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Wine is a complex mixture of chemical compounds in a hydro-alcoholic solution with a pH around 4. The chemistry of wine and its resultant quality depend on achieving a balance between three aspects of the berries used to make the wine: their sugar content, acidity and the presence of secondary compounds.
The natural occurrence of fermentation means it was probably first observed long ago by humans. [3] The earliest uses of the word "fermentation" in relation to winemaking was in reference to the apparent "boiling" within the must that came from the anaerobic reaction of the yeast to the sugars in the grape juice and the release of carbon dioxide.
Autolysis in winemaking relates to the complex chemical reactions that take place when a wine spends time in contact with the lees, or dead yeast cells, after fermentation. While for some wines - and all beers [ 1 ] - autolysis is undesirable, it is a vital component in shaping the flavors and mouth feel associated with premium Champagne ...
A wine showing Madeira-like flavor, generally evidence of oxidation. Sometimes used to describe white wine that has been kept long past its prime. Maillard reactions The complex chemical reaction between amino acids and sugar in the wine or grapes.
The primary role of yeast is to convert the sugars present (namely glucose) in the grape must into alcohol.The yeast accomplishes this by utilizing glucose through a series of metabolic pathways that, in the presence of oxygen, produces not only large amounts of energy for the cell but also many different intermediates that the cell needs to function.
Malolactic fermentation can aid in making a wine "microbiologically stable" in that the lactic acid bacteria consume many of the leftover nutrients that other spoilage microbes could use to develop wine faults. However, it can also make the wine slightly "unstable" due to the rise in pH, especially if the wine already was at the high end of ...
Malic and tartaric acid are the primary acids in wine grapes. The acids in wine are an important component in both winemaking and the finished product of wine. They are present in both grapes and wine, having direct influences on the color, balance and taste of the wine as well as the growth and vitality of yeast during fermentation and protecting the wine from bacteria.
[11] [12] It is used to make bread dough rise: the carbon dioxide forms bubbles, expanding the dough into a foam. [13] [14] The ethanol is the intoxicating agent in alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer and liquor. [15] Fermentation of feedstocks, including sugarcane, maize, and sugar beets, produces ethanol that is added to gasoline. [16]