Aroma release of a model wine solution as influenced by the presence of non-volatile components. Effect of commercial tannin extracts, polysaccharides and artificial saliva

The effect of commercial tannin extracts, extracted either from grape seeds or grape skins, a natural wine polysaccharide extract, pectin and arabinogalactan on the headspace release of selected aroma compounds from a “model wine” solution was investigated. Changes in the volatility of the aroma compounds were studied using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with GC/FID. The performance of four commercially available fibre coatings was checked and the 50/30 μm DVB/CAR/PDMS one was proved to be the most effective. A short sampling time (1 min) was used to determine the “true” headspace concentration at equilibrium between the headspace and the sample. In general, the volatility of the studied aroma compounds appeared to be correlated to increasing tannin levels as well as to their origin. The volatility of esters was generally increased upon tannin addition at low concentrations, while at higher addition levels the two extracts exhibited dissimilar behaviour attributed to their different composition. Both arabinogalactan and pectin addition at low concentrations increased the volatility of the studied aroma compounds, while at higher concentrations pectin exhibited a different behaviour by salting out hydrophobic compounds in the vapour phase. In addition, grape skin and seed tannin extracts in admixture with polysaccharides either prevented the macromolecular chains to associate with volatile molecules or led to additional flavour retention depending on the aroma compound and the addition level. Saliva addition enhanced the volatility of the most hydrophobic compounds whereas the hydrophilic compounds were retained into the matrix.

Research highlights► Polysaccharide addition at low concentrations increased aroma compounds' volatility. ► Aroma compounds volatility was affected by increasing tannin levels. ► Aroma release appeared to be correlated to tannin origin. ► Saliva addition enhanced the volatility of hydrophobic compounds.