Emerging technology to develop novel red winemaking practices: An overview

Abstract

Abstract Nowadays, making modifications to traditional practices and/or adopting novel processing technologies is of great interest in order to fulfill consumers expectations towards food products characterized by convenience, variety, adequate shelf-life and caloric content, healthy properties, reasonable cost, and environmental sustainability. In this perspective, the role of emerging technologies in winemaking is addressed towards reduced production time, optimized resources and spaces, extraction of high nutraceutic components through mechanical effects, high energy efficiency, extended shelf-life, lowering SO2 addition and its final concentration. This paper is the outcome of an extensive and comprehensive literature review describing, by an integrated approach, the main characteristics and applications of three emerging technologies (US, MW, and PEF) alternative to the traditional winemaking processes. Their advantages related to the safety aspects of wine, such as the ability to improve nutraceutic and sensorial features are also described. Industrial relevance The food industry is currently interested in a variety of novel production and emerging technologies that may result in economical and quality products. This review shows as numerous researches have strongly demonstrated the great benefits of new emerging technologies, such as PEF, US, and MW, into the oenological industry, either increasing compounds extraction during maceration of the must or accelerating stabilization stage in the wine. Emerging technologies could offer better products to consumers with added value in terms of nutritional or sensorial characteristics, and guarantee higher profit for the industry, even reducing process time and use of natural resources, such as energy, water, and chemicals.