Grape phenolic maturity; determination methods and consequences on wine phenolic composition

Identifier:  TDX:466

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX466

Authors:  Kontoudakis, Nikolaos

Abstract:
The objective of this thesis was to study the phenolic maturity of the red grapes, their influence on wine phenolic composition and sensory implications, as well as on the implementation of some winemaking techniques to compensate the lack or excess of grapes maturity. We compared the effectiveness of three methods to determine the phenolic maturity (Glories, ITV, Cromoenos) and the influence of heterogeneity on the phenolic maturity degree of the grapes at the optimum time of harvest. Once we reached those objectives, we studied the possibility of using unripe grapes harvested during cluster thinning to reduce simultaneously both alcohol content and pH. Finally, we studied the influence of pH on the effectiveness of micro-oxygenation. The results show that the correct measurement of phenolic ripeness is useful to adapt winemaking techniques for obtaining well balanced wines.