Project title
Factors influencing South African white wines during bottle ageing

Project leader
Du Toit, W J

Institution
University of Stellenbosch. Department of Enology and Viticulture

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)
1. Du Toit, W J. 2008. Over ageing of white wines. VinPro Information Day. January. Barrydale, South Africa.
2. McKay, M. 2008. Atypical ageing of white wines. VinPro Information Day. 6 May. Stellenbosch, South Africa.

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