Centro de Química Estrutural

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Influence of the storage in bottle on the antioxidant activities and related chemical characteristics of wine spirits aged with chestnut staves and micro-oxygenation

Publication . Alves, Sheila Cristina Oliveira; Lourenço, Sílvia; Anjos, Ofélia; Fernandes, Tiago; Caldeira, Ilda; Catarino, Sofia; Canas, Sara

Different ageing technology of wine spirits (WSs) has been investigated, but little has been published on the chemical evolution of aged WS during storage in bottle. The purpose of this study was to examine how 12 months of storage in bottle affected the evolution of antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays), total phenolic index (TPI) and low molecular weight (LMW) compounds content of the WSs aged through alternative technology using three micro-oxygenation levels (MOX) and nitrogen control (N). Results revealed the ability of phenolic compounds from aged WSs to scavenge free radicals during storage in bottle. Among the in vitro antioxidant-activity methods, FRAP assay was the more effective to differentiate WSs according to the ageing technology. Concerning the overall influence of storage in bottle on antioxidant activity, and TPI and LMW compounds content, the higher results were obtained for the MOX modalities (O15, O30 and O60), which showed a similar evolution. In summary, this study provides innovative information, demonstrating that the differences between the aged WSs imparted throughout the ageing process (resulting from different MOX levels) were mostly retained, and only slight modifications during storage in bottle were found.

2021-12-21Journal article

Open access

Identification of gallotannins and ellagitannins in aged wine spirits: a new perspective using alternative ageing technology and high-resolution mass spectrometry

Publication . Fernandes, Tiago; Antunes, Alexandra M. M.; Caldeira, Ilda; Anjos, Ofélia; Freitas, Victor de; Fargeton, Laurent; Boissier, Benjamin; Catarino, Sofia; Canas, Sara

This research was focused on identifying gallotannins and ellagitannins degradation pathways to better understand their behavior in complex media such as wine spirits (WS). A WS was aged with chestnut wood staves with three levels of micro-oxygenation, nitrogen, and using wooden barrels. Gallotannins and ellagitannins were identified by LC-ESI-HRMS/MS using a Q-TOF in samples collected at 8, 21, 60, 180, 270, and 365 days of ageing, allowed comparing their relative abundances according to the ageing technology. It was established for the first time, the importance of oxygen in gallotannins and ellagitannins formation/degradation pathways in WS and shading light into the explanation for the steady increase of gallic and ellagic acid contents on WS during ageing. The results also highlighted the presence of penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, tri- O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, di-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, and mono-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, 2,3-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl- β-D-glucose, pedunculagin, isomers vescalagin/castalagin and two products stemming from ethanol-promoted oxidation of castalagin/vescalagin and vescalin/castalin, in the composition WS aged with chestnut wood.

2022-01-30Journal article

Open access

Shedding light on metals release from chestnut wood to wine spirit using ICP-MS

Publication . Catarino, Sofia; Thanasi, Vasiliki; Morin, Gael; Anjos, Ofélia; Fernandes, Tiago; Caldeira, Ilda; Fargeton, Laurent; Boissier, Benjamin; Canas, Sara

Possible effects caused by mineral elements during wine spirit ageing are diverse. In this study, the evolution of the mineral composition of wine spirit during ageing with chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood was investigated. A wine distillate was aged in 250 L wooden barrels (traditional ageing) and in 50 L glass demijohns with wood staves and micro-oxygenation (alternative ageing). Sampling was performed after 21, 60, 180, 270, and 365 days of ageing. The elemental composition of the wine spirits, including alkaline, alkaline earth metals, and heavy metals, was assessed by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS). For most of the elements, no significant differences between wine spirits from distinct ageing modalities were observed. Ageing time had significant effect on most of them, with different trends and distinct magnitude of changes, depending on each specific element. The concentrations of the mineral elements found in the wine spirits were very low, especially those of heavy metals, which is quite positive in terms of quality and food safety. Novel information on metals released from chestnut wood to wine spirits confirms its appropriateness for ageing this beverage.

2022-11-12Journal article

Open access

PLS-R calibration models for wine spirit volatile phenols prediction by near-infrared spectroscopy

Publication . Anjos, Ofélia; Caldeira, Ilda; Fernandes, Tiago; Pedro, Soraia; Vitória, Cláudia; Alves, Sheila Cristina Oliveira; Catarino, Sofia; Canas, Sara

Near-infrared spectroscopic (NIR) technique was used, for the first time, to predict volatile phenols content, namely guaiacol, 4-methyl-guaiacol, eugenol, syringol, 4-methyl-syringol and 4-allyl-syringol, of aged wine spirits (AWS). This study aimed to develop calibration models for the volatile phenol’s quantification in AWS, by NIR, faster and without sample preparation. Partial least square regression (PLS-R) models were developed with NIR spectra in the near-IR region (12,500–4000 cm−1) and those obtained from GC-FID quantification after liquid-liquid extraction. In the PLS-R developed method, cross-validation with 50% of the samples along a validation test set with 50% of the remaining samples. The final calibration was performed with 100% of the data. PLS-R models with a good accuracy were obtained for guaiacol (r2 = 96.34; RPD = 5.23), 4-methyl-guaiacol (r2 = 96.1; RPD = 5.07), eugenol (r2 = 96.06; RPD = 5.04), syringol (r2 = 97.32; RPD = 6.11), 4-methyl-syringol (r2 = 95.79; RPD = 4.88) and 4-allyl-syringol (r2 = 95.97; RPD = 4.98). These results reveal that NIR is a valuable technique for the quality control of wine spirits and to predict the volatile phenols content, which contributes to the sensory quality of the spirit beverages.

2021-12-31Journal article

Open access

Micro-oxygenation level as a key to explain the variation in the colour and chemical composition of wine spirits aged with chestnut wood staves

Publication . Canas, Sara; Anjos, Ofélia; Caldeira, Ilda; Fernandes, Tiago; Santos, Nádia; Lourenço, Sílvia; Soares, Joana Granja; Fargeton, Laurent; Boissier, Benjamin; Catarino, Sofia

Chemistry and to select the most suitable technological option towards quality and sustainability. Following two articles on the same trial, this work focused on colour, total phenolic index (TPI) and basic chemical characteristics of a wine spirit aged in 50 L demijohns with chestnut wood staves together with three micro-oxygenation (MOX) levels. Chromatic characteristics and TPI were monitored over time (8–365 days) while sensory colour, alcoholic strength, acidity, pH and dry extract were assessed at the end of ageing. Results showed that stronger oxygenation promoted significantly faster colour evolution (lower lightness, higher chroma, red, yellow and brown hues) and higher TPI than mild and intermediate oxygenation until 60 days, probably by favouring the leaching of outer wood layers and extraction/degradation of tannins. No significant differences were found between these ageing modalities at 365 days. Outcomes suggest that the stronger MOX is the most suitable modality in terms of quality and sustainability. Significant differences between wine spirits resulting from MOX and control modality (slower colour evolution, lower TPI and dry extract) confirms the oxygen pivotal role in wine spirit’s ageing, particularly in the colour evolution.

2022Journal article

Open access