Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Wine and wine making Statistics'

Includes bibliographical references. Addresses the question of what an economic model of the world wine market suggests will happen to wine production, consumption, trade and prices in various regions in the early 21st century. A subsidiary issue is what difference would global or European regional wine liberalisation make to that outlook, according to such a model. Accompanying CD-ROM comprises spreadsheet written by Nick Berger, November 2000, for the Windows and Office97 versions of Excel; a seven region world wine model (WWM7) - base version projecting the world wine market 1996-2005 as a non-linear Armington model. System requirements for accompanying CD-ROM: IBM compatible computer ; Microsoft Excel 97 or later.

Includes list of Supplementary refereed publications relating to thesis; and of Refereed conference papers, as appendix 1 Includes bibliograhical references (p. 316-343) Focusses particularly on the purchase of wine and the factors that influence consumer choice and the values that drive the decision process across different consumption occasions. The effectiveness of occasion as part of the theoretical model of means-end chain analysis is investigated, as well as the feasibility of occasion in the Olsen and Thach (2001) conceptual framework of consumer behavior relating to wine.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Chenin blanc wine is of economic importance to South Africa and a range of diverse dry and semi-dry wines are locally produced in this genre. Currently, the use of three distinctly different style names, each aimed at providing consumers with information about the flavour of the wines, is encouraged by the South African (SA) wine industry. The styles are fresh and fruity (FF), rich and ripe unwooded (RRUW) and rich and ripe wooded (RRW). Feedback from retail sectors over the past few years, however, repeatedly suggested that the style names are perceived as confusing by SA consumers. This master study was undertaken to re-evaluate the FF, RRUW and RRW style classification, based on both the volatile fermentation-derived aroma composition and the sensory attributes of a set of wines containing all the styles under investigation. For the purposes of chemical profiling, a set of 105 commercial Chenin blanc wines, selected to be representative of these three styles and originating from the major SA wine producing areas, were analysed by Gas Chromatography (GC) to quantify fermentation-derived volatile aroma compounds in the wines. ANOVA performed on the chemical data showed that 29 compounds represent significant differences between at least two of the 3 styles (FF, RRUW and RRW). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile compounds showed a large degree differentiation between FF and RRW wine styles, however, RRUW wine styles overlapped with the other two styles. Considering vintage effects, ANOVA indicated no significant differences within FF (vintages 2009 and 2010) and RRW (vintages 2008 and 2009) styles, whereas only 2 esters and 4 terpenes showed significant differences between the three wine producing regions investigated for this purpose, Paarl/Wellington, Breede River and Stellenbosch. Volatile aroma compounds generated for Chenin blanc were included in the Winetech database consisting of the most important cultivars of South Africa. Combining the data for the volatiles for Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc from this database and the data for Chenin blanc obtained in this study, a PCA indicated a clear separation between Chenin blanc and the other two white cultivars. Sensory evaluation of the style classification was done by two separate sensory tests. Firstly, a sorting task was performed by wine industry experts to categorise 21 Chenin blanc wines (FF, RRUW and RRW) based on their similarity. The results showed a differentiation between FF and RRW styles, however, RRUW was mostly classified together with FF wines. This indicated a possible continuum between the three styles, as opposed to three distinct different categories, currently suggested by the style names. The second sensory analysis test, Descriptive Sensory Analysis (DSA), was performed by a trained panel to generate sensory profiles for 42 wines. ANOVA of the flavour attribute intensities between different styles once again showed significant differences between FF and RRW, with RRUW wines forming a continuum between the FF and RRW styles. These results provide valuable information that could be used by the wine industry for labelling purposes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Chenin blanc is van ekonomiese belang vir Suid Afrika en ‘n wye reeks droë en semi-droë wyne word plaaslik geproduseer in hierdie kategorie. Tans word die gebruik van drie duidelike verskillende stylbenamings, elkeen daarop gemik om aan die verbruiker inligting te verskaf oor die geur van die wyn, deur die Suid Afrikaanse (SA) wynindustrie aangemoedig. Die style is vars en vrugtig, ryk en ryp ongehout en ryk en ryp gehout. Terugvoer van die handelssektor oor die afgelope aantal jare, het daarop gedui dat die stylbenamings tot verwarring onder SA verbruikers lei. Hierdie meestersstudie is onderneem om die stylklassifikasie, vars en vrugtig, ryk en ryp ongehout en ryk en ryp gehout, te her-evalueer op grond van die vlugtige aroma komponente wat tydens die fermentasie proses gevorm word, asook die sensoriese eienskappe van ‘n verteenwoordigende stel wyne van elk van die style wat ondersoek is. Vir die doel van die chemiese profilering, is ‘n stel van 105 kommersiële wyne, wat geselekteer is om verteenwoordigend te wees van die drie style ondersoek en ook afkomstig is van die vernaamste SA wynproduserende streke, gebruik. Die wyne is met behulp van gas chromatografie ontleed om die vlugtige komponente wat van die fermentasie proses afkomstig is, te kwantifiseer. Die analise van variansie, het getoon dat 29 komponente statisties beduidend verskil het tussen die drie style. Hoofkomponent analise van die vlugtige komponente, het getoon dat die vars en vrugtige wyne en ryk en ryp gehoute wyne, duidelik onderskeibaar was van mekaar op grond van die vlugtige data, maar die ryk en ryp ongehoute wyne het met die ander twee style oorvleuel. In terme van oesjaar effekte, was daar geen beduidende verskille in die aroma profiele van die vars en vrugtige styl (oesjare 2009 en 2010) en ryk en ryp ongehoute styl (oesjare 2008 en 2009) nie, terwyl die konsentrasie van slegs twee esters en 4 terpene statisties beduidend verskil het tussen die wynproduserende streke Paarl/Wellington, Breederivier en Stellenbosch. Resultate van die gekwantifiseerde vlugtige komponente is in die databasis van Winetech gevoeg, waar die konsentrasies van soortgelyke komponente van die vernaamste SA wynkultivars reeds vervat is. Hoofkomponent analises van die gekombineerde resultate vir Chenin blanc, Chardonnay en Sauvignon blanc wyne, het getoon dat daar ‘n duidelike verkil tussen Chenin blanc en die ander twee wit wynkultivars was. Die sensoriese evaluerings is uitgevoer deur van twee verskillende metodes gebruik te maak. Eerstens is 21 wyne (met al drie style verteenwoordig) deur wynindustrie eksperts gesorteer op grond van die waargenome eendersheid van die onderskeie wyne en die resultate is grafies geprojekteer. Die resultate het getoon dat daar ‘n duidelike verskil waargeneem is deur die assessors tussen die vars en vrugtige styl en ryk en ryp gehoute styl. Die ryk en ryp ongehoute wyne het in die analises meer met die vars en vrugtige style geassosieer, as die ryk en ryp gehoute wyne. Die tweede sensoriese metode is uitgevoer deur sensoriese paneel wat vir die doel van hierdie studie opgelei is om die geur eienskappe van 42 wyne (al drie style verteenwoordig) te profileer. Analise van statistiese beduidende verskille tussen die voorkoms van die geurkomponente en hul intensiteite vir elke styl, het weereens aangedui dat daar ‘n kontinuum bestaan tussen die style. Hierdie resultate kan van waarde vir die wynindustrie wees in besluite rakende etikettering.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Key research areas in modern enology are related to the production of wine of consistent quality, as well as to the improvement of existing wine quality through the enhancement of the sensory properties of wine. The formation of glycerol during alcoholic fermentation is highly relevant to both these issues. Since the early years of the zo" century, glycerol has been positively associated with the quality of wine and it is thought to impart important mouth-feel sensations such as "viscosity", "smoothness" and "body". In general, it is considered that glycerol concentrations higher than those normally found in wine, can contribute towards the improvement of wine quality. It has also been suggested that increased concentrations of glycerol can enhance the aroma of wine. On the basis of these perceptions, several strategies have been developed to favour the production of glycerol during the fermentation process and over a period of years, a large volume of data has been collected that relates to various aspects regarding glycerol production during alcoholic fermentation. To date, however, several aspects regarding the relationship between glycerol and wine quality remain unclear. The reasons for this situation can mainly be ascribed to the lack of reliable analytical data to serve as a basis for investigating the relationship between glycerol and wine quality, as well as the preponderance of empirical and anecdotal evidence. Despite numerous opinions regarding optimal glycerol concentrations in wine, glycerol is indeed seldom assayed on a routine basis and targets with respect to specific wine grape cultivars and glycerol concentrations have largely remained unspecified. To date, very little information regarding glycerol concentrations in South African wines has been published. The analytical techniques that are most frequently used for the quantification of glycerol in grape juice, fermenting must and wine are not easily automated and this aspect placed severe limitations on the generation of large volumes of analytical data on glycerol concentrations in these matrices. This project was undertaken with the aim to holistically address some of the unresolved issues relating to the relationship between glycerol and wine quality. This also implied the development and optimisation of analytical techniques suitable for the rapid and accurate determination of glycerol in fermentation media, as well as in finished wine. In the first stage of this project a quantitative database was established that contained the analytical data on the glycerol concentrations of a statistically significant number of wines of adjudged quality, as well as additional information for each wine regarding the geographic origin, vintage, routine chemical analyses and the yeast strain(s) used for the production of the wine. The relevance of glycerol in wine for the modern South African winemaker was evaluated through the establishment of a quantitative database that contained the opinions of an expert panel of 15 South African winemakers, enologists and wine chemists on topics relating to glycerol in wine. In the second stage of the project the data captured in the databases were used to investigate aspects regarding the relationship between glycerol and wine quality. From the data captured in the qualitative database, it was clear that the topic regarding glycerol in wine was important to the South African winemakers and it was also evident that there was a need for the development and optimisation of methods suitable for the routine analysis of the glycerol concentrations in grape juice, fermenting must and wine. The opinions of the panel members also highlighted the issue that the mouth-feel property of wine was considered to be an area where the quality of some wines could be further improved. The quantitative database contained the information on the glycerol concentrations of 450 commercial South African table wines of adjudged quality. The premium cultivars Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Pinotage were used for the purpose of investigating the relationship between glycerol concentration and wine quality. The wines represented a wide variety of wine styles, including dry white, off-dry white, dry red and late harvest wines. The average glycerol concentration was significantly associated with the wine style. In white wines the average glycerol concentration was much lower than in the red wines (6.82 gIL versus 10.49 gIL, respectively). No significant relationship between the final glycerol concentration and the geographic origin, vintage and the yeast strain used for the fermentation was found. Wine quality could not be significantly associated with glycerol concentration in the red wines. In the white wines, the relationship between glycerol concentration and wine quality was significant, but due to the very small differences in the average glycerol concentrations of the wines of different quality ratings, the statistical significance is probably of little practical value. The effect of glycerol on the volatility of a selection of esters and higher alcohols was also investigated. Solid-phase microextraction, followed by gas chromatography, was used to analyse the composition of the headspace at equilibrium between the liquid phase and the gas phase of a model wine, and a dry white wine that contained a basal concentration of 5.4 gIL glycerol. Results showed that incremental increases in the glycerol concentrations over a range of 1 -10 gIL in the model wine and in a Chenin blanc wine, were not accompanied by a proportional increase or decrease in the abundance of the aroma components in the headspace. The volatile components tested were isoamyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl valerate, ethyl lactate, ethyl hexanoate, hexyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol and isobutanol. For all the volatile components tested, the difference between the headspace composition of samples containing the lowest glycerol concentration, and those containing the highest glycerol concentration, was not significant. However, sufficient experimental evidence was obtained to indicate that increasing glycerol concentrations had an effect on the volatility of aroma components, and that the effect is of a complex and non-linear nature. In the third phase of the work Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to establish and optimise methods for the accurate and rapid quantification of glycerol in wine. For this purpose calibrations were developed for the quantification of glycerol in dry wine and late harvest wines. The accuracy of prediction was evaluated by means of the standard error of prediction that was 0.38 gIL for the dry wines and 0.65 gIL for the sweet wines. Large variations are introduced in the FT-IR spectra of wine by factors such as process technology, cultivar and geographic origin, and this variation can have an effect on the accuracy of the analytical data generated when employing FT-IR spectroscopy. Using glycerol prediction in wine as a model system, principal component analysis of the FT-IR spectra was done in order to establish quality control measures for the detection of poorly predicted, or outlier samples. A classification model, based on principal component analysis, was established that enabled the interpretation and classification of the outlier samples in the data set in 100% of the cases tested. This work forms the basis for expanding the quality control measures for the detection of wines of which the FT-IR spectra are highly unnatural, as well as for establishing quality control measures to ensure that accurate analytical data are generated when FT-IR is used. FT-IR spectroscopy was also used to develop a rapid screen for the evaluation of the fermentation profiles of wine yeasts. For this purpose, a selection of wine yeasts, which included commercial wine yeasts frequently used in winemaking in South Africa, as well as a selection of hybrid Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, that were obtained through a selective breeding strategy aimed at increasing glycerol concentrations were used. Calibrations necessary for the accurate quantification of glycerol, volatile acidity, ethanol, reducing sugar and glucose, in Chenin blanc must and a synthetic must were developed and optimised. This work forms the basis upon which the scope of the analysis, both in terms of the number of components that can be measured, as well as the medium in which the yeasts are being evaluated, can be enlarged. This would be valuable for future applications in both the research as well as the industrial environment. The method that was developed serves to illustrate how this application can play a supportive role in yeast development programmes, through the speeding up of the initial stages of yeast strain evaluation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing in moderne wynkunde is sterk gefokus op die produksie van wyn waarvan die kwaliteit van In volhoubare goeie peil is, sowel as die verdere verbetering van bestaande wynkwaliteit, deur In verhoging van die sensoriese eienskappe van wyn. Die vorming van gliserol tydens alkoholiese fermentasie het betrekking op beide hierdie aspekte. In Opvatting wat wyd gehuldig word en wat reeds sedert die vroeë jare van die 20e eeu geld, impliseer dat gliserol In positiewe bydrae lewer tot wynkwaliteit. Oor die algemeen word dit beskou dat gliserolvlakke hoër as wat normaalweg in wyn aangetref word, kan bydra om die kwaliteit van die wyn nog verder te vehoog. Daar is ook spekulasie dat verhoogde gliserolvlakke in wyn die intensiteit van die aroma van wyn kan verhoog. Hierdie opvattings het tot gevolg gehad dat veskeie strategieë ontwikkel is om die gliserol vlakke wat tydens die fermentasieproses gevorm word, te verhoog. Baie min inligting oor die gliserolinhoud van Suid-Afrikaanse wyn is tot onlangs gepubliseer. Ten spyte van die opvattings oor gliserol en wynkwaliteit wat reeds oor In lang tydperk gehuldig word, bly sekere aspekte van die verwantskap tussen gliserol en wynkwaliteit nog steeds onduidelik. Redes vir hierdie situasie kan hoofsaaklik toegeskryf word aan die totale afwesigheid van betroubare en substansiële eksperimentele data wat as basis kan dien vir die evaluering van die algemene opvattings aangaande die verwantskap tussen gliserol en wynkwaliteit. Die inligting wat wel beskikbaar is, is verder ook oorwegend van In empiriese aard. Huidig word gliserol selde op In roetine basis in die analitiese laboratorium bepaal, hoofsaaklik omdat die bestaande metodes tydrowend is en nie maklik geoutomatiseer kan word nie. In hierdie studie is In kwantitatiewe databasis opgestel waarin die inligting ten opsigte van die gliserolvlakke van 450 kommersiële Suid-Afrikaanse tafelwyne waarvan die kwaliteit beoordeel is, vervat is. Die kultivars Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz en Pinotage is gebruik vir hierdie doel en die seleksie van wyne was verteenwoordigend van In wye verskeidenheid wynstyle, insluitende droë wit-, halfdroë wit-, droë rooi- en laatoeswyne. Die gemiddelde gliserolvlakke in die witwyne was heelwat laer as die gemidelde gliserolvlakke in die droë rooiwyne (6.82 gIL teenoor 10.49 gIL, onderskeidelik). Geen beduidende verwantskap kon aangetoon word tussen die gliserolkonsentrasie in die wyn en die geografiese oorsprong, oesjaar, en die gisras wat gebruik is in die produksie van die wyn nie. Die kwaliteit van rooiwyn kon nie beduidend met die gliserolkonsentrasie geassosieer word nie. In die geval van wit wyn was die verwantskap statisties beduidend, maar die verskille was klein en moontlik nie van veel praktiese waarde nie. Die aktualiteit van gliserol vir die moderne Suid-Afrikaanse wynmaker is geëvalueer op grond van die opinies van In paneel van 15 Suid-Afrikaanse kundiges, rakende aspekte wat verband hou met die algemene opvattings oor gliserol en wyn. Die paneel het bestaan uit wynmakers, wynkundiges en chemici. Die opinie van die panel is deur middel van "n vraelys bekom en is vervat in "n kwalitatiewe databasis. Die resultate van hierdie menigspeiling het getoon dat gliserol wel vir die Suid- Afrikaanse wynmakers belangrik is en dit het ook die behoefte uitgewys vir die ontwikkeling en optimisering van metodes wat geskik is vir die roetine analyses van gliserol in wyn. Die invloed van gliserol op die vlugtigheid van "n seleksie van hoëralkohole en esters is ondersoek in "n model wyn sowel as "n wit wyn, waarvan die basiese gliserolkonsentrasie 5.4 gIL was. Soliede-fase mikroekstraksie van die gasfase van wyn is opgevolg met "n gaschromatografiese analise. Resultate het getoon dat "n stapsgewyse toename in die gliserol konsentrasie, oor "n konsentrasie reeks van 0 - 10 gIL in die model wyn, en 0 - 15 gIL in die wit wyn, nie gepaard gegaan het met "n reglynige toename of afname in die konsentrasie van die aromakomponente nie. Vir al die komponente wat ondersoek is, was die samestelling van die gasfase in monsters wat die laagste gliserol konsentrasie gehad het, teenoor dié wat die hoogste gliserol konsentrasie gehad het, nie beduidend nie. Nietemin het die resultate getoon dat gliserol wel "n effek het op die vlugtigheid van die aroma komponente wat in hierdie ondersoek gebruik is, maar dat die aard van die effek kompleks en nie-liniê is. Fourier-transformasie-infrarooispektroskopie (FT-IR) is gebruik om die metodes vir die analise van gliserol in wyn sodanig te optimiser, dat vinnige en akkurate bepalings op "n roetine basis in wyn gedoen kan word. Kalibrasies is ontwikkel vir die kwantifisering van gliserol in droëwyn en laatoeswyn. Die standaard voorspellingsfout van die kalibrasies wat ontwikkel is, was 0.38 gIL in droëwyn en 0.65 gIL in die geval van laatoeswyn. Inherente variasie in die FT-IR-spektra word deur eksterne faktore soos die proses tegnologie wat gebruik is om die wyn te berei, die kultivar en geografiese oorsprong van die wyn veroorsaak en hierdie variasie kan "n effek hê op die voorspelingsakkuraatheid van FT-IR spektroskopie. Om die effek van hierdie variasie op die akkuraarheid van die analitiese data te evalueer, is die voorspelling van gliserol as modelsisteem gebruik. Hoofkomponentanalise van die FT-IR spektra is gedoen om dié wyne met onnatuurlike FT-IR-spektra te identifiseer, ten einde beheer oor die akkuraatheid van die analitiese data uit te oefen. "n Verdere model wat ook gebaseer is op hoofkomponentanalise van die FT-IR-wynspektra is ontwikkel vir die interpretasie en klassifikasie van wynmonsters met onnatuurlike FT-IRspektra. Met die model wat ontwikkel is kon onnatuurlike wynmonsters met "n akkuraatheid van 100% gëidentifiseer word. Hierdie werk vorm die basis waarop kwaliteitsbeheer verder uitgebrei kan word sodat wyne met onnatuurlike spektra gëidentifiseer kan word, sowel as om te verseker dat akkurate data gegenereer word as FT-IR as analitiese metode gebruik word vir die kwantifisering van gliserol in wyn. FT-IR spektroskopie is ook gebruik om "n vinnige skandeerproses te ontwikkel waarmee die fermentasieprofiele van wyngiste geëvalueer kan word. Die seleksie giste wat vir hierdie doel gebruik is, sluit kommersiële Suid-Afrikaanse wyngiste in, sowel as hibriede Saccharomyces cerevisia-giste wat normaalweg hoër vlakke van gliserol tydens die fermentasieproses produseer. Kalibrasies is ontwikkel vir die akkurate kwantifisering van gliserol, vlugtige suur, alkohol, reduserende suiker en glukose, in Chenin blanc-mos sowel as in 'n sintetiese medium. Hierdie werk vorm die basis waarop verdere uitbreidings gedoen kan word, sodat meer metaboliete gemeet kan word en 'n groter verskeidenheid van fermentasiemedia gebruik kan word. Hierdie ontwikkeling is waardevol vir toekomstige toepassings in die navorsings- sowel as die industriële omgewing. Die metode wat ontwikkel is illustreer ook hoe hierdie toepassing 'n ondersteunende rol kan speel in wyngisontwikkelingsprogramme deur die aanvanklike evalueringsproses van die giste te versnel.

Thesis (M.S. in food science)--Washington State University, December 2009.
Title from PDF title page (viewed on Jan. 19, 2010). "School of Food Science." Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-99).

Thesis (MTech (Food Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.
Port is a wine style that comes from Portugal. It is a sweet fortified dessert wine that is made in red and white styles. The taste is a balanced and complex combination of berry fruit, acidity, sweetness, alcohol and tannins. The taste should be sweet, smooth, complex, with some spiciness and a dry finish, but not astringent (Anon., 2009). There are a variety of port types in terms of flavour intensity, aroma and sweetness levels. Young immature ports can be fruity, simple, coarse, spicy and astringent. The sweetness results from the natural grape sugar in the wine, while wine spirits is added to fortify and ensure microbiological stability during aging (Anon., 2009). In this study the work was done on the ruby port style wine, ruby port wine is well known for its characteristic of being bright red in colour and therefore also very difficult to preserve in terms of colour stability in general. Colour is one of the principle parameters of the quality of not only port wine but also red wine in general, since it is the first characteristic to be perceived by the consumer in the glass. The colour of port wine also gives an indication of possible defects, the body, age and the evolution of the wine during storage. Colour, therefore, has an important influence on the overall acceptability of the product to the consumer. During aging, the wine colour changes, mainly due to progressive structural changes of anthocyanins. These changes are often perceived as undesirable by port consumers. As a result, the Cape Port Producers Association (CAPPA) requested this type of research to be done on port wine to improve the port wine making process in order to also give port wine a more stable colour. Therefore the objective of this study was to manipulate some of the parameters in port wine making, such as type of spirit used to fortify, storage temperature and also storage time in order to improve optimum stability of port wine colour. From the first part of the study it was evident that the type of fortifying spirits, storage time and temperature had a significant effect on the colour of the port wine samples. The 96.5% (v.v-1) fortifying spirits, shorter storage time and storage temperature below 25oC resulted in a more stable ruby port colour as well as the lowest change over time. As the study progressed the design variables differed in terms of two types of cultivars used the spirits used to fortify the port wine samples with, addition of a pectolytic enzyme to some of the port wine samples, as well as storage time of 12 months and only two storage temperatures. It could be concluded that at the end of this part of the study, that port wine colour stability was affected by the interaction of the design variables in each treatment and less so by individual design variables in the study. It could also be concluded in this study that higher levels of acetaldehyde present in the spirits used to fortify port wine, did have a significant impact on ruby port wine and colour stability. The application of pectolytic enzyme preparation does not necessarily have a significant effect on its own but depends on the type of cultivar used. Storage time and temperature should also be kept to a minimum to ensure the desirable bright red colour of a ruby port wine.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wine protein haze formation is a major challenge for wine makers, and several wine clarifying agents such as bentonite are used in the industry to protect wine from this occurrence. However, clarifying agents may have an undesirable impact on wine quality. Yeast mannoproteins have been shown to possess haze-protective properties, while also positively impacting on the sensorial properties of the product. However, while such mannoproteins are released into the wine during the wine making process, the amounts are low and therefore of limited oenological significance. However, and although commercial wine yeast strains display significant genotypic and phenotypic diversity, no broader assessment of haze protective activity and of mannoproteins release by different wine yeast strains has been undertaken. In this study, several yeast strains were screened for their impact on wine haze formation in Chardonnay must and in a grape juice model system. The data show that strains of the species Saccharomyces paradoxus possess better haze protective properties than the common Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strains. Differences in the nature of the proteins released by these two species were investigated, and indicated that several mannoproteins were released at significantly higher levels by S. paradoxus, and that some of these proteins might indeed contribute to the haze-protective activity. A further exploration of yeast cell wall properties indicated that the cell walls of haze-protective S. paradoxus strains contained higher levels of chitin than non-haze protective strains. Grape chitinases are likely to be primarily responsible for wine haze formation, and the data clearly demonstrate that these enzymes are able to bind to the yeast cell walls, and that strains with higher amounts of chitin in the cell wall will bind more chitinases. This finding suggests that the haze-protective nature of the strains is at least in part linked to the chitin levels of the strains. Furthermore, the impact of some genetic modifications in two wine strains (namely S. cerevisiae VIN13 and S. paradoxus RO88) suggests that several proteins contribute to wine haze protection. However, none of the mannoprotein-encoding flocculation genes, FLO1, FLO5, and FLO11 showed any impact on this property. Further studies are required to assess the full impact of the S. paradoxus strains on haze protection. In particular, the possible use of such strains as starter cultures or the use of S. paradoxus yeast hulls as clarifying agent needs to be further explored.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wyn proteïen-waas vorming is 'n groot uitdaging vir wynmakers en verskeie wyn verhelderings agente soos bentoniet word in die wynbedryf gebruik om wyn te beskerm teen die vorming van waas. Hierdie verheldering agente het egter 'n ongewenste impak op wynkwaliteit. Gis mannoproteïene is uitgewys as proteïene met moontlike waas-beskermende eienskappe wat ook 'n positiewe uitwerking op die sensoriese eienskappe van die produk het. Al word hierdie mannoproteïene egter vrygestel in die wyn tydens die wynmaak proses, is die hoeveelhede oor die algemeen te laag om van wynkundige belang te wees. Verder, ten spyte van die beduidende genotipiese en fenotipiese diversiteit van kommersiële wyngisrasse is daar nog geen breër assessering van die waas beskermende aktiwiteit van mannoproteïene, vrygestel deur verskillende rasse, tot dusver onderneem nie. In hierdie studie is verskeie gisrasse gekeur vir hul impak op wyn waas-vorming in Chardonnay mos en ook in 'n model druiwesap. Die data wys dat rasse van die spesie Saccharomyces paradoxus besit beter waas beskermende eienskappe as die algemene Saccharomyces cerevisiae wyngisrasse. Verskille in die aard van die proteïene wat vrygestel is deur hierdie twee spesies is ondersoek, en dit is aangedui aangedui dat verskeie mannoproteins vrygestel aan aansienlik hoër vlakke deur S. Paradoxus. Dit is ook aangedui dat sommige van hierdie proteïene wel bydra tot die waas-beskermende aktiwiteit. 'n Verdere verkenning van gis selwand eienskappe het aangedui dat die selwande van waas-beskermende rasse van S. paradoxus hoër vlakke chitien as nie-waas beskermende stamme bevat. Druiwe chitinases is waarskynlik hoofsaaklik verantwoordelik vir wyn waas vorming, en die data toon duidelik dat hierdie ensieme in staat is om te bind aan die gis selwande, en dat die stamme met hoër vlakke chitien in die selwand meer chitinases sal bind. Hierdie bevinding dui daarop dat die waas-beskermende aard van die stamme ten minste gedeeltelik gekoppel is aan die chitien vlakke van die stamme. Die impak van sekere genetiese modifikasies in twee verskillende gisrasse, naamlik die S. cerevisiae ras VIN13 en die S. paradoxus ras RO88, dui verder daarop dat verskeie proteïene dra by tot die beskerming teen wyn waas. Geeneen van die mannoprotein-koderende flokkulasie gene, FLO1, FLO5 en FLO11 het egter 'n impak op hierdie eienskap nie. Verdere studies is nodig om die volle impak van die S. paradoxus rasse op waas beskerming te assesseer. In die besonder, die moontlike gebruik van sulke rasse as 'n inkolasie kultuur of die gebruik van S. paradoxus gis doppe as verheldering agent moet verder ondersoek word.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wine cellars are diverse in terms of equipment types and process configurations. Whilst other food production processes have, in many cases, been properly analysed and modelled, this process diversity has resulted in an absence of process analyses in the wine industry. Each wine cellar is unique and represents a fully integrated agro-business, starting with a raw material (grapes) and extending to marketing and selling of the final product (wine). This makes the wine industry unique in this context. This study is the first attempt to analyse winemaking procedures in the form of a process audit. The study was approached in the following manner: • A questionnaire was developed to assess cellar configurations and conditions. This questionnaire was submitted to a statistically significant number of cellars, and a statistically significant number of questionnaires were returned. • The data collected from the questionnaire were statistically analysed and associations between equipment or procedures and wine faults were identified. • Three cellars were studied in depth. These three cellars had their processes audited and their effluent characterised. Additional data were obtained from current sampling projects and these data were analysed to complement the data obtained from the questionnaire • A preliminary input/output model was developed. The major results of this study are: • It was found that certain faults that appear in wine might be associated with equipment and/or process faults. These associations are statistically significant and they show that cellar hygiene is of critical importance when assessing these wine faults. The most important of these faults are VA, microbial contamination of the wine, sluggish and stuck fermentations. A risk hierarchy was derived to indicate which events are associated with others most strongly. • It was found that few wineries measure water consumption and even fewer wineries measure the quantity of effluent produced. • Correlations have been developed to predict winery parameters in terms of tons of grapes pressed per annum. These parameters include water and electricity consumed, wine produced and the quantity of effluent produced. Effluent characteristics have also been correlated to the tons of grapes pressed per annum. These characteristics include chemical oxygen demand, sodium absorption ratio and total dissolved solids in solution. Chemical oxygen demand was identified as the most important contributing factor in winery effluent. It was shown that all variables rise with an increase in cellar size, but the rise is not linear. This implies that large cellars have greater quantities of effluent of lower quality than small cellars. Most cellars have effluent concentrations that require some form of effluent treatment. The characterisation of effluent shows that the most widely used disposal practice is irrigation, and that the effluent disposed in this manner does not meet legislative requirements. • A preliminary input/output model was developed in order to enable wineries that have not measured the relevant parameters to predict the abovementioned variations. The resolution of these predictions is low but the model serves to provide an initial estimate if there are no data available. The model will give industrial averages for any given cellar size. • An economic balance was performed using this preliminary model. It was shown that if cellars were to lower the consumption of utilities and to reduce the strength of their effluent (using cleaner practices and not dilution) the reduction of operating costs could be reduced by 14% for smaller cellars to 17% for larger cellars. This study has shown that it is possible to make wine in a more environmentally friendly manner, producing better quality wines, without incurring extra costs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wynkelders is diverse eenhede ten opsigte van die tipe toerusting en prosesse wat gebruik word. Terwyl ander prosesse rondom voedselproduksie in baie gevalle reeds geanaliseer en gemodelleer is, het die diversiteit in die wynindustrie gelei tot 'n afwesigheid van prosesanalises. Elke wynkelder is uniek en verteenwoordig 'n ten voile geintegreerde agro-besigheid wat begin met die rou materiaal (druiwe) en lei tot die bemarking en verkope van die finale produk (wyn), 'n eienskap wat die wynindustrie uniek maak in hierdie verband. Hierdie studie is die eerste poging om die wynmaakproses in die vorm van ‘n proses-oudit te analiseer. Die studie is soos volg aangepak: • ‘n Vraelys is ontwikkel om kelderkonfigurasies en -toestande te ondersoek. Die vraelys is aan ‘n statisties betekenisvolle aantal kelders voorgele, en ‘n statisties betekenisvolle aantal vraelyste is terugontvang. • Die data wat uit die vraelyste ontvang is, is statisties ontleed en verwantskappe tussen toerusting of prosesse en wyngebreke is geidentifiseer. • Drie kelders is in diepte bestudeer. Hierdie drie kelders se prosesse is geoudit en die afvloeiwater is gekarakteriseer. Addisionele data is verkry van huidige projekte en hierdie data is ge-analiseer om die data van die vraelys aan te vul. • ‘n Voorlopige inset / uitset model is ontwikkel. Die belangrikste resultate van hierdie studie is: • Dit is bevind dat sekere gebreke wat in wyn voorkom geassosieer kan word met tekortkominge in toerusting en/of prosesse in die kelder. Hierdie assosiasies is statisties betekenisvol en toon dat kelderhigtene van kritiese belang is wanneer gebreke in wyn ondersoek word. Die mees belangrike gebreke wat voorkom is vlugtige suur, mikrobiese kontaminasie van wyn, slepende en gestaakte fermentasie. ‘n Risikohierargie is afgelei om die gebeure te toon wat die sterktste met mekaar geassosieer word. • Dit is gevind dat min wynkelders waterverbruik meet. Selfs minder kelders meet die hoeveelheid afvloeiwater wat geproduseer word. • Korrelasies is ontwikkel om kelderparameters te voorspel in terme van ton druiwe gepars per jaar. Hierdie parameters sluit in water- en elektrisiteitsverbruik, wyn geprosuseer en hoeveelheid afvloeiwater geproduseer. Eienskappe van afvloeiwater is ook gekorreleer met die ton druiwe wat per jaar gepars word. Hierdie eienskappe sluit in chemiese suurstofbehoeftes, natrium absorpsieverhoudings en totale opgeloste soliede materiaal in oplossing. Chemiese suurstofbehoeftes is geidentifiseer as die mees belangrike bydraende faktor tot afvloeiwater in kelders. Dit is getoon dat alle veranderlikes verhoog hoe groter die kelder, maar hierdie verhoging is nie lineer nie. Dit impliseer dat groter kelder meer afvloeiwater van ‘n laer kwaliteit produseer. Die meeste kelders produseer afvloeiwater van sodanige konsentrasies dat behandeling daarvan nodig is. Die ondersoek van hierdie afvloeiwater toon dat die mees algemene wyse van wegdoening van afvloeiwater besproeiing is, en dat afvloeiwater wat op hierdie manier weggedoen word, nie voldoen aan die wetgewing se vereistes nie. • 'n Voorlopige inset/uitset model is ontwikkel om kelders wat nie die toepaslike parameters gemeet het nie in staat te stel om hierdie parameters te voorspel. Die akuraatheid van hierdie voorspellings is nie hoog nie, maar die model verskaf ‘n aanvanklike skatting waar daar geen data beskikbaar is nie. Die model verskaf industriele gemiddeldes aan kelders van enige grootte. • ‘n Ekonomiese balans is uitgevoer deur van hierdie model gebruik te maak. Dit is getoon dat indien kelders die gebruik van water en elektrisiteit verminder en die konsentrasie van afvloeiwater verlaag (deur van skoner paktyke gebruik te maak, en nie verdunning nie) die bestuurskoste met 14% vir kleiner kelders tot 17% vir groter kelders verlaag kan word. Die studie het getoon dat dit moontlik is om wyn te maak op ‘n meer omgewingsvriendelike wyse, en sodoende beter kwaliteit wyn te produseer sonder addisionele kostes.

This research study in applied mathematical statistics, and industrial engineering and management aims to determine the wine properties that drive the wine sales in Sweden, while also examining how the monopoly in Sweden affects the alcohol sales and demand. Data were collected from Systembolaget, which is the only alcohol retail store chain in Sweden. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed on 4 931 observations from Systembolaget’s sales statistics of 2019. The covariates were the type of wine, taste, price, size, country of origin, ecologically classified and ethically certified. The final model contained 18 variables where the taste parameters dominated the model. The results conclude that wines from Australia, Italy and Portugal have an advantage when it comes to the wine sales in Sweden, while wines from Sweden have a negative correleation with the volume sold. Other results suggest that wine producers should make ethically produced wines. From an economic perspective, the alcohol monopoly in Sweden is not a regular monopoly. Moreover, the monopoly is considered to has had a negative impact on the alcohol sales by lowering the demand through a strict alcohol law, among other things. The positive aspects of Sweden’s alcohol monopoly is the overall better health of the Swedish society and the in-store consultation that is offered. This study has contributed to previous research and also given the wine producers a better overview of the factors that drive the wine sales in Sweden.
Denna forskningsstudie i tillämpad matematisk statistik och industriell ekonomi syftar till att bestämma de vinegenskaper som driver vinförsäljningen i Sverige, samtidigt som man undersöker hur monopolet i Sverige påverkar alkoholförsäljningen och efterfrågan. Data samlades in från Systembolaget, som är den enda butikskedjan för alkohol i Sverige. En multipel linjär regressionsanalys utfördes på 4 931 observationer från Systembolagets försäljningsstatistik från 2019. Kovariaterna var typen av vin, smak, pris, storlek, ursprungsland, ekologiskt klassificerat och etiskt certifierat. Den slutliga modellen innehöll 18 variabler där smakparametrarna dominerade modellen. Resultaten visar på att viner från Australien, Italien och Portugal har en fördel när det gäller vinförsäljningen i Sverige, medan vin från Sverige har en negativ korrelation med den sålda volymen. Andra resultat tyder på att vinproducenter bör göra etiskt producerade viner. Ur ett nationalekonomiskt perspektiv är alkoholmonopolet i Sverige inte ett vanligt monopol. Dessutom anses monopolet ha haft en negativ inverkan på alkoholförsäljningen genom att bland annat sänka efterfrågan med hjälp av en strikt alkohollag. De positiva aspekterna av Sveriges alkoholmonopol är den övergripande bättre hälsan hos det svenska samhället och konsultationen som erbjuds i butikerna. Denna studie har bidragit till tidigare forskning och även givit vinproducenterna en bättre överblick över de faktorer som driver vinförsäljning i Sverige.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ferdinand de Lesseps grapes have a distinctive fruity varietal character and were often used judiciously by wine-makers to enhance the fruity bouquet of some white table wines. Ferdinand de Lesseps grape juice was investigated to identify the main contributing compounds responsible for its unique and intense aroma. The juice was recovered from grapes under anaerobic conditions and extracted using Freon 11. The concentrated extract was analysed using a combination of capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-sniffing techniques. Thirty-two compounds were reported. With the aid of GC-sniffing, it was concluded that the hybrid note of the Ferdinand de Lesseps grape was most likely attributed to the presence of 2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone and 0- aminoacetophenone. Esters, which featured prominently in the juice, consisted mainly of ethyl butanoate, ethyl- and methyl- 3-hydroxy butanoate, and to a lesser extent, ethyl 3- hydroxy hexanoate and ethyl-3-hydroxy propanoate. These esters are most likely responsible for the sweetish pineapple aroma. According to EEC regulations, the use of non- Vinifera grapes in the production of commercial wines is prohibited. The presence of 2,5-dimethyl- 3(2H)-furanone in wine could therefore be interpreted as a labrusca indicator should it be suspected that Ferdinand de Lesseps grapes were used in the blend. The quality of some South African Kerner table wines often is rated inferior owing to an unwanted odour described as "Elastoplast" or "medicinal". This odour is encountered occasionally in wines from other cultivars such as Gewurztraminer, Weisser Riesling, Muscat de Frontignan and Chenin blanc. The identification of the compounds responsible for the offodour was investigated, as well as possible relationships between its occurrence and viniviticultural practices. The compound responsible for the "medicinal" off- odour was identified as p-vinyl guaiacol. It is formed via decarboxylation of ferulic acid by yeast during alcoholic fermentation. lts concentration is directly related to the concentration of ferulic acid and the yeast strain. Other factors affecting p-vinyl guaiacol formation in Kerner wines are region, microclimate, exposure of grapes to sunlight and grape maturity. Wines made from grapes harvested from the warmer climatic regions and exposed to direct sunlight and increased maturity contained higher levels of p-vinyl guaiacol. Viticultural practices that can be applied to limit the formation of the p-vinyl guaiacol precursor in grapes are the use of a canopy manipulation to protect the grapes from direct sunlight and an earlier harvesting date. Various winemaking techniques can be used to lower p-vinyl guaiacol levels in wine. Careful consideration must be given to the choice of yeast, as different yeast strains differ considerably with their ability to form p-vinyl guaiacol. Fining oxidised grape juice with phenol adsorbing agents such as activated charcoal, polyvinylpolypirrollidone, casein, gelatin (particularly in combination with bentonite and "kieselsol") led to decreases in the p-vinyl guaiacol levels. Although fining with activated charcoal was the most effective must treatment for reducing the "medicinal" aroma of Kerner wines, it stripped the wines of colour and character. Excessive oxidation of must followed by fining involves extra costs and time for the winemaker and would not be used in making the reductive style of wines.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ferdinand de Lesseps druiwe en wyne vertoon unieke vrugtige varieteitskarakter en is dikwels deur wynmakers in versnitte gebruik om die geur van sekere wit tafelwyne te verbeter. In hierdie studie is Ferdinand de Lesseps druiwe ondersoek om die belangrikste komponente wat verantwoordelik is vir die prominente, unieke aroma daarvan te identifiseer. Die sap is onder anaerobe toestande herwin en met Freon 11 ekstraheer. Die gekonsentreerde ekstrakte is met behulp van 'n kombinasie van kapillêre gaschromatografie-massaspektrometrie en gaschromatografie-snuif tegnieke analiseer. Twee-en-dertig komponente is gerapporteer. Met die behulp van GC-snuiftegnieke is bevestig dat die hibried karakter in Ferdinand de Lesseps druiwe hoofsaaklik aan die teenwoordigheid van o-amino-asetofenoon en 2,5-dimetiel-3(2H)- furanoon toegeskyf kan word. Die vernaamste esters in die sap was etielbutanoaat, etiel- en metiel-3-hidroksibutanoaat en in 'n mindere mate etiel-3-hidroksiheksanoaat en etiel-3- hidroksipropanoaat. Dié esters is waarskynlik verantwoordelik vir die soet pynappel aroma. Volgens EEG regulasies word die gebruik van nie- Vinifera druiwe vir die produksie van komersiéle wyne verbied. Die teenwoordigheid van 2,5-dimetiel-3(2H)-furanoon in wyn kan dus interpreteer word as 'n labrusca indikator in gevalle waar gebruik van Ferdinand de Lesseps druiwe vermoed word. Die kwaliteit van sommige Suid-Afrikaanse Kerner wyne word dikwels verlaag vanweë die teenwoordigheid van 'n geur wat beskryf word as "Elastoplast" of "medisinaal". Dié reuk word soms waargeneem in wyne van ander kutivars soos Gewurztraminer, Weisser Riesling, Muskaat de Frontignan en Chenin blanc. Die identiteit van die komponent wat vir dié ongewenste reuk verantwoordelik is, asook moontlike verwantskappe met wingerd- en wynkundige praktyke is ondersoek. Die komponent wat vir die medisinale karakter verantwoordelik is, is geïdentifiseer as para-vinielguajakol. Dit word deur dekarboksilasie van feruliensuur deur gisselle tydens alkoholiese gisting gevorm. Die konsentrasie van paravinielguajacol in wyn is direk verwant aan die konsentrasie feruliensuur en die gisras. Ander faktore wat para-vinielguajacol-vorming in Kerner wyn affekteer is streek, mikroklimaat, blootstelling van druiwe aan direkte sonlig en die rypheidsgraad van die druiwe. Wyne wat berei is van ryper druiwe uit warmer streke en wat direk aan sonlig blootgestel was, het hoër konsentrasies para-vinielguajacol bevat. Lowerbestuurspraktyke met behulp waarvan druiwe teen direkte sonligblootstelling beskerm word, is van die vernaamste wingerdkundige praktyke wat aangewend kan word om die vorming van die voorlopers van paravinielguajacol in druiwe te verlaag. Verskeie wynbereidingstegnieke kan gebruik word om die para-vinielguajacol vlakke in wyn te verlaag. Gisraskeuse is van besondere belang omdat gisrasse grootliks verskil in hul vermoë om para-vinielguajacol te vorm. Breibehandelings van geoksideerde sap met middels soos geaktiveerde koolstof, PVPP, kasseïen, gelatien (veral in kombinasie met bentoniet en "kieselsol") het die vlakke van para-vinielguajacol in wyne verlaag. Hoewel geaktiveerde koolstof die doeltreffendste breimiddel vir die verlaging van para-vinielguajacol was, het dit te veel kleur en geur uit die wyn verwyder. Oormatige oksidasie van mos gevolg deur breibehandelings sal meer geld en tyd verg en word nie aanbeveel vir wyne wat in 'n reduktiewe styl berei word nie.

An objective method to blend wines for standardizing flavor quality was developed. Aroma volatiles of varietal and white stock wines were analyzed at 6°C and 37°C by headspace gas chromatography with cryofocussing. Pattern similarity constants of the chromatographic profiles were entered into the simplex optimization program which determined the best blending ratios of wines to simulate the target wine. Thirteen and 23 vertices were required to give the optimum response for trials 1 and 2, respectively. For both trials the computer optimized blends could not be differentiated from the target wines by a sensory taste panel consisting of both untrained and expert judges.
Land and Food Systems, Faculty of
Graduate

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The quality of wine is largely dependent on environmental conditions and recent studies have therefore focused on agricultural practices in terms of water, soil and biodiversity conservation. The industry aims to create sustainable practice and to protect the natural resources available. Sources of potential grape contamination include: vehicle pollution, pesticides, bushfires and wood preservatives used for trellising systems. The latter have come to the attention of the South African wine industry (e.g. creosote and Copper Chromium Arsenate (CCA) products) as they may have consequences for the environment and wine quality. Creosote is a known pollutant of soil and ground water and the volatile fraction has been monitored in air. Plants may also accumulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which constitute up to 85% of the mass of creosote, and of which some have been proven carcinogenic. Because of the health risks associated with it, creosote has therefore been restricted for use in most applications in Europe, and also in the United States, Canada and Australia. This study focussed on the sensorial and chemical analyses of environmental and wine samples taken from the area around the creosote stockyard to determine accumulation of creosote-derived compounds. Environmental samples were collected and analysed at different distances from the affected area, over two vintages. Wines were made from grapes grown in vineyard blocks adjacent to the stockyard, to determine the effect of distance and skin contact during alcoholic fermentation treatments on wine taint. A sensory panel was trained for descriptive analysis to determine the intensity of the taint. Analytical methods were developed for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The sensory results obtained showed white and rosé wines were perceived as clean, whilst the red wines were associated with burnt rubber/tar taint. The perceived taint decreased as distance from the stockyard increased. Wines made from the Cabernet Sauvignon blocks adjacent to the stockyard also showed an increase of taint with the increase of skin contact. Chemical data obtained showed that the taint consisted of a complex mixture of compounds, each with its own pattern of retention within the vineyard and wine. Only m-cresol was found above odour threshold, and only in red wines. The synergistic effect of some compounds may lead to an increase in the perceived taint. Berries and leaves had higher concentrations of volatile compounds than wines. Leaf contamination varied and followed the general trend in literature where the plants with high lipid content and exposed leaf area were the most contaminated. There may be other compounds present in creosote emissions, aside from those investigated here, with sensory attributes related to the taint found in wines. These compounds are styrene, indene, benzene, toluene, isoquinoline and quinoline and should be included in further investigations. From the PAH analysis of environmental samples and wines, it is evident that the samples closest to the stockyard were affected the most. The contamination varied with the depth of the soil: some of the heavier compounds were found in the samples taken from the deeper levels, whilst nearly all other target compounds were present in the top layer of soil. The concentrations found in the environmental samples were lower than reported in literature. Wines had few PAHs present, but at much higher concentrations than is allowed by EU legislation. From this study it is evident that the stockyard had negative effects on the surrounding environment in terms of sensory and chemical contamination. Recommendations include area rehabilitation by means of bioremediation to protect resources and ensure sustainable and safe production of crops. Industrial emissions should also be regulated and restricted in agricultural areas. Furthermore the use of creosote should be revised, and prohibited for agricultural use.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kwaliteit van wyn is grootliks afhanklik van die omgewingstoestande. Daarom fokus verskeie onlangse studies op landbou aktiwiteite en die invloed daarvan op die omgewing in terme van water, grond en biodiversiteit bewaring. The wyn industrie se doelwitte sluit volhoubare praktyke in, wat die natuurlike hulpbronne bewaar en beskerm. Druiwe kan deur middel van die volgende bronne besoedel word: brandstof uitlaatgasse, insekdoders, veldbrande, gifstowwe wat gebruik word vir houtperservering wat dan verder aangewend word vir opleistelsels. Houtperservering (Koper chroom arsenaat (CCA) en kreosoot) het veral in die laaste paar jaar onder aandag gekom in die wynbedryf van Suid-Afrika as gevolg van die invloed daarvan op die omgewing en die uiteindelike wynkwaliteit. Kreosoot is ‘n gekende gifstof wat verantwoordelik is vir grond en grondwater besoedeling en wat gemonitor word in die atmosfeer. Plante akkummuleer ook poli-sikliese aromatiese hidro-koolstowwe (PAHs), wat to 85% uitmaak van die massa van kreosoot. PAHs is karsinogenies en dus is daar baie navorsing op die molekules reeds gedoen. Die gesondheidsrisikos gepaardgaande met kreosoot het gelei tot die streng geregulasies tans ingestel in Europa, die Verenigde State, Kanada en Australië. Hierdie studie het gefokus op die sensoriese en chemiese analises van omgewings- en wyn-monsters geneem van die omliggende area van die kreosoot palewerf om die akkumulasie van kreosoot-afgeleide-verbindings. Omgewingsmonsters was versamel en geanaliseer om verskillende afstande vanaf die bron van besoedeling (palewerf) te ondersoek oor ‘n twee jaar periode. Wyne is gemaak van die druiwe wat afkomstig is van die blok aangeplant langs die palewerf. Die wyne is ondersoek in terme van afstand vanaf die kreosoot bron asook oenologiese invloede, dopkontak gedurende alkoholiese fermentasie, op die kontaminasie beskryf in wyn. Die wyne is ook oor ‘n twee jaar periode voorberei en sluit die 2011 en 2012 seisoen in. ‘n Sensoriese paneel is opgelei om die beskrywende analises op die wyn uit te voer met die doel om die intensiteit van kontaminasie te identifiseer. Analitiese metodes is ook ontwikkel vir die analise van vlugtige organiese verbindings(VOCs) met gas chromatografie-massa spektrometrie (GCMS) en poli-sikliese aromaties hidro-koolstowwe (PAHs) met hoë druk vloeistof chromatografie. Die sensoriese resultate bekom het wit en rosé wyne as skoon laat blyk, terwyl rooi wyne meer geassosieer was met die gebrande rubber/ teer afgeur beskrywing. Die waargeneemde afgeur het afgeneem soos wat die afstand vanaf die palewerf toegeneem het. Wyne gemaak van die Cabernet Sauvignon blokke langsaan die palewerf het ook ‘n toename in die afgeur gehad met ‘n toename in dopkontak. Chemiese data bekom beeld uit dat die afgeur uit ‘n komplekse mengsel van verbindings bestaan, elk met sy eie patroon van verspreiding en verbinding in die wingerd as ook in die wyn. Net m-kresol was gevind bo die reuk drumpel, dit het ook net in rooi wyne voorgekom. Die sinergistiese effek van die verbindings mag egter bydra tot die waargeneemde afgeur. Druiwekorrels en blare het hoër konsentrasies van die vlugtige verbindings gehad as wat gemeet is in die wyne. Blaar kontaminasie het ook baie gewissel en het ooreengestem met die algemene tendens wat in literatuur beskryf is, naamlik dat plante met ‘n hoër lipid inhoud en grootter blaar oppervlak die meeste gekontamineer word. Daar mag egter nog baie ander verbindings bydra tot die waargeneemde afgeur gevind in die wyn. Spesifieke verbindings wat wel ‘n rol kan speel in kontaminasie en wat voorkom in die vlugtige gedeelte van kreosoot is styreen, indeen, benzeen, tolueen, isoquinoleen die vlugtige verbindings van kreosoot. Die verbindings moet ingesluit word vir verdere studies wat gedoen word op die kreosoot geassosieerde afgeur. Die PAHs analise op die omgewingsmonsters en wyne het gelei tot die bevestiging dat die naasliggende omgewing die meeste geaffekteer is. Die kontaminasie wissel in terme van die diepte in die grond wat die gifstowwe voorkom: die swaarder molekulêre verbindings is tot in die dieper vlakke waargeneem terwyl al die gemete verbindings in die boonste lae teenwoordig was. Die vlakke wat waargeneem is in dié studie is egter laer as wat voorheen in literatuur gevind is in ‘n kreosoot geaffekteerde omgewing. Wyn het PAHs teenwoordig gehad, alhoewel slegs twee verbindings gemeet is, het dit in hoër vlakke voorgekom as wat sekere Europese regulasies as toelaatbaar spesifiseer. Vanaf die studie resultate blyk dit, dat die palewerf se negatiewe invloed op die omliggende omgewing beide meetbaar was in sensories en chemiese kontaminasie. Voorstelle sluit onder andere die rehabilitasie van die omliggende omgewing deur middel van bioremediasie in. Om sodoende die natuurlike hulpbronne in die area te bewaar asook om volhoubare en veilige verbouing van gewasse te verseker. Industriële besoedeling en afval moet ook gereguleer word en beperk word in landbou areas. Verder moet die gebruik van kreosoot heroorweeg word en strenger regulasies moet in plek gestel word om aan internastionale standaarde te voldoen.
Financial support from Winetech, Trip and UFS

Includes a list of publications co-authored by the author during the preparation of this thesis. Bibliography: leaves 103-111. Studies the links between grape composition, wine composition and wine sensory properties. Developed a new method of measuring glycoside concentration in grapes (glycosyl-glucose assay) and a modified measurement of wine colour density in red wine. These were used to analyse samples of Shiraz grapes and wines from a comprehensive vineyard irrigation trial. Glycosyl-glucose concentrations shows promise for the prediction of wine composition and flavor intensity.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, 1999.
Errata slip inserted on back end-paper. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, 1999. Bibliography: leaves 106-125.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The winemaking process involves a number of microorganisms, each with its own role. Yeasts are responsible for the alcoholic fermentation, the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are Gram-positive bacteria associated with must and wine and perform the malolactic fermentation (MLF), while the acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are Gram-negative bacteria converting ethanol to acetic acid. These microorganisms are present in the cellar and fermentation tanks and can be seen either as beneficial or as wine spoilage microorganisms because, under certain circumstances, they affect the wine quality if they should grow in the wine or must. Strict measures need to be implemented in the cellar during the winemaking process to ensure microbiological stability. This can be achieved through good microbiological practices and, additionally, chemical preservatives. Sulphur dioxide (S02) is widely used as the primary preservative in winemaking. However, consumer resistance has been building up against the use of chemical preservatives, due to the possible health risks and a decrease in nutritional value and sensorial quality of certain foods and beverages. Biopreservation as an alternative to the traditionally-used chemical preservation is a new approach and has been attracting much attention. This implies the use of the natural microflora and/or their antibacterial products, such as bacteriocins and bacteriolytic enzymes (e.g. lysozyme). Bacteriocins from LAB are proteins or protein complexes, produced by Gram-positive bacteria, with antibacterial activity against closely-related Gram-positive species. Lysozyme occurs in substances such as hen egg white and has lytic activity against Gram-positive bacteria. ' The bacteriocins nisin, of the class I lantibiotics, and pediocin PA-1 and leucocin BTA 11a, of the class lIa Listeria-active bacteriocins, have been investigated for the biopreservation of wine. Nisin, however, is the only bacteriocin that has been approved for use as a preservative, while pediocin is likely to follow in approval. Lysozyme has been approved for use in winemaking by the Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV). The main objectives of this study were to determine whether these substances showed any antimicrobial action against wine-associated microorganisms, namely LAB, AAB and yeasts. The stability and suitability of the bacteriocins and lysozyme as antimicrobials in wine was researched, especially when used in combination. Possible synergistic or antagonistic interactions between the bacteriocins were also investigated by means of the microtitre broth dilution method and scanning electron microscopy, as well as at what concentration and combinations the bacteriocins were most effective against increasing LAB concentrations. It was found that nisin, pediocin and leucocin were effective to varying degrees against a test panel of LAB type and reference strains, as well as wine isolates. Nisin repeatedly had the highest level of inhibition against all the LAB tested, followed by pediocin and leucocin. There was no inhibition of the wine-associated AAB and yeasts tested. Pediocin stability was evaluated in simulated wine must and proved to be stable for at least 20 days, without being affected by the sulphur or alcohol content. A low pH, however, led to a more rapid decrease in activity. The same was found for nisin and leucocin in other studies. Combinations of bacteriocins at increasing concentrations were evaluated against increasing concentrations of a LAB wine isolate. When used in pairs (namely, nisinleucocin, nisin-pediocin and pediocin-Ieucocin), the combinations were most effective against lower concentrations of bacteria, namely 102 and 104 cfu/ml. At lower concentrations, the pairs of bacteriocins were much less effective against the higher bacterial concentrations of 106 and 108 cfu/ml. Leucocin-pediocin combinations were the least effective, while nisin-Ieucocin combinations were marginally more effective than the nisin-pediocin combinations. The most pronounced effect was observed when all three the bacteriocins were used together. Combinations of bacteriocins had no inhibitory effect against AAB. Pediocin and lysozyme was used in combination against the same wine isolate, but no conclusive conclusions could be drawn in this experiment. __ Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate any disturbances in cell morphology when bacteriocins were added to LAB. The above-mentioned LAB was subjected to bacteriocins used singularly and also in combinations of equal amounts of bacteriocins. The action of the bacteriocins led to major disturbances in cell morphology. Once again, the combination of leucocin-pediocin was the least effective, even less so than when the single bacteriocins were used. The nisin-pediocin and nisin-Ieucocin combinations seemed to be more effective in causing cell disturbances and perturbations. The microtitre broth dilution methodwas used to further characterise the nature of the interaction of the pairs of bacteriocins. This test showed clearly that the bacteriocins had definite interactions. By adding one bacteriocin to varying concentrations of another bacteriocin, the inhibitory action of the second bacteriocin was affected, either increasing or decreasing its effectiveness. The most important factor to consider seems to be the ratio at which the bacteriocins should be used together, leading either to synergism or antagonism, and this also implies a very complex interaction. This project indicated that it is indeed possible to use both bacteriocins and lysozyme in "Vine preservation, both being stable in wine environments and effective against LAB without affecting the yeast fermentation. Bacteriocins could also be used in combination, to broaden the inhibition spectrum, as well as possibly increasing the inhibitory potential of the individual antimicrobials. The underlying interactions in such combinations should be carefully researched, however, when considering using combinations of antimicrobials in food and beverage products. Further attention can also be given to finding biopreservatives against the Gram-negative AAB, as well as to research the interaction of the pairs of bacteriocins over time. Another point to consider would be the engineering of yeasts or bacteria to produce these antibacterial substances in situ as part of their metabolism.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is 'n verskeidenheid mikroorganismes in die wynrnaakproses betrokke, elkeen met sy eie rol. Giste is vir die alkoholiese fermentasie verantwoordelik, die Gram-positiewe melksuurbakterieë (MSB) wat in mos en wyn voorkom, is vir die appelmelksuurgisting (AMG) verantwoordelik, terwyl die Gram-negatiewe asynsuurbakterieë (ASB) etanol in asynsuur omskakel. Hierdie mikroorganismes is in die wynkelder en fermentasietenke teenwoordig en kan as óf gunstig óf ongunstig beskou word, afhangende van die toestande waaronder hulle groei en hoe die wyn daardeur beïnvloed word. Om mikrobiologiese stabiliteit in wyn te verseker, moet daar streng higiëniese maatreëls in die kelder toegepas word en word daar ook van addisionele chemiese preserveermiddels gebruik gemaak. Swaweidioksied (S02) word tans algemeen as pnmere preserveermiddel in die wynbedryf gebruik. Weens die moontlike gesondheidsrisiko's wat S02 mag inhou en die moontlike verlaging van die voedingswaarde en sensoriese gehalte waarmee dit in sommige voedsel- en drankprodukte geassosieer word, bou daar tans verbruikersweerstand teen die gebruik daarvan as chemiese preserveermiddelop. Biopreservering is 'n alternatief tot hedendaagse chemiese preservering en het reeds baie belangstelling ontlok. Hierdie metode impliseer die gebruik van die natuurlike mikroflora en/of die antimikrobiese produkte van hierdie rnikroërqanisrnes, soos bakteriosiene en bakteriolitiese ensieme (bv. lisosiem). Bakteriosiene van MSB is proteïene of proteïenkomplekse met antimikrobiese aktiwiteit teen naby-verwante Grampositiewe spesies. Lisosiem kom in produkte soos hoendereierwit voor en het litiese aktiwiteit teen Gram-positiewe bakterieë. Die bakteriosiene nisien, wat tot die klas I lantibiotiese bakteriosiene behoort, en pediosien PA-1 en leukosien B-TA11a, wat tot die klas lIa Listeria-aktiewe bakteriosiene behoort, is as moontlike biopreserveringsagense in wyn ondersoek. Nisien is egter tot op hede die enigste bakteriosien wat amptelik vir gebruik as 'n preserveermiddel in voedsel goedgekeur is, terwyl pediosien moontlik sal volg. Lisosiem is vir gebruik in wynmaak deur die Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) goedgekeur. Die hoofdoelwitte van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of die bogenoemde stowwe antimikrobiese werking teen wyngeassosieerde mikroorganismes het, soos die ongewenste MSB, ASB en giste. Die stabiliteit en geskiktheid van dié bakteriosiene en lisosiem as antimikrobiese middels in wyn is ook ondersoek, veral wanneer hulle in kombinasie vir preservering gebruik is. 'n Mikrotiterverdunningsboeljon-metode en skanderingselektronmikroskopie is gebruik om moontlike sinergistiese en antagonistiese interaksies tussen bogenoemde bakteriosienpare te ondersoek. Terselfdertyd is die effektiefste konsentrasies en kombinasies van bakteriosiene teen stygende MSB-getalle bepaal. Daar is bevind dat nisien, pediosien en leukosien in verskillende mates teen 'n toetspaneel van MSB tipe- en verwysingsrasse, asook MSB-wynisolate, effektief is. Nisien was herhaaldelik die effektiefste teen dié MSB, gevolg deur pediosien en dan leukosien. Die bakteriosiene was nie teen die wyngeassosieerde ASB of giste wat getoets is, effektief nie. Daar is ook bewys dat pediosien vir tot 20 dae stabiel in 'n gesimuleerde wynomgewing was, sonder dat die alkohol- of die swaweldioksiedkonsentrasie 'n invloed op die aktiwiteit gehad het nie. 'n Lae pH het geblyk om die grootste invloed op die afname in aktiwiteit te hê. Hierdie bevindinge ten opsigte van pediosien het die resultate van nisien en leukosien in ander, soortgelyke ondersoeke, bevestig. Die werking van toenemende konsentrasies van bakteriosienkombinasies (as pare van nisien-Ieukosien, nisien-pediosien, leukosien-pediosien, en al drie saam as nisienpediosien- Ieukosien) teen toenemende getalle van In wyngeïsoleerde MSB is geëvalueer. Wanneer die bakteriosiene in pare gebruik is, was die kombinasies die effektiefste teen laer MSB selgetalle (102 en 104 kfe/ml), terwyl dit baie minder effektief teen hoër selgetalle (106 en 108 kfe/ml) was, veral wanneer lae bakteriosienkonsentrasies gebruik is. Die nisien-Ieukosien kombinasiewas tot 'n geringe mate meer effektief as die nisien-pediosien kombinasie. Die leukosien-pediosien kombinasie het die laagste effektiwiteit van.al die pare bakteriosiene wat gebruik is, getoon. Die sterkste werking is waargeneem toe al drie die bakteriosiene saam teen bogenoemde MSB gebruik is. Die bakteriosien kombinasies het geen effek teen ASB gehad nie. Pediosien en lisosiem is ook in kombinasie teen dieselfde wynisolaat gebruik, maar geen oortuigende afleidings kon van hierdie eksperiment gemaak word nie. Skanderingselektronmikroskopie is gebruik om enige morfologiese verandering in die MSB-wynisolaat waar te neem wanneer bakteriosiene daarby gevoeg is. Dieselfde wynisolaat is weer gebruik en bakteriosiene is by die bakterieë gevoeg, enkelvoudig asook in kombinasies (soos voorheen gebruik) teen gelyke hoeveelhede. Die werking van die bakteriosien het gelei na merkbare veranderinge in selmorfologie, en die kombinasie van pediosien-Ieukosien was weereens die minste effektief. Die mikrotiterverdunningsboeljon-metode is gebruik om die aard van die bakteriosieninteraksies verder te karakteriseer. Die toetse het duidelik aangedui dat die bakteriosiene op mekaar reageer. Deur een bakteriosien tot variërende konsentrasies van 'n ander bakteriosien te voeg, is die inhibitoriese werking van die tweede bakteriosien geaffekteer deurdat die effektiwiteit daarvan toegeneem of afgeneem het. Dit het ook geblyk dat die belangrikste faktor wat hier in ag geneem moet word die verhouding is waarteen die bakteriosiene met mekaar gebruik word, aangesien dit tot óf sinergisme óf antagonisme kan lei. Dft dui op 'n baie komplekse interaksie. Die resultate van hierdie projek het dus daarop gedui dat dit inderdaad moontlik is om beide bakteriosien en lisosiem in wynpreservering te gebruik, aangesien beide nie net stabiel in 'n wynomgewing is nie, maar ook effektief is teen MSB sonder dat die gisfermentasies geaffekteer word. Bakteriosiene kan ook in kombinasie gebruik word om die inhibisie spektrum te verbreed, en om ook moontlik die inhibisiepotensiaal van die individuele peptiede te verhoog. Onderliggende interaksies by sulke kombinasies moet egter sorgvuldig ondersoek word wanneer daar oorweeg word om kombinasies van hierdie antimikrobiese middels in voedsel- en drankprodukte te gebruik. Verder moet daar ook aandag geskenk word om biopreserveermiddels te vind wat ook teen die Gram-negatiewe ASB effektief is, asook aan die aard van die verloop van interaksies van pare van bakteriosiene oor tyd. Nog 'n punt om te oorweeg is die manipulasie van giste of bakterieë omdie antimikrobiese peptiede in situ, as deel van hulle metabolisme, te produseer.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2009.
Title from title screen (viewed December 9, 2009) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of History, Faculty of Arts. Degree awarded 2009; thesis submitted 2008. Includes bibliographical references and appendices. Also available in print form.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African red wine is often acknowledged world wide as being full bodied and deep in colour. This is often the result of high temperatures that is experienced during the important growth stages of grapes especially post véraison. In the Robertson area in South Africa however, temperatures often exceeds the range for optimal anthocyanin development during these growth stages. The distinction between grapes being technologically ripe and being ripe on a phenolic level is also accepted as an important determining factor for the perfect time to pick grapes. In co-operative wineries such as Robertson Winery (RW) where grapes are delivered from a large area and different producers, it is difficult to individualise grape blocks when it comes to ripeness level in terms of sugar or phenolic ripeness. In most circumstances a generalised set of parameters for deeming grapes ripe or acceptable for delivery is the best substitute. The levels of these parameters are based on research literature that is available for the area as well as data collected through years of maintaining the vineyards of that area. The grape parameters that are currently being used by RW for ripeness and quality are pH, titratable acidity (TA) and sugar level. In recent years RW in conjunction with the Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, decided to investigate more parameters to determine the quality of grapes at the time of harvest. Most importantly for the grape growers this quality is connected to a price point and therefore compensation. Two important quality parameters of red wine are the red colour and mouth feel of wine. Anthocyanin and tannins are respectively connected to these two quality attributes and are both widely accepted as quality indicators. Wine with high anthocyanin and tannin content often originates from grapes with a high colour and phenolic profile. The existence of a correlation between grape and wine anthocyanin and tannin content is therefore the basis of attempting to use these parameters in the grape to predict end wine’s colour and phenolic quantity. Determination of anthocyanin and tannin content of grapes has already become part of some private owned wineries’ standard set of determinations. However, sample preparations, extractions and consumables needed are all factors that need to be reduced to make the measurement and therefore the use of these parameters more viable in a co-operative cellar laboratory, where large volumes of grapes are received during harvest. The first objective of this work was to determine the levels of anthocyanin and tannin in red grapes from different vineyard blocks from the producers of RW from three successive vintages. This would give insight as to what can be seen as a low and high anthocyanin and tannin content for grapes received at the cellar. For this purpose, blocks of the most important red wine cultivars for RW was selected and analysed for these compounds. The ranges and average levels of anthocyanin and tannin content were determined using measurement techniques that could be used by any winery. The average mono flavanol and total colour level of the grapes were found to be lower than those often reported in literature, with total grape flavanols being higher. However, a wide range of values for these compounds were found that correlated with those found in other studies. The possible reasons for differences in levels of occurrence of these compounds were discussed and mostly pertain to differences in cultivar, micro climatic and season. The second objective was to determine the correlation between levels of colour and phenolic compounds in grapes and their corresponding wines. Such correlations will form the foundation for the use of phenolic content to predict the colour and phenolic potential of the wine and possibly wine quality as well. When the grape and wine colour and phenolic data were correlated for all seasons and cultivars inclusive it was found that grape and wine colour showed better correlations than for instance total phenols and tannins. This was especially true for total colour pigments in red grapes, measured with HPLC, when correlated with certain spectrophotometric analysis of wine colour. Cultivar and season as well as the synergism between the two were further investigated for its role in affecting correlations. When these relationships were further differentiated by season and by cultivar the resulting correlations varied. This work contributed a great deal of information to support the use of grape colour and phenolic compounds for the prediction of end wine colour and phenolic composition. The third objective was to investigate near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) as a viable option to rapidly measured anthocyanins, tannins and total phenolics in red grapes. If proven successfully, this could be employed by a large cellar such as RW. FT-NIR has been used with success on grape extracts and in this instance the focus was to establish a calibration on the grape homogenate itself. Preliminary results showed that FT-NIR could be applied for the use of determination of anthocyanin and tannin levels in red grapes originating from RW. The prediction of total phenols was not found to be as accurate, but this could also be due to the reference method that was used. This work brought some interesting, practical information not only of importance for RW, but all wineries that are concerned with improving the basis on which grape quality is determined. The use of aerial data mapping for indicating areas regarding important grape colour and phenolic parameters was used in this study and is a very visual way of showing the distribution of certain ripeness parameters over a large area. Correlations between the grape and wines of such a large amount of red grape blocks for a specific area have not also been reported in South Africa before. The use of FT-NIR to determine anthocyanins and tannin concentrations in grape homogenates is also novel for its use in South African wineries. This work may assist grape and wine producers as well as analysts on the phenolic and colour profile of grapes and wines from RW.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrikaanse rooiwyn word wêreld-wyd geken aan ‘n dieprooi kleur en vol struktuur. Die grootste rede vir hierdie verskynsel is hoë temperature wat ervaar word tydens rypwording en veral na véraison. In die Robertson wynstreek is temperature egter tydens rypwording dikwels vêr bo dit was as optimaal vir antosianien ontwikkeling beskou word. Die gepaste tyd om druiwe te pluk word nie net gedryf deur die tegnologiese rypheidsvlak nie, maar ook deur fenoliese rypheid. In ‘n koöperatiewe kelder omgewing soos Robertson Wynkelder (RW) word ‘n hoë lading druiwe elke dag ontvant vanaf verskillende produsente oor ‘n breë streek. Dit maak dit moeilik om te bepaal watter druiwe werklik beide tegnologies en fenolies ryp is. Die beste manier om hiervoor te vergoed is om ‘n standaard te stel vir ‘n reeks voorafbepaalde parameters. Die vlakke van die gekose parameters is, word bepaal deur navorsinguitsette sowel as die geskiedkunde data wat ingesamel is vanaf elkeen van die bepaalde blokke. Die parameters wat tans in gebruik is by RW om oesdatum en kwaliteit by inname te bepaal is pH, titreerbare suur (TA) en suiker vlak. Die tekortkoming hier is dat kwaliteit van druiwe beswaarlik met slegs hierdie informasie kan bepaal word, maar dat dit die betaling van die produsent by aflewering wesenlik kan beïnvloed. Dit het RW genoop om in samewerking met die Departement van Wingerd en Wynkunde, Universiteit van Stellenbosch nog parameters te ondersoek wat hierdie rypheid- en kwaliteitsbepaling by inname sou kon versterk. Twee belangrike faktore wat kwaliteit van rooiwyn bepaal is die kleur en struktuur. Antosianiene en tanniene is onderskeidelik verantwoordelik vir hierdie kwaliteits eienskappe van wyn. Wyn wat bestempel word as hoog in kleur en tannien inhoud word dikwels verbind met druiwe wat hoog is in hierdie faktore. Die moontlike korrelasie tussen die antosianien en tannien inhoud van druiwe en die wyn wat daarvan berei word is dus die basis waarop die potensiële toepassing van hierdie parameters berus. Die bepaling van antosianien en tannien vlakke word reeds in sommige laboratoriums gedoen. Die monster voorbereidings tyd, ekstraksies, toerusting en verbruikbare items nodig om hierdie tipe analieses te doen is egter hoog. Die analiese van hierdie komponente is meer lewensvatbaar in groot laboratoriums (soos in ‘n koöperatiewe kelder) waar groter volume druiwe ingeneem word gedurende parstyd. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie studie was om te bepaal teen watter vlakke antosianiene en tanniene in druiwe voorkom, spesifiek van die Robertson area. Die het behels ‘n wye verskeidenheid van blokke, verspreid oor die hele streek wat oor 3 seisoene gemonitor is in terme van veral kleur en tanniene maar ook ander belangrike parameters. Die idee hier is om insig te kry rakende watter vlakke bestempel kan word as laag en hoog in terme van antosianien en tanniene vir die Robertson streek. Daarvoor is slegs die mees aangeplantste rooi kultivars gebruik. Die verspreiding en gemiddelde vlakke waarteen antosianien en tanniene voorkom was bepaal deur gebruik te maak van metodes wat as relatief algemeen in laboratoria gebruik word. Die gemiddelde mono-flavonoïed en totale kleur pigment inhoud van die druiwe was laer as van die vlakke wat in die literatuur beskikbaar is, met totale flavanole wat hoër was. Die wyer verspreiding van die waardes het egter beter gekorreleer met die waardes soos beskryf in die literatuur. Die moontlike redes vir die verskillende vlakke word in die studie bespreek en word waarskynlik bepaal deur verskille in kultivar, mikro-klimaat en seisoen. Die tweede doelwit was om te bepaal of daar ‘n korrelasie te vinde is tussen die kleur en tannien inhoud van die druiwe en ooreenstemmende wyne. Sulke tipe korrelasies sal die basis vorm om antosianien en tannien inhoud van wyn reeds in die druiwe fase te kan voorspel. Nadat die ingesamelde druif en wyn data as ‘n geheel beskou was, was dit sigbaar dat die wynkleur parameters beter korrelasies bied as meeste tannien en totale fenole. Dit was veral waar in die geval van totale kleur pigmente soos gemeet met die HPLC teenoor die wynkleur parameters gemeet met spektrofotometriese metodes. Verdere ondersoeke in terme van die impak wat die kultivar en seisoenale kan hê het tot variërende korrelasies gelei.. Hierdie werk het ‘n groot bydrae gelewer om voorspellings van wyn kleur en fenoliese inhoud reeds met sukses vanaf die druif te bepaal. Derdens het die werk fourier transformasie naby infrarooi skandering (FT-NIR) ondersoek as ‘n lewensvatbare metode vir die bepaling van antosianien, tannien en totale fenoliese inhoud van druiwe en wyn. FT-NIR word reeds oor ‘n wye reeks wyne en druiwe ekstraksiemonsters toegepas en die doelwit hier was om druiwe homogenaat as matriks te kalibreer. Voorlopige resultate het bevind dat antosianien en tannien vlakke in druiwe van RW gemeet kan word met die FT-NIR, maar dat die kalibrasie vir totale fenole nog verbeter kan word. Hierdie werk het ‘n wye reeks interessante en prakties bruikbare informasie na vore gebring wat van onskatbare belang is vir RW en ander kelders wat besorgd is oor die verbetering van algemene druifkwaliteit. Geografiese kaarte wat belangrike druifkleur en fenoliese parameters aandui is in hierdie studie gebruik en wys hoe data visueel voorgestel kan word om die geheelindruk van gekose parameters oor ‘n groot area te vergelyk. Korrelasies tussen druiwe en wyn van so ‘n groot hoeveelheid druiwe blokke is nog nooit voorheen in Suid-Afrika getoon nie. Dieselfde geld vir die gebruik van FT-NIR vir die meet van kleur en fenoliese parameters in druiwe homogenate. Hierdie werk kan druiwe- en wynproduseerders sowel as analiste assisteer in terme van die kleur en fenoliese profiel van druiwe en wyn van RW.
Robertson Winery with Mr Bowen Botha as well as THRIP for funding this project

Bibliography: leaves 200-214. Three structurally related compounds, 2-acetyltetrahydropyridine (ACTPY), 2-ethyltetrahydropyridine (ETPY) and N-heterocycle, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (ACPY), were quantified and found to be unique components of mousy wines. 35 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened for the ability to produce mousy off-flavour. In addition to Lactobacillus brevis and L. cellobiosus, a diversity of LAB species, particularly heterofermentative Lactobacillus spp. and Oenococcus oeni exhibited this ability in a range of ethanolic and wine-based media. The substrates and metabolism of mousy compound formation by LAB were also investigated. A pathway for the formation of ACPY and ACTPY by heterofermentative LAB was proposed.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Wine production is a complex biotechnological process aiming at productively coordinating the interactions and outputs of several biological systems, including grapevine and many microorganisms such as wine yeast and wine bacteria. High-throughput data generating tools in the elds of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics are being applied both locally and globally in order to better understand complex biological systems. As such, the datasets available for analysis and mining include de novo datasets created by collaborators as well as publicly available datasets which one can use to get further insight into the systems under study. In order to model the complexity inherent in and across these datasets it is necessary to develop methods and approaches based on network theory and multivariate data analysis as well as to explore the intersections between these two approaches to data modelling, mining and interpretation. Networks: The traditional reductionist paradigm of analysing single components of a biological system has not provided tools with which to adequately analyse data sets that are attempting to capture systems-level information. Network theory has recently emerged as a new discipline with which to model and analyse complex systems and has arisen from the study of real and often quite large networks derived empirically from the large volumes of data that have collected from communications, internet, nancial and biological systems. This is in stark contrast to previous theoretical approaches to understanding complex systems such as complexity theory, synergetics, chaos theory, self-organised criticality, and fractals which were all sweeping theoretical constructs based on small toy models which proved unable to address the complexity of real world systems. Multivariate Data Analysis: Principle components analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression are commonly used to reduce the dimensionality of a matrix (and amongst matrices in the case of PLS) in which there are a considerable number of potentially related variables. PCA and PLS are variance focused approaches where components are ranked by the amount of variance they each explain. Components are, by de nition, orthogonal to one another and as such, uncorrelated. Aims: This thesis explores the development of Computational Biology tools that are essential to fully exploit the large data sets that are being generated by systems-based approaches in order to gain a better understanding of winerelated organisms such as grapevine (and tobacco as a laboratory-based plant model), plant pathogens, microbes and their interactions. The broad aim of this thesis is therefore to develop computational methods that can be used in an integrated systems-based approach to model and describe di erent aspects of the wine making process from a biological perspective. To achieve this aim, computational methods have been developed and applied in the areas of transcriptomics, phylogenomics, chemiomics and microbiomics. Summary: The primary approaches taken in this thesis have been the use of networks and multivariate data analysis methods to analyse highly dimensional data sets. Furthermore, several of the approaches have started to explore the intersection between networks and multivariate data analysis. This would seem to be a logical progression as both networks and multivariate data analysis are focused on matrix-based data modelling and therefore have many of their roots in linear algebra.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Wynproduksie is 'n komplekse biotegnologiese proses wat mik op die produktiewe koördinering van verskeie interaksies en uitsette van verskeie biologiese sisteme. Hierdie sisteme sluit in die wingerd, wat van besondere belang is, asook die wyn gis en wyn bakterieë. Hoë-deurset data generasie word huidiglik beide globaal en plaaslik toegepas in die velde van genomika, transkriptomika, proteomika, metabolomika en mikrobiomika. As sulks is hierdie tipe datastelle beskikbaar vir ontleding, bemyning en verkening. Die datastelle kan de novo gegenereer word, met behulp van medewerkers, of dit kan vanuit die publieke databasisse gewerf word waar sulke datastelle dikwels beskikbaar gemaak word sodat verdere insig verkry kan word met betrekking tot die sisteem onder studie. Die hoë-deurset datastelle onder bespreking bevat 'n hoë mate van inherente kompleksiteit, beide ten opsigte van ditself asook tussen verskeie datastelle. Om ten einde hierdie datastelle en hul inherente kompleksiteit te modelleer is dit nodig om metodes en benaderings te ontwikkel wat gesetel is in netwerk teorie en meerveranderlike statistiek. Verdermeer is dit ook nodig om die kruisings tussen netwerk teorie en meerveranderlike statistiek te verken om sodoende die modellering, bemyning, verkening en interpretasie van data te verbeter. Netwerke: Die tradisionele reduksionistiese paradigma, waarby enkele komponente van 'n biologiese sisteem geontleed word, het tot dusver nie voldoende metodes en gereedskap gelewer waarmee datastelle, wat streef om sisteemvlak informasie te bekom, geontleed kan word nie. Netwerk teorie het na vore gekom as 'n nuwe dissipline wat toegepas kan word vir die model-skepping en ontleding van komplekse sisteme. Dit stem uit die studie van egte, dikwels groot netwerke wat empiries afgelei word uit die groot volumes data wat tans na vore kom vanuit kommunikasie-, internet-, nansiële- en biologiese sisteme. Dit is in skrille kontras met vorige teoretiese benaderings wat gestreef het om komplekse sisteme te verstaan met konsepte soos kompleksiteits teorie, synergetics , chaos teorie, self-georganiseerde kritikaliteit en fraktale. Al die bogeneomde is breë teoretiese konstrukte, gebasseer op relatief kleinskaal modelle, wat nie instaat was om oplossings vir die kompleksiteit van egte-wêreld sisteme te bied nie. Meerveranderlike Data-analise: Hoofkomponente-ontleding (PCA) en Partial Least Squares (PLS) regressie word dikwels gebruik om die dimensionaliteit van 'n matriks (en tussen matrikse in die geval van PLS) te verminder. Hierdie matrikse bevat dikwels 'n aansienlike groot hoeveelheid moontlikverwante veranderlikes. PCA en PLS is variansie gedrewe metodes en behels dat komponente gerang word deur die hoeveelheid variansie wat elke component verduidelik. Komponente is by de nisie ortogonaal ten opsigte van mekaar en as sulks ongekorreleerd. Doelwitte: Hierdie tesis verken die ontwikkeling van verskeie Computational Biology metodes wat noodsaaklik is om ten volle die groot skaal datastelle te benut wat tans deur sisteem-gebasseerde benaderings gegenereer word. Die doel is om beter begrip en kennis van wyn verwante organismes te kry, hierdie organismes sluit in die wingerd (met tabak as laboratorium-gebasseerde plant model), plant patogene en microbes sowel as hulle interaksies. Die breë mikpunt van hierdie tesis is dus om gerekenaardiseerde metodes te ontwikkel wat gebruik kan word in 'n geintergreerde sisteem-gebaseerde benadering tot die modellering en beskrywing van verskillende aspekte van die wynmaak proses vanuit 'n biologiese standpunt. Om die mikpunt te bereik is gerekenaardiseerde metodes ontwikkel en toegepas in die velde van transkriptomika, logenomika, chemiomika en mikrobiomika. Opsomming: Die primêre benadering geneem in hierdie tesis is die gebruik van netwerke en meerveranderlike data-ontleding metodes om hoë-dimensie datastelle te ontleed. Verdermeer, verskeie van die metodes begin om die gemeenskaplike grond tussen netwerke en meerveranderlike data-ontleding te verken. Dit blyk om 'n logiese progressie te wees, aangesien beide netwerke en meerveranderlike data-ontleding gefokus is op matriks-gebaseerde data modellering en dus gewortel is in liniêre algebra.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Non-Saccharomyces yeasts of oenological origin have previously been associated with spoilage or regarded as undesired yeasts in wine. However, these yeasts have recently come under investigation for their positive contribution towards wine aroma especially when used in sequential or co-inoculated fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These yeasts are also known to secrete a number of enzymes that could be applicable in wine biotechnology. Amongst these enzymes are aspartic proteases. The secreted proteases from some non-Saccharomyces yeast may play a role in protein haze reduction, as demonstrated by some authors, while simultaneously increasing the assimilable nitrogen content of the wine for the utilization and growth of fermentative microorganisms. Moreover, the proteases may have an indirect effect on wine aroma by liberating amino acids that serve as aroma precursors. Although many screenings have been performed detecting protease activity in non-Saccharomyces yeasts, no attempts have been made to characterize these enzymes. This study set out to isolate and characterize genes encoding extracellular aspartic proteases from non-Saccharomyces yeasts. An enzymatic activity screening of a collection of 308 Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeasts, isolated from grape must, was performed. The aspartic protease-encoding genes of two non- Saccharomyces yeasts, which showed strong extracellular proteolytic activity on plate assays, were isolated and characterized by in silico analysis. The genes were isolated by employing degenerate and inverse PCR. One gene was isolated from Metschnikowia pulcherrima IWBT Y1123 and named MpAPr1. The other putative gene was isolated from Candida apicola IWBT Y1384 and named CaAPr1. The MpAPr1 gene is 1137 bp long, encoding a 378 amino acid putative protein with a predicted molecular weight of 40.1 kDa. The CaAPr1 putative gene is 1101 bp long and encodes a 367 amino acid putative protein with a predicted molecular weight of 39 kDa. These features are typical of extracellular aspartic proteases. The deduced protein sequences showed less than 40% homology to other yeast extracellular aspartic proteases. By heterologous expression of MpAPr1 in S. cerevisiae, it was confirmed that the gene encodes an extracellular acid protease. The expression of MpAPr1 was shown to be induced in media containing proteins as sole nitrogen source and repressed when a preferred nitrogen source was available. The gene was expressed in the presence of casein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and grape juice proteins and repressed in the presence of ammonium sulphate. Expression was most induced in the presence of grape juice proteins, which was expected since these proteins are present in the natural habitat of the yeast. A genetic screening confirmed the presence of the MpAPr1 gene in 12 other M. pulcherrima strains isolated from grape juice. The extracellular protease activity of the strains was also visualized on plates. As far as we know, this is the first report on the genetic characterization of secreted aspartic proteases from non-Saccharomyces yeasts isolated from grape must and provides the groundwork for further investigations.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie-Saccharomyces giste is voorheen met wynbederf geassosieer en hul teenwoordigheid in wyn is ongewens. Hierdie giste is onlangs ondersoek vir hulle positiewe bydrae tot wyn aroma, in veral sekwensiële en ko-inokulerings met Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sommige van die nie-Saccahromyces giste skei ‘n verskeidenhied ensieme af wat moontlik vir die wynmaker van nut kan wees. Een groep van hierdie ensieme is die aspartiese suurproteases. Soos deur sommige navorsers aangetoon word, kan die proteases die vorming van proteïenwaasverlaging, terwyl dit terselfdertyd die assimilerende stikstofinhoud van die wyn vir die gebruik en groei van fermentasie-mikroörganismes verhoog. Die proteases kan moontlik ook ‘n indirekte uitwerking op die aromaprofiel van die wyn hê deur die vrystelling van aminosure wat as aromavoorlopers dien. Alhoewel baie studies gedoen is wat die ekstrasellulêre teenwoordigheid van proteases bevestig in nie-Saccharomyces giste wat van druiwesap/wyn afkoms is, is daar geen dokumentasie oor die genetiese karakterisering van hierdie ensieme beskikbaar nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om gene wat aspartiese proteases in nie-Saccharomyces giste enkodeer, te isoleer en gedeeltelik te karakteriseer. ‘n Versameling van 308 Saccharomyces en nie-Saccharomyces giste wat uit druiwe sap geïsoleer is, is gesif vir ensiematiese aktiwiteit deur plaattoetse uit te voer. Twee gene wat aspartiese protease enkodeer, is geïsoleer van twee nie-Saccharomyces giste. Dit hetpositief gedurende die aktiwiteitstoetse getoets en is deur in silico–analise gekarakteriseer. Die gene is deur die uitvoering van gedegenereerde en inverse PKR geïdentifiseer. Een geen is vanaf Metschnikowia pulcherrima IWBT Y1123 geïsoleer en is MpAPr1 genoem, terwyl die ander van Candida apicola IWBT Y1384 geïsoleer en CaAPr1 genoem is. Die MpAPr1-geen is 1137 bp lank en enkodeer ‘n proteïen wat uit 378 aminosure bestaan met ‘n voorspelde molekulêre massa van 40.1 kDa. Daar teenoor is die CaAPr1-geen 1101 bp lank en enkodeer vir ‘n proteïen wat uit 367 aminosure met ‘n molekulêre massa van 39 kDa bestaan. Hierdie eienskappe is kenmerkend van aspartiese protease. Die afgeleide proteïenvolgorde het minder as 40% homologie met ander ekstrasellulêre aspartiese proteases vertoon, wat dui op die nuwigheid van hierdie ensieme. Die MpAPr1-geen is heterologies in S. cerevisiae YHUM272 uitgedruk en dit het bevestig dat die geen inderdaad ‘n ekstrasellulêre aspartiese protease enkodeer. Die MpAPr1-geen is uitgedruk in media wat alleenlik proteïen as stikstofbron bevat het, terwyl dit onderdruk is in gevalle waar ‘n verkose stikstofbron beskikbaar was. Die geen is uitgedruk in die teenwoordigheid van kaseïen, BSA en proteïene afkomstig vanaf druiwesap en in die teenwoordigheid van ammoniumsulfaat onderdruk. Die hoogste uitdrukking was in die teenwoordigheid van druifproteïene. Hierdie proteïene is teenwoordig in die natuurlike habitat van die gis en is dus dalk ‘n bekende stikstofbron vir die gis. ‘n Genetiese sifting het die teenwoordigheid van die MpAPr1-geen in 12 ander M. pulcherrima–rasse, wat ook van wynkundige oorsprong is, bevestig. Die aspartiese protease-aktiwiteit van die 12 rasse is ook op agarplate waargeneem. Na ons wete, is dit die eerste verslag oor die genetiese karakterisering van afgeskeide aspartiese proteases van nie- Saccharomyces giste van wynkundige oorsprong en verskaf die grondslag vir verdere ondersoek.

The aim of the study presented in this thesis was to assess the impact of manipulations to red winemaking unit operations on the concentration of cis- and trans-resveratrol and resveratrol glucoside isomers in the resultant wines. An existing sensitive reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography 'RP-HPLC' method was optimised to detect these compounds in wine, which permitted excellent peak resolution. The influence of four fermentative yeast strains belonging to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae species on the content of these compounds in Vitis Vinifera L. cv. Shiraz grape musts during alcoholic fermentation was assessed.The influence of malo-lactic fermentation 'MLF' in Shiraz wine was assessed using three different commercial strains. The kinetics of extraction during extended maceration was studied over a period of 21 days.The effect of various pomace contacting maceration methods on the level of cis- and trans-resveratrol and resveratrol glucoside isomers was investigated in Vitus Vinifera L. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon grape musts during alcoholic fermentation. The fate of resveratrol and piceid isomers in fortified red wine(port) was studied during the first six months of maturation in either glass or new oak vessels. The primary wine was derived from Shiraz concentrate. The various tests are discussed in detail and results given
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Producers of South African (SA) dry and semi-dry Chenin blanc table wines are currently experimenting with winemaking techniques to modulate the flavours of the predominantly fruity styles of this genre. An important stage during wine style development is sensory profiling paired with consumer acceptance testing, before wine is produced on industrial scale. With those aforementioned goals in mind, this study was conducted in partnership with two commercial SA wine cellars. The main focus of the study was an investigation into the treatment effects of two winemaking techniques, respectively grape skin contact and natural fermentation, on the sensory profiles of experimentally produced Chenin blanc wines. Results obtained with descriptive sensory analysis (DA) of the wines were compared to those obtained by two rapid sensory profiling methods, namely projective mapping (PM) and frequency of attribute citation (FC). A consumer preference study was also done on the wines. In order to understand the treatment effects better, the dominant non-Saccharomyces yeasts that were present during the natural fermentations were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), while the major volatile chemical compounds were identified with chromatography and mass spectrometry. The sensory and chemical profiles of the naturally fermented wines were significantly different from those of the inoculated wines. PCR analysis identified some of the yeasts present during alcoholic fermentation. In comparison to the inoculated fermented wines, the naturally fermented wines were generally perceived to have more intense and riper tropical fruity aromas, with enhanced sweetness and reduced intensities of sourness, bitterness and astringency. The wines fermented on the skins (FoS) had lower ester and volatile thiol concentrations than the control wines (with no skin contact) and limited skin contact wines. Sensory attributes linked to the FoS wines included aromas of dried fruit, dried grass and a vegetative character, with an increased sour and bitter taste and astringent mouthfeel. In contrast, the wines that were produced with limited skin contact (12 hours) retained their tropical fruity aromas better than the FoS wines. Limited skin contact seemed to have had a less harsh effect on the taste and mouthfeel than the FoS wines. A consumer study was done to establish a Generation Y consumer group’s (18-35 years) preference for the different treated wines. Overall, the naturally fermented wines, which were described as having a strong tropical fruit character, were preferred. The FoS wines were generally disliked by the consumers. Results obtained from the three sensory analysis methods, respectively DA, PM and FC, were similar, thereby confirming the suitability of the rapid methods PM and FC, to extract qualitative information from the sensory profiling of white wine. The results of this study made a significant contribution towards validation of rapid sensory methods for wine evaluation, which are particularly valuable in the context of sustainability and technology transfer to research and industry alike. The knowledge gained on the chemical profiles of SA Chenin blanc is novel and this is one of the first reports on the volatile thiol content of SA Chenin blanc wine.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Produsente van Suid-Afrikaanse (SA) droë en semi-droë Chenin blanc tafelwyne eksperimenteer tans met wynmaaktegnieke om die oorwegend vrugtige style van hierdie genre te varieer. ‘n Belangrike fase van wynstylontwikkeling is sensoriese profilering van die produkte met gepaardgaande verbruikersaanvaardingstoetse, voordat die wyne op industriële skaal geproduseer word. Met dié bogenoemde doelwitte in gedagte, was hierdie studie in vennootskap met twee kommersiële SA wynkelders gedoen. Die hooffokus van die studie was om die invloed van twee wynmaaktegnieke, onderskeidelik druifdopkontak en natuurlike fermentasie, op die sensoriese profiele van eksperimenteel geproduseerde Chenin blanc wyne te ondersoek. Resultate wat met beskrywende sensoriese analise (DA) van die wyne verkry is, is vergelyk met dié wat deur twee vinniger sensoriese profileringsmetodes metodes, naamlik projektiewe kartering (PM) en frekwensie van kenmerkaanhaling (FC) verkry is. 'n Verbruikervoorkeurstudie is ook op die wyne gedoen. Ten einde die behandelingseffekte beter te verstaan, is die dominante nie-Saccharomyces giste wat teenwoordig was tydens die natuurlike fermentasie geïdentifiseer met behulp van die polimerasekettingreaksie (PCR), terwyl die vernaamste vlugtige chemiese verbindings geïdentifiseer is met chromatografie en massaspektrometrie. Die sensoriese en chemiese profiele van die natuurlike gefermenteerde wyne was beduidend anders as dié van die geiinokuleerde wyne. PCR analise het sommige giste wat teenwoordig was tydens alkoholies fermentasie geïdentifiseer. In vergelyking met die geiinokuleerde wyne, het die natuurlik gefermenteerde wyne intenser en ryper tropiese vrugtige aromas getoon, met ‘n verhoogde perspesie van soetheid en laer intensiteite van suurheid, bitterheid en vrankheid. Die wyne wat berei is deur fermentasie op die druifdoppe (FoS) het laer konsentrasies van esters en vlugtige swawelverbinding gehad, as die kontrole wyne (geen dopkontak) en beperkte dopkontak wyne. Sensoriese eienskappe gekoppel aan die FoS wyne was geasssosieer met gedroogde vrugte, gedroogde gras en 'n vegetatiewe aroma, met gepaardgaande verhoogde suur en bitter smaakpersepsies en ‘n frank mondgevoel. In teenstelling, het die wyne wat geproduseer is met 'n beperkte dopkontak (12 uur) hul tropiese vrugtige aroma beter behou as die FoS wyne. Beperkte dopkontak het ook ‘n minder negatiewe uitwerking op die smaakpersepies van bitterheid en vrankheid gehad. ‘n Verbruikerstudie is gedoen om 'n groep jong Generasie Y verbruikers (18-35 jaar) se voorkeure vir die verskillende behandelings te bepaal. Oor die algemeen is die natuurlike gefermenteerde wyne, wat beskryf is met 'n sterk tropiese vrugtekarakter verkies, terwyl die groep nie van die FoS wyne gehou het nie. Resultate wat verkry is met drie sensoriese analise metodes, onderskeidelik DA, PM en FC, was soortgelyk en die geskiktheid van die vinniger metodes, PM en FC, om kwalitatiewe inligting van witwyn se sensoriese eienskappe te verkry, is bevestig. Die resultate verkry met hierdie studie maak ‘n beduidende bydrae tot die validering van vinniger sensoriese metodes vir wynevaluering, wat veral waardevol is in die konteks van volhoubaarheid en tegnologieoordrag na navorsing en die industrie. Die nuwe kennis wat in hierdie studie gegenereer is met die chemiese profilering van SA Chenin blanc wyn is baie waardevol en hierdie is een van die eerste narvorsingsprojekte oor die inhoud van vlugtige swawelverbings in SA Chenin blanc wyn.

This thesis presents a systematic investigation ofyeasts associated with wine grapes cultivated in several Australian vineyards during the 2001-2003 vintages. Using a combination of cultural and molecular methods, yeast populations of red (Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Tyrian) and white (Sauvignon blanc, Semilion) grape varieties were examined throughout grape cultivation. The yeast-like fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans, was the most prevalent species found on grapes. Various species of Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula and Sporobolomyces were frequently isolated throughout grape maturation. Ripe grapes showed an increased incidence of Hanseniaspora and Metschnikowia species for the 2001-2002 seasons, but not for the drought affected, 2002-2003 seasons. Atypical, hot and dry conditions may account for this difference in yeast flora and have limited comparisons of data to determine the influences of vineyard location, grape variety and pesticide applications on the yeast ecology. More systematic and controlled studies of these variables are required. Damaged grape berries harboured higher yeast populations and species diversity than intact healthy berries. PCR-DGGE analysis was less sensitive than plate culture for describing the diversity of yeast species on grapes; it detected prevalent species, but subdominant populations below 103 CFU/g were not detected. In some cases, PCR-DGGE revealed the presence ofyeasts (Candida galli, C. zemplinina) not isolated by culture. Fermentative wine species (Kluyveromyces, Torulaspora, Saccharomyces) were rarely isolated, and only detected by enrichment cultures. Significant morphological and genetic variability were detected among A. pullulans and other black yeasts isolates from grapes. Taxonomic characterization of 61 strains by ITS-RFLP and rDNA sequencing revealed that they belonged to several distinct species within the generic groupings ofAureobasidium, Hormonema and Kabatiella. Isolates were strong producers of extracellular enzymes and polysaccharides that could have oenological significance, and, using a plate assay, some were antagonistic towards Bacillus thuringiensis, several wine yeasts, and some spoilage and mycotoxigenic fungi found on grapes. Growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was not inhibited by these organisms in grape juice. A species-specific probe was developed for the identification of the wine spoilage yeast, Zygosaccharomyces bailii in a microtitre plate hybridization assay. The probe detected 102 cells/ml in wine, reliably differentiating Z. bailii from other Zygosaccharomyces and other wine-related yeasts.

The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on December 29, 2009). Thesis advisor: Dr. Ingolf Gruen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, 2008.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Aug. 3, 2009) Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The relationships between leaf and fruit represent a fundamental concept in perennial plants. This concept allows to understand and to manage, with regard to farming, the balance of a vine, which is important in terms of fruit quality (i.e. fruit composition), mainly when it comes to producing wines of different categories and styles. The understanding of vine structure, physiology and vine functioning ultimately allows for appropriate recommendations to be given with regard to farming procedures. These include the adaptation of the canopy architecture to achieve a certain yield per vine, the determination of an appropriate fruit microclimate as well as the prediction of harvest dates. One of the central notions of vine balance involves the relationship between the source and the sink organs. The definition of source-sink relationships incorporates several concepts, including the ability of a source tissue to produce carbohydrates through photosynthesis, the transport of these carbohydrates to various plant organs-tissues via appropriate transport channels, and the assimilation and storage of the carbohydrates in the sink organs. In past years, a number of simple ratios have been created to incorporate the relationship between source and sink organs and thereby define vine balance in order to aid in practical management decisions (choice of a training system, irrigation, canopy manipulation etc.). However, vine functioning is very complex and cannot be defined accurately by simple, static ratios. More integrated and dynamic physiological indicators of vine balance and functioning are needed in order to understand the complex communication between organs and ultimately improve on farming practices. In order to achieve this, a better grasp of source-sink relationships, including the signalisation between organs and the functioning of the transport tissues is required. A two year experiment was proposed to study the interaction between source and sink organs using a combination of both primary shoot girdling methods and berry classification according to size. Girdling removes the bark and phloem tissue, thereby interrupting carbon import as well as water flow to the bunch to a certain degree. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the complexity of vine functioning by investigating the dynamics of berry sugar and water accumulation (used as physiological indicators) and the influence thereof on berry fresh mass evolution. Furthermore, the use of berry sugar loading was proposed as an improved physiological indicator of vine balance as it is directly linked to source and sink functioning. Sugar production and the dynamics of berry sugar accumulation rely on photosynthesis which in turn is dependent on stomatal conductance and therefore also incorporates the effects of external abiotic factors (temperature, light and water). It furthermore gives a direct indication of sink functioning as it shows the progressive accumulation of sugar throughout the ripening period and the possible consequences on berry volume evolution. A primary shoot which bore two bunches was used to represent a biological replicate. The lower bunches were girdled above and below in order to completely isolate them from any carbohydrate import. These bunches, along with the upper ungirdled bunches and two control bunches from another shoot were sampled. The berries from these bunches were classified according to diameter, thereby providing the unique opportunity to study berries of the same volume/size. Measurements were done to determine the fresh and dry masses of the sampled berries, as well as to analyse the concomitant sugar concentrations. It was found that girdling clearly had an effect on berry sugar dynamics and the method was improved in the second year of the trial. Girdling in interaction with berry classification according to diameter demonstrated that berries from the same size could have different sugar concentrations. It further showed that, to a certain degree, a relationship exists between the first rapid phase of sugar accumulation and the post véraison increase in berry fresh mass, until the plateau of fruit sugar accumulation, which generally occurs around a sugar concentration of 20 Brix. Additionally, and more importantly, it was found that vine functioning and the balance between the source and the sink organs may be controlled to a certain degree. There is a strong degree of compensation within a vine which results from signalling between and within organs. When taking the results of this study into consideration, it becomes clear that the classical ratios used to quantify the complex relationships between the fruit and the leaves may not be completely adequate to do so. The current way of looking at source-sink relationships and thereby determining whether a vine is balanced or not is over-simplified and there are numerous limitations involved in this approach. The vine is far more complex and various aspects must be taken into consideration before any claims can be made concerning source-sink relationships and consequently leaf to fruit balance.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verhoudings tussen blaar en vrug verteenwoordig ‘n fundamentele konsep in meerjarige plante. Begrip van hierdie konsep maak dit moontlik om in boerdery die balans van ‘n wingerdstok te verstaan en bestuur. Hierdie wingerdbalans is belangrik in terme van vrugkwaliteit (d.w.s. vrugsamestelling), hoofsaaklik met betrekking tot die produksie van wyne van verskillende kategorieë en style. Begrip van die wingerdstok se struktuur, fisiologie en funksionering maak dit moontlik om gepaste aanbevelings te maak rakende boerdery prosedures. Dit sluit in die aanpassing van die lower argitektuur om ‘n sekere opbrengs per wingerdstok te verkry, die vasstel van ‘n geskikte vrug mikroklimaat asook die voorspelling van oesdatums. Een van die sentrale denkwyses rondom wingerdstok funksionering behels die die bron-vragpunt verhouding. Die definisie van bron-vragpunt verhoudings inkorporeer verskeie konsepte, insluitende die vermoë van ‘n bronweefsel om koolhidrate te produseer deur fotosintese, die vervoer van hierdie koolhidrate na verskeie plantorgaan weefsels via die gepaste vervoerkanale asook die opname en berging van hierdie koolhidrate in die vragpunt organe. In die verlede is ‘n aantal eenvoudige verhoudings geskep om die verband tussen die bron en vragpunt organe te beskryf en sodoende die wingerdstokbalans te definieer met die doel om ondersteuning te bied in praktiese bestuursbesluite (die keuse van opleistelsel, besproeiing, lowermanipulasie, ens.). Wingerdstok funksionering is egter baie kompleks en kan nie akkuraat gedefinieer word deur eenvoudige, statiese verhoudings nie. Meer geïntegreerde en dinamiese fisiologiese aanwysers van wingerdstokbalans en funksionering is nodig om die komplekse kommunikasie tussen organe te verstaan en uiteindelik boerdery praktyke te verbeter. Om dit te bereik is ‘n beter begrip van bron-vragpunt verhoudings asook die seinoordrag tussen organe en die werking van die vervoerweefsels nodig. ‘n Twee jaar lange eksperiment is voorgestel om die interaksie tussen bron- en benuttingsorgane te ondersoek deur gebruik te maak van beide die primêre loot ringelering metode en korrel klassifikasie volgens grootte. Ringelering verwyder die bas en floëem weefsel en onderbreek sodoende koolstof invoer sowel as watertoevoer na die tros tot ‘n sekere mate. Die doel van die studie was om die kompleksiteit van wingerdstok funksionering aan te toon deur die dinamika van suiker en water akkumulasie in die korrel te ondersoek asook die invloed daarvan op korrel vars massa ontwikkeling. Verder is die gebruik van korrel suikerlading voorgestel as ‘n beter fisiologiese aanduiding van wingerdstok funksionering aangesien dit direk geassosieer is met bron-vragpunt funksionering. Suikerproduksie en die dinamika van suiker akkumulasie in die korrel berus op fotosintese wat weer afhanklik is van stomatale geleiding en daarom ook die effek van eksterne abiotiese faktore (temperatuur, lig en water) inkorporeer. Dit gee verder ‘n direkte aanduiding van die funksionering van die vragpunt organe omdat dit die progressiewe akkumulasie van suiker gedurende die rypwordingsperiode aantoon, asook die moontlike gevolge op korrelvolume ontwikkeling. ‘n Primêre loot wat twee trosse dra is gebruik om ‘n biologiese herhaling te verteenwoordig. Die laer trosse is bo en onder geringeleer om hulle heeltemal te isoleer van enige koolhidraat invoer. Hierdie trosse, tesame met boonste ongeringeleerde trosse en twee kontrole trosse vanaf ‘n ander loot is gemonster. Die korrels van hierdie trosse is geklassifiseer volgens hulle deursnee, om sodoende die unieke moontlikheid daar te stel om korrels van dieselfde volume/ grootte te bestudeer. Metings is gedoen om die vars en droë massas van die gemonsterde korrels te bepaal, asook om die gepaardgaande suikerkonsentrasies te analiseer. Daar is gevind dat ringelering duidelik ‘n effek gehad het op korrelsuiker dinamika en die metode is verbeter in die tweede jaar van die proef. Ringelering in wisselwerking met korrel klassifikasie volgens korrel deursnee het aangetoon dat korrels met dieselfde grootte verskillende suikerkonsentrasies kon hê. Dit het verder aangedui dat daar, tot ‘n sekere mate, ‘n verhouding bestaan tussen die vinnige fase van suiker akkumulasie en die na-véraison toename in korrel vars massa, totdat die plato in suiker akkumulasie bereik word, gewoonlik rondom ‘n suikerkonsentrasie van 20 Brix. Daarbenewens, en van groter belang, is gevind dat wingerdstok funksionering en die balans tussen die bron en vragpunt organe onder ‘n mate van beheer is. Daar is ‘n sterk mate van kompensasie binne ‘n wingerdstok wat die gevolg is van seinoordrag tussen en binne organe in die wingerdstok. Wanneer die resultate van hierdie studie in aanmerking geneem word, word dit duidelik dat die klassieke verhoudings, wat gebruik word om wingerdstok funksionering en balans mee te bepaal, moontlik nie beduidend betekenisvol is nie. Die wyse waarop bron-vragpunt verhoudings tans beskou word is, tot ‘n mate, ‘n oorvereenvoudiging en daar is heelwat beperkinge betrokke by hierdie benadering. Die wingerd is baie meer kompleks en verskeie aspekte moet in aanmerking geneem word voordat enige bewering gemaak kan word rakende bron-vragpunt verhoudings.
The University of Stellenbosch and Winetech for financial support

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Yeast strains contend with numerous stresses during winemaking. An inability to perceive and initiate the physiological changes needed to adapt to stress, has been linked to slow or incomplete (residual sugar > 4 g/L) fermentations. Wine yeast strains differ in genotype; this is manifested as differences in their stress tolerance, and fermentation performance. The first goal of this study was to evaluate how the initial sugar (200 or 240 g/L) and nitrogen (50, 100, 250, or 400 mg/L) content, and the fermentation temperature (15°C or 20°C) affected the fermentation performance of 17 commercial wine yeast strains. Fermentation performance was evaluated based on the fermentation kinetics (lag phase, maximum fermentation rate and total weight loss by CO2 evolution), residual sugar content and yeast dry weight. The results demonstrate that the fermentation performances of commercial yeast cultures are significantly and differently affected by initial nitrogen and sugar levels, as well as the fermentation temperature. Additionally, excess nitrogen had a negative impact on the fermentation kinetics and sugar consumption. Nitrogen deficiency is a common cause of slow and incomplete fermentations, as it affects yeast growth and thus fermentation rates. Nitrogen supplements are routinely added at the onset of fermentation, reducing the risk of problematic fermentations. Therefore characterising the fermentative ability of a strain over a range of oenologically relevant conditions, could aid winemakers in selecting a yeast strain capable of fermenting a grape must (of known sugar and nitrogen levels) to completion at the desired fermentation temperature. Investigations on fermentation related stress generally focus on its influence on fermentation rate and sugar consumption. However, from a winemaking perspective, the strain’s ability to produce the desired volatile aroma compounds is equally important. Yet, literature provides little insight into the influence stress has on the volatile aroma profile; this is surprising as wine aroma is closely linked to wine quality and consumer liking. The final goal of this study was to evaluate changes to the volatile aroma profiles produced by five commercial yeast strains, in response to hyperosmotic and temperature stress. The concentrations of the aroma compounds were quantified using a gas chromatograph coupled to a flame ionization detector. The results show that hyperosmotic and temperature stress caused significant changes in the levels of a number of aroma compounds. Furthermore, the changes observed differed among the evaluated strains, as well as for the fermentation stress treatments studied. Future aims should be directed towards the potential application of yeast strain selection as a means to avoid problematic fermentations in grape must; in addition to the further characterisation of the relationship between stress and the resultant volatile aroma profile in wine.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gisrasse moet verskeie stresfaktore afweer tydens die wynmaak proses. Die onvermoë van ‘n wyngis om stres waar te neem en die nodige fisiologiese veranderinge te inisieer om aan te pas by die strestoestande word met slepende of onvolledige fermentasies (met ‘n residuele suiker van meer as 4 g/L) geassosieer. Wyngisrasse verkil in genotipe; wat as groot verskille in die graad van strestoleransie, en dus ook fermentasie sukses geopenbaar word. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie studie was om te evalueer hoe die suiker (200 of 240 g/L) en stikstof (50, 100, 250, of 400 mg/L), asook die fermentasie temperatuur (15°C of 20°C) die fermentasie prestasie van 17 kommersiële wyngiskulture beïnvloed. Die sukses van fermentasie is geëvalueer op grond van fermentasie kinetika (sloerfase, maksimum fermentasiespoed en totale gewigsverlies as CO2 verlies), die residuele suiker inhoud en die gis droë massa. Die resultate demonstreer dat die fermentasie sukses van kommersiële giskulture beduidend en verskillend beïnvloed word deur die aanvangsstikstof en – suikerkonsentrasies, asook die fermentasie temperatuur. Daarbenewens, wanneer stikstof in oormaat teenwoordig is kan dit ‘n negatiewe impak op fermentasietempo en suiker metabolisme hê. Beperkende vlakke van stikstof ‘n algemene oorsaak van slepende of onvolledige fermentasies, aangesien stikstof die groei en gevolglik ook die fermentasiespoed van gis beïnvloed. Stikstofaanvullings word dikwels tot druiwemos toegevoeg aan die begin van gisting, wat die risiko van probleemfermentasies verlaag. Dus kan die karakterisering van die fermentasievermoë van ‘n gisras vir ‘n reeks wynkundig relevante kondisies die wynmaker help om ‘n gisras te selekteer wat in staat is om ‘n druiwemos (waarvan die suiker en stikstofvlakke bekend is) droog te gis by die gewenste temperatuur. Meeste studies wat fermentasieverwante stress ondersoek, fokus op die die invloed daarvan op fermentasietempo en suikerverbruik. Van ‘n wynmaakperspektief is die gis se vermoë om die gewensde vlugtige aroma komponente te produseer egter ewe belangrik as die vermoë om fermentasie te voltooi. Tog verskaf die literatuur min insig tot die invloed van stres op die vlugtige aromaprofiel; wat verbasend is aangesien die aromaprofiel ‘n belangrike faktor is van die waargenome wynkwaliteit en daarom ook verbruikersvoorkeur. Die finale doelwit van hierdie projek was om die veranderinge tot die vlugtige aromaprofiel geproduseer deur vyf kommersiële gisrasse in reaksie op hiperosmotiese stres en temperatuur stres te evalueer. Die konsentrasies van die aromakomponente is gekwantifiseer deur gas chromatografie gekoppel aan vlam‐ioniserende deteksie. Die resultate wys dat hiperosmotiese‐ en temperatuur stres beduidende veranderinge meebring in die vlakke van ‘n aantal aromakomponente. Verder is die waargenome veranderinge ook verskillend vir die geëvalueerde gisrasse, asook vir die verskille stresbehandelings wat ondersoek is. Toekomstige studies behoort gerig te wees op die toepassing van gis seleksie om potensiële probleemfermentasies in druiwemos te voorkom; asook die verdere karakterisering van die verhouding tussen omgewingstresfaktore en die gevolglike vlugtige aromaprofiel in wyn.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During wine fermentation, numerous grape must constituents serve as nutrients to wine yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which enable their growth and successful completion of alcoholic fermentation. Many of these nutritional factors, in particular nitrogen, also act as precursors for yeastderived flavour compounds such as higher alcohols, esters and volatile fatty acids. Yeast nitrogen metabolism thus plays a determining role in wine aroma and quality. Not only is the nitrogen source, concentration and supplementation timing important, but various environmental factors and the genetic constitution of the yeast strain used for fermentation will also contribute to fermentation outcomes. The main goal of this work was to explore the complex interactions between a number of contributing factors; namely nitrogen source, timing of addition, yeast strain and fermentation matrix. Broadly, this study assessed the impact of seven different nitrogen combinations, added either to the initial grape must or after the onset of fermentation, on fermentation performance and aroma compound production by nine commercial wine yeast strains. Fermentations were done in synthetic grape must, and validated for a subset of parameters in real grape must. The nitrogen treatments were designed according to the generally established order of preference of S. cerevisiae for individual amino acids as source of nitrogen under fermentative conditions, and the potential of certain amino acids to participate in metabolic pathways that produce specific aroma compounds. The results reveal that different nitrogen combinations can lead to unexpected aroma outcomes, depending strongly on the genetic background of individual yeast strains and the timing of nitrogen addition. Certain nitrogen treatments consistently resulted in significant increases or decreases in specific aroma compound concentrations in comparison to the treatment fermented on ammonium as only nitrogen source, for multiple yeast strains. These compounds were classified as nitrogen treatment dependent. Other aroma compounds were produced similarly for all nitrogen treatments and were designated as nitrogen treatment independent. The presence of specific amino acid groups (for example the branched-chain and aromatic amino acids) could be correlated to significantly altered production patterns of related (such as higher alcohols) or unrelated (diethyl succinate) aroma compounds relative to the other nitrogen treatments. Taken together, a number of interesting and novel hypotheses regarding the metabolic pathways involved could be derived from the data. Ultimately, this initial assessment of interactive effects during fermentation will contribute to practical guidelines for winemakers to allow matching grape must constituents (such as nutrients) with the intrinsic aroma production capabilities of specific yeast strains in order to modulate wine aroma, style and quality.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tydens wynfermentasie dien talle druiwemosbestanddele as voedingstowwe vir wyngis (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) wat hul groei bevorder en hul in staat stel om alkoholiese fermentasie suksesvol te voltooi. Baie van hierdie voedingstowwe, veral stikstof, dien ook as voorlopers vir geurkomponente afkomstig van gismetabolisme, soos hoër alkohole, esters en vlugtige vetsure. Die stikstofmetabolisme van gis speel dus ‘n bepalende rol in wynaroma en -kwaliteit. Nie net is die stikstofbron, konsentrasie en tydsberekening van stikstof toevoeging belangrik nie, maar verskeie omgewingsfaktore, asook die genetiese samestelling van die gisras aangewend vir fermentasie, sal bydra tot die fermentasie uitkomste. Die hoofdoel van hierdie werk was om die komplekse interaksies tussen ‘n aantal bydraende faktore te ondersoek; naamlik die stikstofbron, tyd van stikstof toevoeging, gisras en fermentasiematriks. Breedweg het hierdie studie die impak van sewe verskillende stikstofkombinasies, toegedien tot die druiwemos voor of na die aanvang van fermentasie, op die suksesvolle verloop van fermentasie en die produksie van aromakomponente deur nege kommersiële wyngisrasse bepaal. Fermentasies is in sintetiese druiwemos uitgevoer, en ‘n deelversameling van die fermentasies in regte druiwesap te herhaal. Die stikstofbehandelings is ontwerp in ooreenstemming met die algemeen vasgestelde voorkeurvolgorde van S. cerevisiae vir individuele aminosure as stikstofbron onder fermentatiewe kondisies, en die potensiaal van sekere aminosure om mee te doen in metaboliese paaie wat spesifieke aromaverbindings produseer. Die resultate toon dat verskillende stikstofkombinasies tot onverwagte aroma-uitkomste kan lei wat sterk afhanklik is van die genetiese agtergrond van individuele gisrasse en die tyd van stikstof byvoeging. Sekere stikstofbehandelings het konsekwent, vir veelvuldige gisrasse, tot beduidende toenames of afnames in die konsentrasies van spesifieke aromakomponente gelei in vergelyking met die behandeling wat ammonium as enigste stikstofbron bevat het. Hierdie verbindings is as stikstofbehandeling afhanklik geklassifiseer. Ander aromaverbindings is soortgelyk vir alle stikstofbehandelings geproduseer en is aangewys as stikstofbehandeling onafhanklik. Die teenwoordigheid van spesifieke aminosuurgroepe (byvoorbeeld die vertakte-ketting en aromatiese aminosure) kon gekorreleer word met beduidende veranderings in produksiepatrone van verwante (soos hoër alkohole) of onverwante (dietielsuksinaat) aromakomponente relatief tot die ander stikstofbehandelings. Alles inaggenome kon ‘n aantal interessante en nuwe hipoteses rakende die betrokke metabolise padweë van die data afgelei word. Uiteindelik sal hierdie aanvaklike bepaling van interaktiewe effekte tydens fermentasie bydra tot praktiese riglyne vir wynmakers, wat hulle in staat sal stel om druiwesapbestanddele (soos nutriënte) te strook met die intrinsieke aromaproduksie kapasiteite van spesifieke gisrasse, en sodoende wynaroma, styl en kwaliteit te moduleer.
Oenobrands and THRIP for funding this project

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wine fermentation is a continuously changing biological process whereby the raw product, grape juice is transformed into a high value product wine. In an ideal situation the fermentation kinetics of batch fermentations should follow the same trend over time. This however is not the case in industrial wine fermentations where significant batch-to-batch variation is present. The time trajectories of fermentation processes are therefore often unpredictable in absolute terms. The monitoring of substrate (sugar) and product concentrations (ethanol) as well as other quality parameters during a wine fermentation, is therefore of extreme importance to ensure effective control and management of wine fermentation processes. Conventional methods for fermentation monitoring are however costly, time consuming and often unreliable. For these reasons the modern wine industry requires rapid, reliable, non-destructive monitoring techniques which would meet the criteria of providing critical real-time process information that is displayed in easily interpretable graphical format, in order to ensure the highest quality and continuous consistency throughout all the stages of a process. This research study in particular, addressed the current need for alternative fermentation monitoring strategies that meet these criteria, by evaluating the potential use of spectroscopy as an analytical technique for fermentation monitoring. The overall objective of this study was to use chemometric modelling of information obtained by Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) and near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy, to quantitatively and qualitatively monitor both alcoholic (AF) and malolactic fermentation (MLF) processes. Towards this objective 11 batch fermentations elaborated with Oenococcus oeni and Lactobacillus plantarum strains in respectively a co-inoculation and sequential inoculation scenario, were sampled and analysed at regular time intervals with FT-MIR and FT-NIR spectroscopy and enzymatic reference methods during 2011. Samples were also analysed by gas chromatography flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) at two critical stages during fermentation, namely 50% completion of MLF and 100% completion of MLF, in order to obtain a profile of the evolution of the aroma compounds associated with each inoculation scenario. Three clearly defined research objectives were set for this project. The first objective involved the expansion of the existing quantitative platform for fermentation monitoring. Towards the outcomes of this objective, partial least squares (PLS) calibration models for prediction of malic acid and lactic acid in fermenting must and wines elaborated in our study, were established, based on the MIR and NIR spectra. The models showed excellent predictive abilities in independent test set validation. This outcome made a significant contribution to our existing PLS calibration capacity, particularly towards monitoring of MLF. Quantitative data obtained with the PLS models were also used to graphically project the rate of AF in the different batches, by non-linear fitted regression plots that easily visualised the overall patterns of sugar and ethanol metabolism in the different fermentations. The second research objective involved the qualitative monitoring of fermentations. This approach used FT-MIR and FT-NIR spectra together with chemometrics to identify trends between the different fermentation treatments. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly projected the time trend from the onset of fermentation, through AF and MLF. No unique bacterial trend was however observed with spectroscopy. These results illustrate the potential of these techniques to be used for modelling of fermentations in industrial situations, through providing critical information about the evolution of the process. Furthermore, these techniques provide tools for identifying problematic and deviating fermentations. A spectral conformity test based on simple calculations of the standard deviation between the absorbance at each recorded wavenumber in the spectra, further confirmed identification of the critical fermentation stages. This technique by-passes the need for spectral interpretation and is a very useful addition, particularly from the industry perspective, to the portfolio of methods established in this study. The third research objective adressed the need to evaluate the possibility to discriminate between the different process stages and LAB treatments using univariate (ANOVA) and multivariate chemometric techniques such as PCA, PLS discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) for possible future interpretative and classification purposes. The exploratory tool of PCA was used to investigate the similarities and differences between the chemical footprints of the different treatments. PCA showed clear differentiation between the two process stages using chemical quantified data. Differentiation between the LAB treatments was visible with PCA, showing a more prominent separation at 50% completion of MLF. Furthermore the ability of spectroscopy for potential classification was shown using PLS-DA and SIMCA. This profiling study can be seen as a preliminary study setting the ground work for further in-depth research into the profiling of different LAB treatments and inoculation strategies.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wyngisting is ‘n voortdurend veranderende biologiese proses waarvolgens die rou produk, druiwesap, in ‘n produk van hoë waarde, naamlik wyn, verander word. Onder ideale omstandighede sou die gistingskinetika van lotgistings dieselfde tendens oor tyd volg. Dit is egter nie die geval in industriële wyngistings nie, waar noemenswaardige wisseling van lot tot lot teenwoordig is. Die tydsbaan van gistingsprosesse is dus in baie gevalle in absolute terme onvoorspelbaar. Die monitering van substraat- (suiker) en produkkonsentrasies (etanol), sowel as ander kwaliteitsparameters tydens ‘n wyngisting, is van die uiterste belang om doeltreffende beheer en bestuur van wyngistingsprosesse te verseker. Konvensionele metodes vir die monitering van gisting is egter duur, tydrowend en ook soms onbetroubaar. Om hierdie redes vereis die moderne wynbedryf vinnige, betroubare en nie-destruktiewe moniteringstegnieke wat aan die kriteria sou voldoen vir die verskaffing van kritiese, intydse prosesinligting wat in ‘n maklik interpreteerbare grafiese formaat vertoon word om die hoogste kwaliteit en voortdurende konsekwentheid tydens al die stadia van ‘n proses te verseker. Hierdie navorsingstudie het in besonder die huidige behoefte aan alternatiewe gistingsmoniteringstrategieë wat aan hierdie kriteria voldoen, aangespreek deur die potensiële gebruik van spektroskopie as ‘n analitiese tegniek vir die monitering van gisting te evalueer. Die oorhoofse doelwit van hierdie studie was die chemometriese modellering van inligting wat met behulp van Fourier transform middel-infrarooi (FT-MIR) en naby-infrarooi (FT-NIR) spektroskopie verkry is om die prosesse van alkoholiese en appelmelksuurgisting (AMG) kwantitatief en kwalitatief te monitor. Ten einde hierdie doelwit te bereik, is 11 lotgistings met Oenococcus oeni en Lactobacillus plantarum rasse uitgevoer in scenario’s van ‘n gesamentlike inokulasie en opeenvolgende inokulasie onderskeidelik. Monsters van hierdie gistings is met gereelde tydintervalle in 2011 geneem en analises is met FT-MIR en FT-NIR spektroskopie en ensiematiese verwysingsmetodes gedoen. Monsters is ook met gaschromatografiese vlam ionisasie-opsporing (GC-FID) en massaspektrometrie (GC-MS) op twee kritiese stadia tydens gisting geanaliseer, naamlik toe AMG 50% en 100% voltooid was, om ‘n profiel te verkry van die evolusie van die aromaverbindings wat met elke inokulasie-scenario verband hou. Drie duidelik gedefinieerde navorsingsdoelwitte is vir hierdie studie bepaal. Die eerste doelwit het die uitbreiding van die bestaande kwantitatiewe platform vir gistingsmonitering behels. Hiervoor is gedeeltelike kleinstekwadraat [partial least squares (PLS)] kalibrasiemodelle vir die voorspelling van appelsuur en melksuur in die gistende mos en wyne in ons studie op die basis van MIR- en NIR-spektra bepaal. Die modelle het in onafhanklike geldigheidsbepaling van die toetsstel uitstekende voorspellingsvermoëns getoon. Hierdie uitkoms het ‘n noemenswaardige bydrae gemaak tot ons bestaande PLS kalibrasiekapasiteit, veral om AMG te monitor. Die kwantitatiewe data wat met die PLS-modelle verkry is, is ook gebruik om die tempo van alkoholiese gisting in die verskillende lotte grafies uit te beeld deur middel van kromlynige passing van regressiepersele, waarmee dit maklik was om die algehele patrone van suiker- en etanolmetabolisme in die verskillende gistings te visualiseer. Die tweede navorsingsdoelwit het die kwalitatiewe monitering van gistings behels. Hierdie benadering het FT-MIR en FT-NIR spektra tesame met chemometrie gebruik om tendense tussen die verskillende gistingsbehandelings te identifiseer. Hoofkomponentanalise [principal component analysis (PCA)] het duidelik die tydtendens vanaf die aanvang van gisting, deur alkoholiese gisting en AMG, geprojekteer. Geen unieke bakteriese tendens is egter met spektroskopie waargeneem nie. Hierdie uitslae illustreer die potensiaal van hierdie tegnieke om vir die modellering van gistings in industriële situasies gebruik te word deur kritiese inligting oor die evolusie van die proses te verskaf. Verder verskaf hierdie tegnieke gereedskap vir die identifikasie van problematiese en afwykende gistings. ‘n Spektrale gelykvormigheidstoets gebaseer op eenvoudige berekeninge van die standaardafwyking tussen die absorbansie by elke aangetekende golfgetal in die spektra het ook die identifikasie van die kritiese gistingstadia bevestig. Hierdie tegniek omloop die noodsaak vir spektrale interpretasie en is ‘n baie nuttige byvoeging tot die portefeulje van metodes wat in hierdie studie bepaal is, veral vanuit ‘n bedryfsperspektief. Die derde navorsingsdoelwit het die behoefte aangespreek om tussen die verskillende prosesstadia en melksuurbakterie-behandelings te onderskei deur gebruik te maak van eenvariant- (ANOVA) en meervariant- chemometriese tegnieke soos PCA, PLSdiskriminantanalise en sagte onafhanklike modellering van klasanalogie [soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA)] vir moontlike toekomstige verklarende en klassifikasiedoeleindes. Die ondersoekende gereedskap van PCA is gebruik om ooreenkomste en verskille tussen die chemiese voetspore van die verskillende behandelings te ondersoek. PCA het duidelike differensiasie tussen die twee prosesstadia getoon op grond van chemies gekwantifiseerde data. Differensiasie tussen die melksuurbakterie-behandelings was met PCA sigbaar, met ‘n meer prominente skeiding teen 50% voltooide AMG. Verder is die vermoë van spektroskopie vir potensiële klassifikasie met PLS-diskriminantanalise en SIMCA getoon. Die profielsamestelling in hierdie studie kan beskou word as ‘n voorlopige studie vir verdere diepgaande navorsing oor die profielsamestelling van verskillende melksuurbakteriebehandelings en inokulasiestrategieë.
The National Research Foundation and Winetech

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nitrogen composition of grape must is highly variable and impacts on the health of the fermenting yeast population as well as the formation of aroma and flavour compounds in wine. Insufficient yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), mostly consisting of amino acids and ammonium, can lead to stuck or sluggish fermentations as well as the formation of undesirable compounds such as H2S. Furthermore, it is well established that the total concentration of YAN and the specific amino acid composition have a significant impact on the final aroma and flavour of wines. However, the impact of individual amino acids and of specific amino acid compositions on fermentation kinetics and on the production of aroma and flavour impact compounds under winemaking conditions is not well understood. The first goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of single amino acids on growth kinetics and major volatile production of two industrial wine yeast strains under conditions resembling wine fermentations. To facilitate these fermentation conditions while also allowing for easy reproducibility and manipulation of the initial components, a synthetic grape media was utilized. Biomass formation, exponential growth rate, lag phase, and fermentation duration were utilized to evaluate the efficiency of single amino acids. The data show that previously observed trends in laboratory strains mostly apply to these conditions and strains. In general, the efficiency of amino acids to be used as nitrogen sources and the production of major volatiles due to their presence followed the same patterns for both industrial yeast strains. However, the production of the secondary metabolites butanol, propanol, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate were found to be produced in different final concentrations dependent upon the yeast strain. The branched-chained and aromatic amino acids (BCAAs) treatments were observed to have the most dramatic effects on major volatile production. Investigating the relationships between the initial concentration of the BCAAs and the final concentrations of major volatile compounds, it was found that the production of fusel alcohols and fusel acids due to the degradation of BCAAs by S. cerevisiae could be predicted from the initial concentration of BCAAs. While under simple nitrogen conditions the production of several other secondary metabolites such as butanol, propionic acid, valeric acid, decanoic acid and 2-phenylethyl acetate were found to be correlated to the initial concentration of BCAAs in the media. Future studies should focus on the validation of these trends in aroma production in real grape musts under various fermentation temperatures for a number of industrial wine yeast strains.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die stikstof samestelling van druiwemos is hoogs veranderlik en impakteer op die kerngesondheid van die fermenterende gis populasie asook die produksie van aroma- en geurverbindings in wyn. Onvoldoende assimileerbare stikstof (ook genoem “yeast assimilable nitrogen” (YAN)), wat meestal bestaan uit aminosure en ammonium, kan aanleiding gee tot steek- of slepende fermentasies, asook die vorming van ongewensde verbindings soos H2S. Dit is alombekend dat die totale konsentrasie van YAN en dan ook die spesifieke aminosuur samestelling ‘n noemenswaardige impak op die finale aroma en smaak van wyn het. Die invloed van individuele am inosure en spesifieke aminosuur samestellings op die fermentasie kinetika, asook die produksie van verbindings met ‘n impak op die wyn aroma en smaak, word egter nie deeglik verstaan nie. Die eerste doelwit van die studie was om twee industriële gisrasse te gebruik om die effek van enkel aminosure op die groei-kinetika en produksie van die vername vlugtige verbindings onder wynmaak toestande te bepaal. Kunsmatige, gedefinieerde druiwermosmedium is gebruik om wynmaak toestande te simuleer en ook herhaalbaarheid en manipulering van die aanvanklike samestelling van die medium te verseker. Die studie het vorige tendense wat opgemerk is in die evaluasie van laboratorium rasse onder soortgelyke toestande bevestig. Die doeltreffendheid waarmee aminosure oor die algemeen gebruik word as stikstofbron, asook die produksie van die vernaamste vlugtige verbindings wat gekoppel is aan hulle teenwoordigheid, het ‘n vergelykbare patroon vir beide rasse gevolg. Die sekondêre metaboliete butanol, propanol, asetaat en etiel-asetaat is egter wel in verskillende eindkonsentrasies geproduseer deur die verskillende gisrasse. Die vertakte-ketting en aromatiese aminosuur (“branched-chained and aromatic amino acids” (BCAAs)) behandelings het die mees dramatiese effek op die produksie van die vernaamste vlugtige komponente gehad. Ondersoek na die verwantskap tussen die aanvanklike konsentraies van die BCAAs en die finale konsentrasies van dié verbindings het aangedui dat die produksie van hoër alkohole en sure, as gevolg van die afbraak van BCAAs deur S. cerevisiae, met behulp van die aanvanklike konsentrasie van die BCAAs voorspel kon word. Terselfdertyd is gevind dat onder eenvoudige stikstoftoestande, verskeie ander sekondêre metaboliete soos butanol, propionaat, valeriaat, dekanoësuur en 2-fenieletielasetaat, gekorreleer kan word met die aanvanklike BCAAs in die media. Verdere studies moet poog om hierdie tendense ten opsigte van aromaproduksie te bevestig en wel deur gebruik te maak van ware druiwemos, verskeie fermentasietemperature, asook ’n verskeidenheid van wyngisrasse.

Thesis (MSc Food Sc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is a developing country that relies on its agricultural sector as a main source of overall economic welfare. Development does not only give rise to new technology and new products but also results in increased amounts of liquid and solid waste. Generally, the production of wine is considered an environmentally friendly process, but significant amounts of natural resources and organic amendments are necessary, while generating large amounts of liquid and solid wastes. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an attractive and proven treatment option for both liquid and solid wastes as valuable products and depollution can be obtained. AD of liquid waste results in an effluent and biogas, while anaerobic composting of solid waste results in an organic amendment, leachate and biogas. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the operational feasibility of the cotreatment of leachate produced during the anaerobic composting (AnC) of grape skins in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor while treating winery wastewater. This first aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the anaerobic composting of grape skins. Laboratoryscaled digesters (1L) were utilised as anaerobic composting units. The most important operational parameters were identified (pH, moisture content and inoculum (size, ratio, composition)) in order to produce a pH stable, odour free compost in 21 days. Experimental studies highlighted the importance of shredding waste as well as the addition of calcium oxide and green waste to increase the initial pH of the composting mixture. After optimising a 50% (m.m-1) cow manure inoculum, lower inoculum concentrations (10, 15 and 25% (m.m-1)) were investigated to make the process more economically viable. A 10% (m.m-1) anaerobic compost (AC) inoculum was found to produce the most favourable results in terms of pH stabilisation and leachate generation. A 50% (m.m-1) moisture level performed the best by attaining a pH > 6.5 on day 6 and having the highest end pH (7.65) on day 21, while white and red grape skins in an equal ratio were found to generate a higher end pH. With all these optimum parameters in place (shredded waste, green waste, CaO, inoculum, moisture, grape skins), a compost with a final pH (7.09), moisture (58%), nitrogen (2.25%), phosphorous (0.22%) and potassium content (1.7%) was obtained. The optimised parameters were scaled-up (1:10) by using polyvinyl chloride anaerobic digesters (20 L) to suit the operational requirements of the AnC process and also produced a stable compost within 21 days. The second aim of this study was to investigate the combined anaerobic digestion of winery wastewater (WWW) and leachate obtained from the anaerobic composting of grape skins in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB). This involved the operation of a 2.3 L laboratory-scale UASB reactor for 205 days. The reactor successfully co-treated WWW and leachate at ca. 8.5 kgCOD.m-3d-1 with a final chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of over 90%, a stable reactor effluent pH (7.61) and alkalinity (3 281 CaCO3 mg.L-1). This study showed the feasibility for the combined treatment of liquid and solid waste from the winemaking process. Although the legal limits for reactor effluent disposal onto land was not met, significant reduction in COD concentrations were achieved, whilst producing a soil amendment that could potentially result in cost savings for chemical fertilisers. The benefits related to using anaerobic bioconversion as a treatment option for liquid and solid waste could possibly be advantageous to the wine industry as an environmental control technology, by converting liquid and solid waste into valuable resources.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is 'n ontwikkelende land wat staatmaak op sy landbousektor as 'n hoofbron van algehele ekonomiese welstand. Ontwikkeling gee nie net aanleiding tot nuwe tegnologie en nuwe produkte nie, maar lei ook tot die verhoogde bydrae van vloeistof sowel as vaste afval. Oor die algemeen, word die produksie van wyn beskou as 'n omgewingsvriendelike proses, maar aansienlike hoeveelhede natuurlike hulpbronne en organiese kunsbemesting word benodig, terwyl groot hoeveelhede vloeistof en vaste afval gegenereer word. Anaërobiese vertering (AV) is 'n aantreklike en bewese behandelingsopsie vir beide vloeistof en vaste afval aangesien waardevolle produkte en suiwering verkry kan word. AV van vloeistowwe lewer uitvloeisel sowel as biogas, terwyl anaërobiese kompostering van vaste afval 'n organiese kunsbemesting, loog en biogas lewer. Die oorhoofse doel van hierdie studie was om die operasionele doeltreffendheid van die mede-behandeling van loog wat gegenereer word tydens die anaërobiese kompostering (AnK) van druiwe doppe in 'n opvloei-anaërobiese-slykkombers (OAS) reaktor terwyl kelderafvalwater behandel word, te ondersoek. Die eerste mikpunt van hierdie studie was om die doeltreffendheid van die anaërobiese komposteringsproses van druiwe doppe te ondersoek. Laboratorium-skaal verteerders (1L) is gebruik as anaërobiese komposteringseenhede. Die belangrikste operasionele parameters is geïdentifiseer (pH, voginhoud en inokulum (grootte, verhouding, samestelling)) om ‘n 'n pH-stabiele, reukvrye kompos te produseer in 21 dae. Die belangrikheid van gesnipperde afval asook die byvoeging van kalsiumoksied en groen afval om die aanvanklike pH van die komposmengsel te verhoog, is deur eksperimentele studies beklemtoom. Na die optimering van 'n 50% (m.m-1) koeimis inokulum, is laer inokulum konsentrasies (10, 15 en 25% (m.m-1)) geondersoek om die proses meer ekonomies uitvoerbaar te maak. Daar is gevind dat ‘n 10% (m.m-1) anaërobiese kompos (AK) inokulum die mees gunstige resultate lewer in terme van pH stabilisering en loog generering. ‘n 50% (m.m-1) vloeistof vlak het die beste presteer deur 'n pH> 6.5 te bereik teen Dag 6 asook die hoogste eind pH (7.65) teen Dag 21, terwyl wit en rooi druiwe doppe in dieselfde verhouding gevind is om ‘n hoër eind pH te genereer. Met al hierdie optimum parameters in plek (gesnipperde afval, groen afval, kalsiumoksied, inokulum, vog, druiwe doppe) is 'n kompos met 'n finale pH (7.09), vog (58%), stikstof (2.25%), fosfor (0.22%) en kalium inhoud (1.7%) verkry. Die optimale parameters is opgeskaal (1:10) deur gebruik te maak van polivinielchloried anaërobiese verteerders (20 L) om aan die operasionele vereistes van die AnK proses te voldoen en ook om 'n stabiele kompos binne 21 dae te produseer. Die tweede mikpunt van hierdie studie was om die gekombineerde anaërobiese vertering van kelderafvalwater en loog, verkry vanaf die anaërobiese kompos van druiwe doppe in 'n OAS reaktor, te ondersoek. Dit het die bedryf van 'n 2.3 L laboratorium-skaal OAS reaktor vir 205 dae ingesluit. Die reaktor het kelderafwater en loog suksesvol behandel by ongeveer 8.5 kgCSV.m-3d-1 met 'n finale chemiese suurstof vereiste (CSV) vermindering van meer as 90%, 'n stabiele reaktor uitvloeisel pH (7.61) en alkaliniteit (3 281 CaCO3mg.L-1). Hierdie studie het die uitvoerbaarheid van die gekombineerde behandeling van vloeistof en vaste afval van die wynmaakproses getoon. Alhoewel die wetlike vereistes van die reaktor uitvloeisel vir storting op grond nie bereik is nie, is ‘n beduidende vermindering in CSV konsentrasies bereik, asook die vervaardiging van kunsbemesting wat die potensiële aankoopkoste van chemiese kunsmis kan verminder. Die voordele verbonde aan die gebruik van anaërobiese bio-omskakeling as 'n behandelingsopsie vir vloeistof en vaste afval kan moontlik voordelig wees vir die wynbedryf as 'n omgewingsbeheerende tegnologie deur om vloeistof en vaste afval om te skakel na waardevolle bronne.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Traditionally, wine has been produced by the spontaneous fermentation of grape juice by yeast that originate from the grapes and winery equipment. Research has shown that the population composition and dynamics of these yeasts and other microorganisms are very complex. Kloeckera and its anamorph, Hanseniaspora, dominate the yeast population found on the surfaces of grapes, although prevailing Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains complete the fermentation process. The yeast S. cerevisiae is an important factor contributing to the quality of wines and, therefore, the improvement of wine yeasts receives considerable attention worldwide. Apart from classical yeast breeding studies, genetic engineering and recombinant DNA techniques are increasingly being used in strain development research programmes. These techniques might enable the wine yeasts to produce heterologous enzymes that degrade polysaccharides, convert malic acid to lactic acid, increase glycerol production, release roam and flavour compounds, secrete antimicrobial peptides, etc. The release of recombinant yeast strains (genetically modified organisms, GMOs) is subject to statutory approval. Therefore, it is important to answer several questions prior to the use of such genetically improved yeast in the commercial production of wine. For example, will recombinant yeast strains be able to multiply and spread in nature, and will this GMO be able to out-compete the natural microflora because of its newly acquired genetic traits. Since existing commercial wine yeasts are used in the abovementioned strain development research, it is essential to determine already at this early stage to what extent these wine yeast strains survive and spread in nature and to what extent they influence the fermentations of the following vintages. This study is divided into two sections. The aim of the first section is to sample a representative number of yeast strains from various vineyards in different climatological areas, mainly in the Western Cape, South Africa. These yeast strains were identified mainly by electrophoretic karyotyping (contour-clamped homogenous electric field electrophoresis; CHEF). The second part of the study summarises the results obtained when Fourier transform infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy was used to differentiate commercial wine yeast strains. Sets of data, containing the spectra of the mostly used commercial wine yeast strains, were constructed and used as a reference library. The spectra of the isolated yeast strains were then compared to the reference dataset with specific FT-NIR computer software using mathematical calculations. In conclusion, the two methods used in conjunction with one another proved that the commercial wine yeast strains do not easily disperse from the cellar into the vineyard. The commercial wine yeast strains are also more likely to be found near the cellar and the places where the grape skins are dumped. Therefore, should a recombinant yeast strain be used in winemaking, it would not be dispersed into the vineyard. It therefore appears that the commercial use of genetically improved yeast does not pose a high risk in terms of dominance of the indigenous microbial population in the environment
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wyn is tradisioneel gemaak deur die natuurlike gisting van druiwesap deur giste wat op die druiwe en keldertoerusting voorkom. Navorsing het getoon dat die samestelling en dinamika van die gispopulasie en ander mikro-organismes baie kompleks is. Kloeckera en sy anamorf, Hanseniaspora, domineer die inheemse gispopulasie op druiwedoppe, terwyl Saccharomyces cerevisiae in baie klein getalle op die druiwedoppe voorkom, maar later die fermentasie oorheers en uiteindelik voltooi. Die gis S. cerevisiae speel 'n baie belangrike rol in die kwaliteit van wyn en daarom geniet die verbetering van wyngiste wêreldwyd besondere aandag. Benewens die klassieke gistelingstudies, word genetiese manipuleringstegnieke toenemnd in navorsingsprojekte gebruik wat daarop gefokus is om wyngisrasse te verbeter. Hierdie tegnieke mag die giste in staat stelom heteroloë ensieme te produseer wat polisakkariedes afbreek, appelmelksuur afbreek, gliserolproduksie verhoog, smaak- en geurkomponente vrystel, antimikrobiese peptiede afskei, ens. Voordat sulke geneties gemanipuleerde giste het egter in kommersiële wynproduksie gebruik sal kan word, is daar heelwat wetlike vereistes waaraan voldoen sal moet word en vrae wat vooraf beantwoord sal moet word. Byvoorbeeld, sal die rekombinante giste in staat wees om vinniger te vermeerder as gevolg van die nuwe genetiese eienskappe en sodoende die natuurlike populasies onderdruk? Omdat kommersiële wyngiste in bogenoemde gisverbeteringprogramme gebruik word, is dit noodsaaklik om nou reeds die verspreiding van die kommersiële giste te monitor en te bepaal hoe geredelik hulle in die natuur kan versprei en oorleef, en hoe hulle wynfermentasies van die daaropvolgende jare beïnvloed. Die studie is in twee gedeeltes verdeel. Die doel van die eerste gedeelte was om 'n verteenwoordigende aantal gisrasse uit die wingerde van 'n aantal wynplase in verskillende klimaatstreke te isoleer, spesifiek in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Die gisrasse was grotendeels deur elektroforetiese kariotipering (kontoer-geklampte homogene elektriese veld; CHEF) geïdentifiseer. Die tweede deel van die navorsing was gefokus op die onderskeiding tussen die mees gebruikte kommersiële wyngiste met 'Fourier-Transform Near Infrared' (FTNIR) spektroskopie. Eerstens is 'n stel data, bestaande uit die spektrum data oor die kommersiële wyngiste opgestel om as 'n verwysingsbiblioteek te dien. Tweedens is die spektrum van data oor die geïsoleerde giste onder presies dieselfde toestande met die verwysingsbiblioteek vergelyk. Dié tegniek maak dit moontlik om tussen die kommersiële wyngiste te onderskei. As die twee metodes saam gebruik word vir identifikasie, kan die afleiding gemaak word dat kommersiële wyngiste nie maklik vanaf die kelder na die wingerd versprei nie. Die kommersiële wyngiste is ook meestal naby die kelder en die dopstortingsterreine gevind. Sou 'n rekombinante gisras dus gebruik word om wyn te maak, sal dit nie maklik versprei nie. Die kommersiële gebruik van geneties gemanipuleerde wyngiste behoort dus nie In groot omgewingsrisiko in te hou nie.