Analysis of the must and wine of several grape varieties in the Pâncota wine-growing area
Keywords:
sugars, acidity, physicochemical indicatorsAbstract
The western region of Romania stands out as a significant wine-producing area with a rich tradition and deep expertise in viticulture. This region offers highly favourable conditions for cultivating wine grapes. Research conducted in the Miniș-Măderat viticultural area focused on the physicochemical properties of both local and noble grape varieties, including ‘‘Fetească Regală’,’ ‘‘Mustoasă de Măderat’,’ ‘‘Merlot’,’ and ‘‘Cabernet Sauvignon’.’ The analyses evaluated the physicochemical parameters of the grapes, grape must, and resulting wines, aligning with the quality standards required for Miniș controlled designation of origin wines. Grape samples were analyzed to establish the optimal harvest time and assess key quality indicators such as sugar accumulation, total acidity, pH, volatile acidity, malic acid content, alcohol volume, and the sensory characteristics of the wines. At harvest, red wine varieties exhibited a greater accumulation of sugars in the berries compared to the white varieties. Grapes from the ‘‘Mustoasă de Măderat’’ variety showed the highest acidity levels at harvest. For all varieties, the sugar content fell below 4 g/L during fermentation, placing the wines in the dry category. The resulting wines retained the distinct characteristics of each analyzed variety, displaying typicity and authenticity.
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