Project Number
WW WDT 08-01
Project title
Factors influencing South African white wines during bottle ageing
Project leader
Du Toit, W J
Institution
Stellenbosch University. Department of Viticulture and Oenology
Team members
Du Toit, W J
Project description
Some South African white wines often do not mature for a long time in the bottle. Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc wines often has a passion fruit, guava character, which is thought to originate from sulphur compounds. Glutathione, a sulphur containing compound, has been linked to the freshness and longevity of certain white wine, due to its anti-oxidative properties. There has been some research conducted on the role it plays in the oxidative effect of must, but very little on its role in wine. Factors affecting the concentration of glutathione is thus not clear, as well as its and ascorbic acid’s effect on white wine quality and the glutathione profile of South Africa white wines.
Poster(s)
Du Toit, W J and Piquet, C. 2010. Effect of different transport temperatures on South African white wine composition. Poster presented at the 4th International Congress of the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture. 28-29 July, Cape Town, South Africa.
Presentation(s)
Du Toit, W J. 2008. Over ageing of white wines. Winetech VinPro Information Day, Barrydale, South Africa.
McKay, M. 2008. Atypical ageing of white wines. Winetech VinPro Information Day, 6 May, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Bezuidenhout, M, McKay, M and Du Toit, W J. 2008. Effect of glutathione, ascorbic acid and yeast extract additions on bottled Chenin blanc and Sauvignon blanc wines stored at different storage temperatures. Paper presented at the 31st National Congress of the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture. 11-14 November, Somerset West, South Africa.
Du Toit, W, Coetzee, C, Kritzinger, E, Fracassetti, D and Piquet, C. 2010. Recent research findings on oxygen and preservation of aroma in Sauvignon blanc. Presentation Sauvignon blanc Association Technical Seminar, Durbanville, South Africa.