The dependence of wine sensory properties on vine water status in Vitis vinifera L., cv. Cabernet Sauvignon was tested. Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Napa Valley were subjected to three drip irrigation treatments: minimal irrigation (no irrigation added unless the midday leaf water potential dropped below –1.6 MPa), standard irrigation (32 L water/vine/week), and double irrigation (64 L water/vine/week). The minimal irrigation treatment produced midday leaf water potentials that were significantly lower than the other treatments throughout the season. Mean grape yields varied from 15.0 to 21.7 t/ha. Descriptive analysis conducted on the resulting wines demonstrated significant differences in several sensory attributes as per analysis of variance of the ratings. Analysis of variance and principal component analysis showed that the wines made from the minimal irrigation treatment were significantly higher in red/blackberry aroma, jam/cooked berry aroma, dried fruit/raisin aroma, and fruit by mouth than the wines from the irrigated treatments. The standard irrigation treatment wines were rated significantly higher than the minimal irrigation treatment wines in vegetal aroma, bell pepper aroma, black pepper aroma, and astringency. We conclude that vine water deficits lead to wines with more fruity and less vegetal aromas and flavours than vines with high vine water status.

In almonds, there is no standard method for detecting oxidative changes and little data correlating consumer perception with chemical markers of rancidity. To address this, we measured peroxide values (PV), free fatty acid values (FFAs), conjugated dienes, tocopherols, headspace volatiles, and consumer hedonic response in light roasted (LR) and dark roasted (DR) almonds stored under conditions that promote rancidity development over 12 months. Results demonstrate that, although rancidity develops at different rates in LR and DR almonds, consumer liking was not significantly different between LR and DR almonds. Average hedonic ratings of almonds were found to fall below a designated acceptable score of 5 ("neither like nor dislike") by 6 months of storage. This did not correspond with recommended industry rejection standard of PV < 5 mequiv peroxide/kg oil and FFA < 1.5% oleic. FFAs remain well below <1.5% oleic during storage, indicating that FFAs are not a good marker of rancidity in roasted almonds stored in low humidity environments. Regression of consumer liking to concentration of rancidity indicators revealed that selected headspace volatiles, including heptanal, octanal, nonanal, 2-octenal, 2-heptanone, 2-pentylfuran, hexanal, and pentanal, had a better correlation with liking than did nonvolatile indicators.

A rapid and automated solid phase microextraction (SPME) stable isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine (MIBP) quantification in red wine was developed. Wines with 30% (w/v) NaCl and 2-methoxy-(2)H(3)-3-isobutylpyrazine internal standard were sampled with a 2 cm divinylbenzene/carboxen/poly(dimethylsiloxane) SPME fiber for 30 min at 40 degrees C and analyzed by GC-MS. The method was used to measure MIBP concentrations in Cabernet Sauvignon wines that were produced from six winter pruning treatments over two vintages. MIBP concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with buds per vine. In addition, the MIBP concentration was directly related to sensory vegetal intensity ratings obtained by descriptive analysis.

Monitoring oxidative flavor changes in almonds is possible only if the chemical and sensory profile during roasting and storage is first established. Herein, almonds roasted at two different temperatures (115 and 152 °C) were stored at 39 °C for 0 to 12 months and were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, descriptive analysis, and consumer hedonic analysis. Volatile profiles, descriptive sensory profiles, and consumer hedonic scores were analyzed for predictive relationships. Descriptive attributes involving Roasted and Nutty as well as consumer liking were highest in fresh almonds, while flavors typically associated with oxidative rancidity such as Cardboard, Painty/Solvent, Soapy, and Total Oxidized increased during storage. Compounds most important for predicting rancidity-related attributes were lipid oxidation products, including pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, and octanal. Consumer liking was best predicted by similar compounds to those predicting Clean Nutty flavor, including Maillard reaction products such as 2- and 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylpyrazine, and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine.

This study describes the sensory composition of commercial sweet almond varieties across two California growing seasons. It also discusses the relationship between sensory attributes and chemical and physical measures. Raw, whole almonds (43 samples each of 13 varieties in 2015 and 40 samples each of 10 varieties in 2016) were evaluated for their sensory profiles using descriptive sensory analysis. The 2016 samples were also analyzed for macro-and micronutrients, amygdalin, volatile composition (using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry), and physical properties, and the results were modeled with the sensory data. Independence, Sonora, and Wood Colony were harder, more fracturable, and crunchy, whereas Fritz and Monterey were more moist and chewy, reflecting their moisture contents. Aldrich and Fritz were higher in marzipan/ benzaldehyde flavor, which is related to amygdalin, benzaldehyde, phenylethyl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol. New insights are provided into sweet-almond composition and the sensorial contribution of headspace volatiles. This assists almond growers and processors in describing and marketing almond varieties.