Project: New technologies to detect, prevent and eradicate pollutants that cause “musty taint” in wineries

Wineries over the world, especially from Europe, are seriously affected by an unpleasant organoleptic defect called Musty taint or Cork taint (Soleas et al., 2002 (1)). In accordance with the EU Commissioner for agriculture (2), this mouldy and musty off-odour, unacceptable by consumers, affects 13% of bottles causing financial losses of around 1000 millions € in the wine sector._x000D__x000D_ The CO compounds which are responsible of this off-flavour are haloanisoles and their respective precursors, known as halophenols, which are transformed by microbial-induced methoxylation. Among all compounds, 2,4,6–trichloroanisole (TCA) is the first member identified and most relevant._x000D__x000D_ Traditionally, cork stoppers contaminated with these compounds were assumed to be responsible for this defect, and thus, European cork industries have made strong efforts counting with EC support. As result, some projects (Innocuous, Tecacor and Quercus (3)) were developed to avoid the appearance of contamination in the manufacturing process of cork stoppers. In spite of the efforts to solve this problem, it is still threatening the wine sector._x000D__x000D_ Nowadays it is known that this effect may be also produced by other sources such as disinfectants and pesticides used or presence of microorganisms at wineries. Consequently, wine may contain pollutants precursors before bottling and during storage because of contamination in the cellar environment (Silva-Pereira et al., 2000 (4); Pollnitz et al., 1996 (5) Chatonnet et al., 1994 (6))._x000D__x000D_ The necessity of executing a project whose results are a way to develop new technological tools in order to reduce the risk of musty taint in wineries is evidence. The development of both cheap and easy-to-use methodologies to detect musty taint agents in wineries and equipments for purifying air, joint to wine decontamination methodologies could help to solve this problem. Furthermore, the new equipments and methodologies would have a strong economic impact for the SMEs participants, improving their competitiveness by creating new markets or expanding existing ones._x000D_ WINEPOLL aims at developing methodologies and devices for musty taint detection, prevention and eradication in wineries. The specific objectives are to:_x000D__x000D_ 1) Optimise existing sampling methods for detection of pollutants in the cellar of wineries facilities_x000D_ 2) Adapt existing analytical methodologies for analysing several matrixes_x000D_ 3) Design and optimise easy-to-use GC MS/MC equipments to detect and monitor pollutants at SMEs facilities and also suitable to analyse several matrix_x000D_ 4) Design and optimise air purification systems to prevent high level musty taint agents_x000D_ 5) Reduce and/or eliminate agents once they have reached the wine by polymer adsorption_x000D__x000D_ Wine sector will get remarkable benefits as a consequence of contaminants reduction in wine and regaining the confidence of the consumers. Competitive advantages would be obtained for European wineries by producing high quality wines bottled and stored monitoring pollutant with new technologies. As a consequence, it is expected a European wine sector strengthening, producing an indirect positive impact in SMEs in charge of manufacturing the new technologies involved._x000D__x000D_ The consortium is formed by 5 multidisciplinary Ps: 3 SMEs (AMSCAN, BIOSINTEL, CERTIO), 1 agriculture institute (KIS), 1 university (DTU) from 3 European countries (Spain, Slovenia, Denmark). Also an SME will be subcontracted (BRIC) as an end user from Slovenia._x000D__x000D_- BRIC: as end user its role is to put a real scenario to test the new methodology and new devices developed to solve the problem of the contamination of wine._x000D__x000D_- AMSCAN, BIOSINTEL, CERTIO: RTD performers who will be in charge of designing and fine-tuning the new technologies to be developed._x000D__x000D_- KIS, DTU: CO role is to determine the quality of wines and standards in vitiviniculture and cold plasma technology and support the rest of Ps in order to achieve the objectives._x000D_

Acronym	WINEPOLL (Reference Number: 7411)
Duration	01/11/2012 - 31/10/2015
Project Topic	WINEPOLL aims at developing technological tools to reduce the risk of musty taint in wineries and to prevent and eradicate their appearance. _x000D_ The innovative character is the wide approach to the problem of pollution in wine caused by chemical volatiles and microbiologic agents.
Project Results (after finalisation)	The results of the microbiological test and particle test has been of great importance. TCA / TCB test also gave good results; but because of the low TCA / TBA level in the wine cellar, where the test was carried out the test result must be taken with caution.
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 8

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
6	Air Manager Scandinavian Aps	Partner	Denmark
6	Air Manager Scandinavian Aps	Partner	Denmark
6	Bioseguridad Integral, S.L.	Coordinator	Spain
6	Certio Medio Ambiente, S.L.	Partner	Spain
6	DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET - Technical University of Denmark	Partner	Denmark
6	Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije – Agricultural Institute of Slovenia	Partner	Slovenia