Grape Juice Indicators for Prediction of Potential Wine Quality. I. Relationship Between Crop Level, Juice and Wine Composition, and Wine Sensory Ratings and Scores

Abstract

The good wine-aroma intensity of wine from Zinfandel grapes was correlated with crop level and several of the juice components. Selected as the most practical indicator of aroma intensity (r = +0.800) was °Brix x pH. The ratios of the acetate esters to corresponding alcohol also correlated with the aroma ratings. The °Brix x pH also correlated well with the flavor intensity rating (r = +0.836), which in turn correlated with crop level. Many correlations were calculated between crop level and other variables. The overall sensory scores could not be correlated significantly with crop level, °Brix x pH or any number of variables. A possible explanation is given.