Effects of pre-fermentation enzyme maceration on extraction and colour stability in Pinot Noir wine

Abstract

Effects of pre-fermentation enzyme maceration on anthocyanins, phenolics, colour and colour parameters were investigated in Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera L.) wines made from musts that were macerated for 12 hours at 20°C with a commercial enzyme preparation, Rohapect VR-C (Rohm, Darmstadt, Germany), with and without additions of SO2. Anthocyanins and phenolics were determined by spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. Standard triplicate microvinifications were conducted in glass vessels. Extraction of anthocyanins was not increased by enzyme treatment. However, wines produced by enzyme maceration had increased visible colour intensity, colour density and polymeric pigment formation. By the end of fermentation, enzyme-treated wines had more polymeric pigment, and less monomeric anthocyanins than non-enzyme-treated wines. The wines were bottled, stored at 12°C and sampled at three, six, eight and 18 months after bottling. Over 18 months, differences between the treatments were maintained. The promotion of the formation of polymeric pigments in enzyme-treated wines continued after the wines were bottled, and the greater content of polymeric pigment led to greater colour density in the enzyme-treated wines. The promotion of polymeric pigment formation in wines by macerating enzyme treatment of the must may be due to the breakdown of protective polysaccharide-protein colloids by hemicellulase and protease activities in the enzyme preparation.