Effects of pulsed electric fields on the extraction of phenolic compounds during the fermentation of must of Tempranillo grapes

The effects of a pre-treatment of the grape skin with electric field treatments (PEF) at 5 and 10 kV/cm on the evolution of colour, anthocyanin and index of total polyphenols during the Tempranillo grape vinification and on the wine characteristics after fermentation have been investigated. Results showed that the permeabilization of the grape skin by application of a PEF treatment at room temperature caused an increment of the colour intensity, anthocyanin content and of total polyphenolic index with respect to the control during all the vinification process. Generally along the maceration process the values of these three parameters increased when the electric field strength raised from 5 to 10 kV/cm. Colour intensity and anthocyanin content of the wine significantly increased when the PEF treatment was applied at 10 kV/cm. However, the total phenolic index increased considerably with the application of a PEF treatment at 5 kV/cm. A further increment on the electric field strength did not appreciably augment this attribute. PEF did not affect the ratio between the components of the red wine colour (tint and yellow, red and blue components) and other wine characteristics such as alcohol content, total acidity, pH, reducing sugar concentration and volatile acidity. These results indicate that the PEF treatment previous to the maceration step in the winemaking process of the red wine can contribute to reduce the duration of the maceration during vinification or to increase the quantity of these attributes in the final wine. Industrial relevance: This study investigates the effect of the application of a PEF pre-treatment of the grape skin on the evolution of colour, anthocyanin and index of total polyphenols during the Tempranillo grape vinification. Results obtained indicate that the application of a PEF treatment preceding the maceration step in the winemaking process of red wine could contribute to reduce the duration of the maceration during vinification or to increase the quantity of these parameters in the final wine. Latter effect could be of interest in grapes poor in polyphenols.