best effect was shown in the sample FE3, which had the highest GPE addition and exhibited the highest protein content (16.46%) and moisture content (64.99%), as well as the lowest water activity (0.93). Microbiologically, GPE reduced aerobic mesophilic bacteria, with all samples remaining safe for up to 28 days. These findings confirm GPE as a viable ingredient for producing safe, high-quality frankfurter sausages. Full article

(1) Background: Soil nutrient availability in vineyards is shaped by physicochemical and biological processes. However, how baseline edaphic differences are related to soil microbial functional genes and plant elemental composition under biodynamic management remains unclear; (2) Methods: Two biodynamically managed Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyard sites in Tasmania, hereafter referred to as site 1 (S1) and site 2 (S2), were compared at fruit set, veraison, and ripening. Soil physicochemical properties were measured, soil, leaf, and grape berry elemental compositions were assessed by X-ray fluorescence, and soil microbial taxonomic marker genes and soil microbial functional genes were quantified by qPCR. Because the dataset comprised only six site-by-stage composite samples without independent field-level biological replication, multivariate analyses and partial least squares path modeling were used as exploratory tools; (3) Results: The two sites showed distinct baseline soil physicochemical properties. Soil microbial functional genes varied across sites and phenological stages, with several nitrogen (N)-cycling genes showing higher values at S1 and amoA increasing toward ripening at both sites. AMG, defined here as an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF)-related marker, also increased toward ripening and was interpreted separately from the N-cycling genes. Soil elements mainly reflected site-related differences, whereas leaf and berry elements showed clearer variation across phenological stages. The exploratory path model, based on this limited composite dataset, summarized sequential associations among soil physicochemical properties, microbial functional genes, leaf elements, and berry elements, as well as a direct association between soil physicochemical properties and berry elemental composition; (4) Conclusions: These findings describe exploratory soil–microbe–plant association patterns under biodynamic management and should not be interpreted as statistically inferential or causal evidence. Full article

The growing emphasis on sustainability, regional distinctiveness, and spontaneous fermentation in winemaking necessitates a more comprehensive understanding of local yeast populations and their functional mechanisms. In total, 115 indigenous yeast strains were examined for their enzymatic activities of potential vitivinicultural significance. The yeasts were screened for chitinase activity (biocontrol potential), glycosidase activity (terpene release), β-lyases (thiol release), and sulfite reductases (off-flavor formation), followed by quantitative analysis of the selected subsets. Yeasts were further evaluated for inhibition of fungal mycelial growth, VOC-mediated inhibition, and tolerance to commonly applied fungicides. Pre-field selection was refined using the niche overlap index and grapevine leaf disc assay. The results confirmed chitinolytic activity in four species; all strains exhibited hydrolase activities, with H. uvarum 116 displaying the highest cell-associated activity (6.32 U/g), while T. delbrueckii Sut94 showed the highest extracellular activity (1.36 U/g). β-glucosidase and β-lyase activities were widespread, whereas hydrogen sulfide production was infrequent. P. guilliermondii ZIM 624 showed the most comprehensive overall enzymatic profile, together with strong inhibition patterns. A field trial on Pinot cultivars (V. vinifera L.) further evaluated P. guilliermondii ZIM 624 within an integrated disease management approach, with responses being more pronounced in ‘Pinot noir’ than in ‘Pinot gris’. Full article

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor limiting grapevine growth and yield. To elucidate the physiological and molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in grapevine, this study used ‘Carménère’ (Vitis vinifera) and ‘Pinot Noir’ (Vitis vinifera) as experimental materials. Under 200 mmol/L NaCl stress, the physiological response characteristics of the two cultivars were systematically compared, and transcriptome sequencing combined with qRT-PCR analysis was conducted to explore the molecular basis of their differences in salt tolerance. The results showed that salt stress significantly impaired photosynthetic performance and disrupted cellular homeostasis in grapevine; however, the reductions in relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value), maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and photosynthetic performance were significantly smaller in ‘Carménère’ than in ‘Pinot Noir’, indicating greater stability of the photosynthetic apparatus in ‘Carménère’. Meanwhile, ‘Carménère’ maintained higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and higher levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants, effectively reducing reactive oxygen species accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation. In addition, under salt stress, ‘Carménère’ accumulated greater amounts of osmotic adjustment substances and maintained lower Na⁺ content and higher K⁺ content, demonstrating a more efficient capacity for osmotic regulation and ion homeostasis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling, and glutathione metabolism pathways were significantly enriched in ‘Carménère’, with multiple key genes being coordinately upregulated under salt stress. Taken together, these findings indicate that ‘Carménère’ achieves enhanced salt tolerance through a multilayered signaling regulatory network that coordinates physiological defense responses. This study provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the mechanisms of salt tolerance in grapevine and for the molecular breeding of salt-tolerant cultivars. Full article

In the context of strategies for the promotion of a sustainable wine industry, the utilization of production regulations under the European Geographical Indications system is seldom contemplated. Furthermore, when such texts are considered, the focus is typically on rules for viticulture or winemaking, rather than on articles governing the boundaries of a PDO or PGI. The present study examines the manner in which regulatory innovation, when viewed from a strictly geographical perspective, can promote the sustainable growth of the sparkling wine districts of Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese, which are located in the Italian Lombardy region. Through a comparative analysis of Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese, we explore how regulatory frameworks, land-use constraints, and production capacities interact to shape environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Franciacorta’s premium positioning and global reputation are constrained by its limited geographic area, making expansion environmentally and socially challenging. In contrast, Oltrepò Pavese has substantial production potential, particularly for Pinot Noir-based classic-method sparkling wines but suffers from a fragmented identity and weak market recognition. Benchmarking the Prosecco PDO evolution, we propose a sustainability-oriented growth model integrating multiple territories under harmonized rules, termed “Grande Franciacorta”. This framework would enable controlled growth, reduce land pressure in high-density areas, enhance regional competitiveness, and support long-term ecological stewardship. This study outlines managerial implications for producers, emphasizing multi-tier product architectures, dynamic capabilities, and coordinated governance mechanisms. Policy recommendations highlight the need for regulatory frameworks that embed sustainability criteria, optimize land use, and consolidate regional reputation to ensure the long-term viability of high-quality sparkling wine production. Full article

We applied flow cytometry (FCM) to monitor microbial dynamics during grape must fermentation at the winery scale. Experiments were performed on Pinot Noir grapes using three distinct winemaking protocols: inoculation with active dried yeast, Pied-de-Cuve, and spontaneous fermentation. FCM enabled the assessment of yeast viability and metabolic activity, as well as the detection and monitoring of viable bacterial populations during alcoholic fermentation. Amplicon-based DNA sequencing was performed to characterize the associated microbial communities and evaluate protocol-specific effects. Trends identified by amplicon sequencing were partially mirrored by patterns observed in unsupervised FCM analysis. Overall, our results indicate that FCM is a practical tool for monitoring microbial dynamics during fermentation, providing near–real-time information that can support monitoring strategies and risk management in winemaking. Full article

In Chile, Pinot Noir is currently cultivated on 3937 hectares, representing 7.3% of the national vineyard area dedicated to wine production. Two distinct groups of Pinot Noir plant material coexist in commercial vineyards, as officially documented by the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture: historical mass selections introduced during the 19th century (e.g., Valdivieso: Val and Concha y Toro: C&T) and certified French clonal selections (notably 115 and 777) introduced in the 1990s. Given the relevance of phenolic compounds to wine quality—particularly their role in color stability and mouthfeel—wines produced from these selections were analyzed for spectrophotometric traits and individual phenolics using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results revealed variation in parameters associated with total phenolic content and wine composition. However, no consistent differentiation between clonal and massal-derived wines was observed. Overall, the findings suggest that, under commercial winemaking conditions, the genetic origin of the planting material exerts only a limited influence on the chemical composition of Chilean Pinot Noir wines. Full article

Early detection of Flavescence dorée leaf symptoms remains an open question for the research community. This work tries to fill this gap by proposing a methodology exploiting per-pixel data obtained from hyperspectral imaging to produce features suitable for machine learning training. However, since asymptomatic samples are similar to healthy samples, we propose “uncertainty-aware” models that address the probability of the samples being similar, thus producing, as output, an “unclassified” category when the uncertainty between multiple classes is too high. The original dataset of leaves hypercubes was collected in a field of Pinot Noir in northern Italy during 2023 and 2024, for a total of 201 hypercubes equally divided into three classes (“healthy”, “asymptomatic”, “diseased”). Feature predictors were 4 for each of the 10 vegetation indices (population quartiles 25-50-75 and population’s mean), for a total of 40 predictors in total per leaf. Due to the low number of samples, it was not possible to estimate the uncertainty of the input data reliably. Thus, we adopted a double Monte Carlo procedure: First, we generated 30,000 synthetic hypercubes, thus computing the per class variance of each feature predictor. Second, we used this variance (serving as uncertainty of the input data) to generate 60,000 new predictors starting from the data in the test dataset. The trained models were therefore tested on these new data, and their predictions were further examined by a Bayesian test for validation purposes. It is highlighted that the proposed method notably improves recognition of “asymptomatic” samples with respect to the original models. The best model structure is the Decision Tree, achieving a prediction accuracy for “asymptomatic” samples of $75.7\%$ against the original $49.3\%$ for the Ensemble of Bagged Decision Trees (ML4) and of $44.6\%$ against the original $13.2\%$ for the Coarse Decision Tree (ML1). Full article

The increasing demand for red wines, supported by their complex sensory features and rich biochemical composition, has encouraged cultivation in non-traditional viticultural regions. This study investigates the antioxidant potential and volatile composition of three red grape cultivars (Feteasca neagra, Merlot, and Pinot noir) cultivated in the Tarnave Vineyard, Romania, a region historically dedicated to white wines but now increasingly favorable to red varieties due to climate change. Antioxidant capacity, assessed via DPPH, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, identified Feteasca neagra as the most potent (IC₅₀: 115.32 µg/mL; FRAP: 13.45 mmol TE/L). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) profiling identified 61 volatile compounds, with Pinot noir showing the highest concentration (99,018.57 µg/L). Multivariate analysis (ANOVA, PCA) confirmed significant varietal differences and terroir-specific influences on wine composition. Pinot noir was characterized by high levels of higher alcohols, esters, and lactones, yielding a floral and fruity aroma, while Feteasca neagra exhibited intense color, high flavonoid content (notably malvidin-3-glucoside), and vanilla–herbal notes. Merlot presented a balanced sensory profile with significant phenolic acid content. These findings highlight the chemical and sensory potential of the Tarnave Vineyard for premium red wine production. Full article

Climate change has promoted the expansion of viticulture toward southern Chile. However, in regions like La Araucanía, low heat accumulation and high rainfall often limit ripening and phenolic development in Vitis vinifera L. grapes. To address this, the use of reflective ground films has been proposed to enhance light interception by the canopy. This study evaluated the effect of reflective ground film on the technological and phenolic quality of cv. ‘Pinot Noir’ grapes. The trial was conducted using three treatments: (1) control without film, (2) reflective ground film installed at the onset of veraison (FV), and (3) reflective ground film installed at 80% veraison (F80V). A randomized complete block design with four replicates per treatment was used. At harvest, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity, pH, yield, total phenols, and anthocyanins were measured. The FV treatment increased reflected light by up to 60% and significantly enhanced TSS (7.3%), total phenols (7.2%), and anthocyanins (69.3%) compared to the control. No significant differences were observed in acidity, pH, or yield. The results indicate that installing reflective ground film at veraison improves ripening and phenolic accumulation in cold climate vineyards. Full article

Microbial inoculants, as a new type of product that combines economic efficiency with ecological sustainability, play an important role in promoting plant growth and development, increasing crop yields, and enhancing plant resistance to abiotic stress. This study used the wine grape cultivar (Vitis vinifera ‘Pinot Noir’) as experimental material to systematically investigate the effects of microbial inoculants on the soil–leaf–fruit system during the late growth stage of grapes under salt stress conditions (200 mM NaCl). This study analyzed the regulatory effects of microbial inoculants on soil physicochemical properties, leaf physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as fruit yield and quality. The results showed that salt stress significantly inhibited the growth of Pinot Noir grapes. However, the application of microbial inoculants effectively alleviated the negative effects of salt stress. By enhancing the plant’s antioxidant defense capacity and regulating physiological metabolic pathways such as osmotic balance, the inoculants significantly mitigated the inhibitory effect of salt stress on fruit development. Notably, the S+JH treatment group demonstrated particularly outstanding results, with hundred-berry weight, single-bunch weight, and yield per plant increasing significantly by 15.96%, 12.47%, and 28.93%, respectively, compared to the salt stress group (S). Additionally, this treatment also stabilized free amino acid content and suppressed excessive organic acid synthesis. This study provides new technical insights into the application of microbial inoculants for saline-alkali land improvement and stress-resistant cultivation of horticultural crops such as grapes, holding significant practical value for promoting the sustainable development of the grape industry in saline-alkali regions. Full article

The application of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light has emerged as a promising non-thermal alternative to chemical preservatives in winemaking. This study investigates the efficacy of UV-C treatment on the microbial stability of Pinot noir wine during a 12-week storage period at 20 °C, with a focus on the spoilage yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis. Microbiological analysis demonstrated complete and sustained inactivation of 10⁵ CFU/mL Brettanomyces bruxellensis after UV-C treatment with no detectable regrowth during the 12-week storage period. Untreated wine showed 1-log increase in Brettanomyces bruxellensis during the 12-week storage period and significant production of volatile esters and 4-ethylguaiacol. At the same time, a significant reduction in coumaric acid concentration was determined and attributed to Brettanomyces bruxellensis metabolism. UV-C-treated wine showed marginal increases in 4-ethylguaiacol attributed to the residual activity of Brettanomyces bruxellensis after UV-C treatment. Volatile esters did not significantly change during the 12-week storage period. The findings of this study demonstrate that UV-C treatment can ensure the microbiological storage stability of red wine. Full article