•The copigmentation of phenolic aldehydes was studied spectrophotometrically.•The great copigmentation effect was assessed at pH 3.0 and molar ratio 1:100.•Experimental (K, ΔG°) and theoretical (ΔGbinding, ΔE) data were investigated.•Coniferyl aldehyde strongly combined with malvidin-3-O-glucoside.Copigmentation was investigated in model solutions between the anthocyanin malvidin-3-O-glucoside and three phenolic aldehydes (vanillic, syringic and coniferyl aldehydes) as a function of the pH and the pigment/copigment molar ratio. Tristimulus colorimetry was applied to evaluate the chromatic variations induced by copigmentation process. The results indicated that the greatest magnitude of copigmentation was obtained at pH 3.0 and molar ratio of 1:100, being significantly higher with coniferyl aldehyde, followed by syringic and vanillic aldehydes. The equilibrium constant (K) and Gibbs free energies (ΔG°) determined here show a spontaneous exothermic reaction. Theoretical calculations (ΔGbinding, ΔE) specified the relative arrangement of the pigment and copigment molecules within the complexes. In addition, an atoms in molecules (AIM) analysis was used to explore the main driving forces contributing to the formation of copigmentation complexes.

•The results were based on industrial-scale winemaking.•Effect of cold maceration on wine aroma had a relationship with the type of fermenter.•Cold maceration (CM) enhanced fruity, caramel and floral wine aroma in the pumping-over tank.•Cold maceration was more effective for improving wine aroma in the pumping-over tank.•(Z)-6-Nonen-1-ol in final wines was positively correlated to CM treatment.The influence of pre-fermentation cold maceration (CM) on Cabernet Sauvignon wines fermented in two different industrial-scale fermenters was studied. CM treatment had different effects on wine aroma depending on the types of fermenter, being more effective for automatic pumping-over tank (PO-tank) than automatic punching-down tank (PD-tank). When PO-tank was used, CM-treated wine showed a decrease in some fusel alcohols (isobutanol and isopentanol) and an increase in some esters (especially acetate esters). However, no significant changes were detected in these compounds when PD-tank was used. Ethyl 2-hexenoate and diethyl succinate were decreased, while geranylacetone was increased by the CM treatment in both fermenters. β-Damascenone was increased by the CM treatment in PO-tank fermented wines but decreased in PD-tank fermented wines. The fruity, caramel and floral aroma series were enhanced while chemical series were decreased by the CM treatment in PO-tank fermented wines. The content of (Z)-6-nonen-1-ol in the final wines was positively correlated to CM treatment.

Primary and secondary metabolism in grape berries is under the control of complex interactions among environmental conditions, genotypes, and management practices. To obtain an interpretation from the view of transcriptome on distinct metabolite accumulation between ecologically different regions in China, next-generation sequencing technology was performed on E-L 31, 35, and 38 stages of Cabernet Sauvignon grape berries from Changli (CL, eastern) and Gaotai (GT, western). The transcript abundance of epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase and xanthoxin dehydrogenase required for ABA biosynthesis was significantly higher in the GT berries at E-L 35 and 38 stages compared with the CL berries, which may explain the relatively short maturation period of berries in the western region. Some genes required for carbohydrate metabolism, such as hexose transporter, l-idonate dehydrogenase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, were significantly up-regulated in the CL berries in relation to the GT berries, which positively correlated with the sugar and organic acid accumulations. Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that the CL berries had higher levels of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis at E-L 38 stage than the GT berries, which may relate to the quick fading of the GT wines because of weak co-pigmentation. This observation lays a foundation for further study concerning the molecular basis for environmental effects on berry quality formation.