Contribution of enzyme preparations to the linalool content of wines made from the non-aromatic grapevine variety ‘Furmint’ (Vitis vinifera L.)

Abstract

Aim: Terpene compounds were tentatively identified and quantified in musts and wines made from the non-aromatic grape variety ‘Furmint’ (Vitis vinifera L.) after individual treatments with seven different commercial enzyme preparations.

Methods and results: The identification and quantification of the terpene compounds were carried out with headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The content of terpene compounds in the ‘Furmint’ grape pomace was below detectable level. After enzyme treatments [Lallzyme BETA (Lall), Rohavin VR-C (VRX), Rohapect VR-C (VRC), Rohavin MX (MX), Rohapect D5L (D5L), Endozym - Cultivar A (Cult. A) and β-glucosidase (Glucosidase)], only linalool was detected in semi-fermented musts, the must treated with β-glucosidase exhibiting the statistically highest linalool content (2.25 μg/L). ‘Furmint’ wine produced from must treated with Lall appeared to be the most aromatic (based on sensory analysis) as well as the one with the highest linalool content (2.14 μg/L).

Conclusion: Wines produced from non-aromatic ‘Furmint’ grape pomace treated with different pectolytic enzyme preparations did not generally contain statistically higher levels of terpene compounds.

Significance and impact of the study: This confirms the hypothesis that all enzyme preparations are not appropriate for every types of monovarietal grape pomace, especially regarding the increase of terpenic volatile compound contents.