Influence of Berry Heterogeneity on Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of Grapes and Wines: A Primary Study of the New Winegrape Cultivar Meili (Vitis vinifera L.)

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 14;11(3):e0151276. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151276. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Wine grapes are usually harvested in vineyards when they ripen. However, not all of the berries in a vineyard ripen homogeneously because of different microclimates around the clusters and berries. In this study, the influence of berry heterogeneity on the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of grapes and wines under a continental monsoon climate was evaluated for a new wine grape cultivar Meili (Vitis vinifera L.). The total phenolic, flavonoid, flavanol, and monomeric anthocyanin contents in the skin and wine significantly increased with grape density; however, there was no significant difference in the seeds between the two lower densities. The highest values of DPPH free radical-scavenging activity, cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity, and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity in the skin, seed and wine were detected for the densest berries. The sum of individual phenolic compounds in skin, seed and wine increased with berry density, though no significant difference for skin was observed between the two higher density classes. Hence, the chemical components of Meili grapes and wines were positively associated with the berry density at harvest under the continental monsoon climate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthocyanins / analysis*
  • China
  • Climate
  • Food Analysis*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / analysis*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Vitis / chemistry*
  • Vitis / growth & development
  • Wine / analysis*

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Free Radical Scavengers

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31401819,http://www.nsfc.gov.cn), the National Technology System of Grape Industry (CARS-30-zp-9,http://www.qgqj.com.cn/), the Key Science and Technology Program of Shaanxi Province, China (2014K01-08-01, http://www.sninfo.gov.cn/), and the National Twelfth Five-Year Plan for Science & Technology Support (2012BAD31B07, http://program.most.gov.cn/).