From Soil to Grape and Wine: Geographical Variations in Elemental Profiles in Different Chinese Regions

Elemental profiles are frequently applied to identify the geographical origin and authenticity of food products, to guarantee quality. The concentrations of fifteen major, minor, and trace elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Li, Cd, Cs, and Ba) were determined in soils, “Meili” grapes, and wines from six regions in China by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The elemental concentrations in these samples, according to the geographical origins, were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan’s multiple comparisons. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) from soil to grape and the transfer factor (TF) from grape to wine were calculated. Mg, K, Ca, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Ba presented higher BCF values than the other seven elements. The TF values of six elements (Na, Mg, K, Zn, Li, and Cs) were found to be greater than one. Moreover, the correlation of element content between the pairs of soil–grape, grape–wine, and bioconcentration factor (BCF)–environmental factor were analyzed. Significant correspondences among soil, grape, and wine were observed for K and Li. Two elements (Sr and Li) showed significant correlations between BCF and environmental factor (relative humidity, temperature, and latitude). A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with three variables (K, Sr, Li) revealed a high accuracy (>90%) to determine the geographical origin for different Chinese regions.

Increase in Fruity Ester Production during Spine Grape Wine Fermentation by Goal-Directed Amino Acid Supplementation

The aim of this work was to enhance the levels of fruity esters in spine grape (Vitis davidii Foёx) wine by goal-directed amino acid supplementation during fermentation. HPLC and GC-MS monitored the amino acids and fruity esters, respectively, during alcoholic fermentation of spine grape and Cabernet Sauvignon grape. HPLC was also used to determine the extracellular metabolites and precursors involved in the synthesis of fruity esters. Alanine, phenylalanine, and isoleucine levels in spine grape were less than those in Cabernet Sauvignon. Pearson correlation between amino acid profile and fruity ester content in the two systems indicated that deficiencies in alanine, phenylalanine, and isoleucine levels might have limited fruity ester production in spine grape wine. Supplementation of these three amino acids based on their levels in Cabernet Sauvignon significantly increased fruity ester content in spine grape wine. Interestingly, goal-directed amino acid supplementation might have led to changes in the distribution of carbon fluxes, which contributed to the increase in fruity ester production.

Grape Infusions: Between Nutraceutical and Green Chemistry

By tradition, herbal infusions have been mainly consumed for their pleasant taste, but, nowadays, the consumer, along with the pleasantness of drinking a savory beverage, also looks for their health benefits. Grapes and grape/wine by-products are a rich source of health-promoting compounds, presenting great potential for the development of new beverages. Moreover, grape-infusion preparation is no more than a sustainable or green way of extracting polyphenols and other nutraceutical compounds from grapes and grape leaves. In this review, we summarize the benefits of drinking grape infusions and discuss the sustainable processes of extracting potential nutraceutical compounds from grapes and grape by-products, which are often considered fermentation waste and are discarded to the environment without proper treatment.

Sparkling ′′wine′′ production tests from extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flowers

The red calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. are widely used in the production of soft drinks in Africa. The anthocyanin pigments of the calyx give a red color to the drinks which are very appreciated by populations. The aim of this study was to develop a sparkling drink with characteristics similar to those of red wine. The production tests were carried out with the calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. commonly called "Bissap" and three types of fermentation: one based on palm wine lees, another by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a third by endogenous fermentation or control wine. Physicochemical analyzes showed that the wine obtained from palm wine lees at 17th days had a pH of 2.77 ± 0.07, an acidity of 116.99 ± 13.03 (mmol H+ / L), a degree Brix of 7.5 ± 0.25%, an alcohol degree of 7.05 ± 0.24% and energy value of 74.27 ± 2.77 (Kcal / 100 ml). Sensorial tests revealed that the “bissap wine” obtained with fermentation based on palm wine lees had organoleptic characteristics very similar to grape wine. Les calices rouges d’Hibiscus sabdariffa L. sont beaucoup utilisés dans la production de boisson rafraîchissante en Afrique. Les pigments anthocyaniques des calices confèrent une couleur rouge aux boissons très appréciées par les populations. L’objectif de cette étude était de mettre au point une boisson pétillante qui a des caractéristiques similaires au vin rouge. Les essais de production ont été réalisés en utilisant les calices d’Hibiscus sabdariffa L. communément appelées « Bissap » et trois types de fermentation dont une à base de la lie du vin de palme, une seconde à partir de Saccharomyces cerevisiae et une troisième par une fermentation endogène ou témoin. Les analyses physico-chimiques ont montré que le vin obtenu à partir de la lie du vin de palme au 17ème jour a un pH de 2,77 ± 0,07, une acidité de 116,99 ± 13,03 (mmol H+/L), un degré brix de 7,5 ± 0,25 %, un degré d’alcool de 7,05 ± 0,24 % et une valeur énergétique de 74,27 ± 2,77 (Kcal/100 ml). Les tests de dégustation ont révélé que le « vin au bissap » obtenu avec le ferment de la lie de vin de palme a des caractéristiques organoleptiques très proches des vins rouges du commerce.

Grape wine in ancient and early Medieval India: The view from the centre

Grape wine is not mentioned in our earliest texts from South Asia, the Vedas nor in the epics, yet these texts contain evidence of an established drinking culture based on grain and sugarcane liquors. When did grapes and wine appear in the Indic cultural world and how were they received? Previous scholarship has focused on peripheral, Hellenised, wine-producing regions, like Gandhāra, or on finds of Roman amphorae, thus emphasising possible influences on Indic drinking culture from regions to the West. This article explores wine from the Indian perspective. When did grapes and wine first appear in the Indic textual record and in what contexts? Why did people in India choose to import grape wine when they already had plenty of local drinks? Far from being passively Hellenised, Indic drinking cultures consciously adopted wine-as-foreign. The article considers how this prestigious, somewhat new drink was assigned a place in Indian drinking culture, as well as briefly exploring representations of wine from a grape-producing region, Kashmir. By the first millennium CE, wine was apparently the most prestigious liquor in South Asia, joining grain drinks, sugarcane drinks and betel to constitute a culture of recreational intoxicants that is distinctive in global drug history.