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The aim of this work has been to determine the correlations between sensory analysis, colour and content of main flavanols present in seeds. For this, the flavanic composition of grape seeds with different degrees of maturity was analysed by HPLC-DAD-MS and the obtained results were correlated with CIELab colour parameters, perceived colour (C), hardness of the seed (HS), tannic intensity (TI) and astringency (A). Multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) with the variables showing significant correlations (p<0.05) was also performed. Grape seeds undergo important decreases in the content of catechins and procyanidin oligomers during ripening. Epicatechin-(4-8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (B2G) and (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG) are the flavanolic compounds whose contents decrease most. The changes in the phenolic composition accompany changes in TI, A and HS. The total content of flavanols in the seed is not the only factor affecting these attributes, since samples containing higher contents in flavanols can exhibit less astringency and tannic intensity than others with lower ones. The qualitative profile of the seeds is, therefore, also responsible for the sensations elicited in the mouth. A and HS parameters are more affected by the presence of galloylated dimeric procyanidins in the molecule than TI. CIELab colour parameters of seeds have high correlation coefficients with many flavanolic compounds. ECG was the compound most related to these parameters.

Background and Aims:  Changes in different polyphenol families during grape ripening and vinification were determined in Tannat grapes. This was done to establish a polyphenol profile for Tannat grapes during ripening and for young wines. Methods and Results:  We demonstrated, by high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC‐DAD‐MS) analysis, that the content of flavan‐3‐ols in Tannat seeds was higher than that reported for a large number of other grape varieties analysed. Forty per cent of the total flavan‐3‐ols in seeds were galloylated compounds, whereas the flavan‐3‐ol profile in skins was characterised by the absence of galloylated forms. Prodelphinidins in skins ranged between 30 and 35% with very low values for epigallocatechin. Epicatechin gallate was not detected in Tannat wine and galloylated forms represented a low percentage of total flavan‐3‐ols. Tannat grapes had very high concentrations of anthocyanins in skins with levels increasing during ripening. Eleven phenolic acids were identified in Tannat grape skins and wines, but only gallic and protocatechuic acids were found in the seeds. Conclusions:  Tannat wines were shown to have one of the highest levels of phenolic compounds reported for vinifera grape varieties. The profiles for different polyphenol families present in Tannat grapes (skins and seeds) and wines were determined. Significance of the Study:  The results presented will help to better understand the phenolic winemaking potential of this variety and its functional properties within food chemistry.

A study of the changes of copigmentation phenomenon in wines elaborated from different varieties has been undertaken. Colorimetric measurement of Tempranillo (T) and Graciano (G) monovarietal wines, and two 80:20 blend wines: M, (grape blending T and G, co-maceration) and W (wine blending T and G, co-vinification) was performed by spectrophotometry. Significant differences (p b 0.05) were found among the color of the wines. The Graciano cv. afforded somewhat darker and more colorful wines than the other wines. The color difference values, ΔE* ab suggested that co-vinification (W) led to wines being more similar to T than the co-maceration (M). The ΔE* ab[w− c] between untreated wineswhole wines, wand the wines diluted to eliminate copigmentationcorrected wines, cwas 14.2 CIELAB units in the initial stages of winemaking and 6.7 in the final stages. M had a greater proportion of color due to copigmentation than the monovarietal wines. Evaluation of this parameter confirms the importance of copigmentation process into wine color during the early stages of the vinification. Also, through the full spectrum, quantitative data obtained allow a visual interpretation of the changes involved. In addition, with the aging in bottle, M wines had more stable color and more different color than W wines.

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