Different postharvest dehydration rates affect quality characteristics and volatile compounds of Malvasia, Trebbiano and Sangiovese grapes for wine production

Experiments were carried out using an innovative technology for dehydration based on the passage of air through a tunnel. It was possible to study the postharvest behaviour, at different rates of dehydration, of Malvasia, Trebbiano and Sangiovese grapes. Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes were picked with 17.5% SSC (soluble solids content), while Sangiovese grapes were harvested fully ripe with 26% SSC. All the grapes, in different experiments, were placed in the tunnel with an air speed of 1–1.5 m s−1, 42% RH (relative humidity) and a temperature of 21 °C. After 18 days the weight loss was 50 and 34% respectively in tunnel‐treated Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes, while it was only 13–14% in control grapes (outside the tunnel: RH around 65% and temperature about 20 °C without ventilation). The SSC rose to 35 and 27% respectively in tunnel‐treated Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes compared with 23 and 21% respectively in control grapes. In the case of Sangiovese grapes, after 7 days (the end of treatment) the weight loss was 20.5% in tunnel‐treated grapes and 10.5% in control grapes. The SSC rose to 32% and the acidity increased from 4.8 to 5.8 g l−1 in tunnel‐treated grapes compared with 29% and 5 g l−1 respectively in control grapes. Total phenols and anthocyanins almost doubled in tunnel‐treated Sangiovese berries. Volatile compound analysis revealed a higher ethanol concentration in all tunnel‐treated grapes but a lower concentration of ethyl acetate and acetic acid.