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OXYGEN MANAGEMENT RESEARCH UPDATE

CLOSURE OXYGEN TRANSFER RATES PROVEN TO SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCE WINE DEVELOPMENT

Nomacorc, the world’s leading producer of alternative wine closures, has initiated several extensive, multi-year research projects with world-renowned academic institutions studying how oxygen transfer through closures, affects the evolution of wine after bottling. Other factors that affect post-bottling wine development including bottling, storage, and temperature conditions are also being studied. The objective of these projects is to increase the understanding of post-bottling wine development dynamics to ultimately improve the winemaker’s ability to control wine quality. Initial results of the research project currently underway at the Department of Enology Science at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) at Montpellier, confirm that oxygen management and closure selection are critical factors in wine development.

RESEARCH DESIGN:

  • The INRA experiment involves Red and Rosé wines from Grenache grapes.
  • Under the direction of Dr. Veronique Cheynier, researchers are studying different winemaking techniques with varying amounts of exposure to oxygen from must through aging.
  • Oxygen was measured at each crucial step in the winemaking process.
  • The research fully assesses oxygen ingress at bottling: dissolved oxygen + oxygen in the headspace = total package of oxygen (TPO)
  • Researchers monitored the evolution of the TPO over several months.
  • Closures with varying oxygen transfer rates were used and oxygen ingress through the closures was monitored.
  • To accelerate evolution of the wines, the experiment was conducted using 375 ml bottles.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS ADDRESSED:

  • Can research quantify the consumption of oxygen in bottled wine?
  • Are there correlations between oxygen consumed and the evolution of different polyphenolic compounds?
  • Do closure oxygen transfer rates influence wine development?
  • Is the small amount of oxygen ingress through the closure significant when the wine has been treated with a higher amount of oxygen during winemaking?

RESEARCH INITIAL RESULTS:

  • Researchers can monitor the total package of oxygen (TPO) evolution over several months.
  • Measuring complete oxygen mass balance allows calculation of oxygen consumption occurring in bottles.
  • This is believed to be the first time that both oxygen ingress through the closure and oxygen from bottling have been measured
  • Conducted under highly controlled oxygen transfer rate conditions, the research data to date confirms that oxygen transfer rates have a significant influence on wine development.
  • The results of the experiment also revealed that oxygen transfer rates can be the primary influence on wine evolution over time, overriding the influence of other oxygen exposures during winemaking.

RESEARCH NEXT STEPS:

  • The INRA research project will continue for approximately 18 months. Continuation of the project will provide additional data in the following areas:
    1. Will the analytical and sensory attributes of each wine differ even more over time?
    2. What is the optimum OTR for wine development?
  • Final results will be published by INRA following the conclusion of the project.
  • Related research initiatives at AWRI, Australia; UC Davis, California; and Geissenheim; Germany; involving Chardonnay, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Riesling varietals are being conducted concurrently with initial results expected in the coming year. The combination of the results from all of these projects is expected to provide a substantial body of scientific data confirming that OTR is a critical factor in wine development and that appropriate closure selection can improve wine quality, ensuring optimum consumer enjoyment.

About Nomacorc

Nomacorc is the worldwide leader in the growing alternative wine closure category. Dedicated to technological innovation, Nomacorc manufactures its portfolio of products using a patented co-extrusion process. As a result, Nomacorc closures provide consistent, predictable oxygen management and protect against off-flavors due to oxidation, reduction or cork taint. Nomacorc products are available through a vast network of distributors and sales agents on six continents. With more than 400 employees worldwide and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in the United States, Belgium, Austria and China, Nomacorc currently produces closures at the rate of nearly 2 billion annually. For more information, visit nomacorc.com.