The impact of two different winemaking practices on the chemical and sensory complexity of Pinot Blanc wines from South Tyrol (Italy), from grape pressing to the bottled wine stored for nine months, was studied. New chemical markers of Pinot blanc were identified: astilbin and trans-caftaric acid differentiated the wines according to the vinification; S-glutathionylcaftaric acid correlated with the temporal trends. Fluorescence analysis displayed strong time-evolution and differentiation of the two wines for gallocatechin and epigallocatechin, respectively. After nine months of storage in bottle, the control wine showed higher amounts of most ethyl esters, acetate esters and octanoic acid, whereas higher alcohols characterized instead the wine obtained with prefermentative cold maceration. The sensory panel found notes of apple and tropical fruit in the control wine and attributed a higher overall quality judgement to it, whereas the cold-macerated wine was described by olfactory intensity, spicy and pear attributes.

The wine sector is working to add value, enhance sustainability and reduce waste, yet often creating new products with unknown consumer acceptance. Verjuice, juice made from discarded unripe thinned grapes, is an example. Whilst verjuice has various culinary uses, its versatility in beverages continues to expand. However, its sensory drivers of liking when consumed as a drink, and their potential impact on its application remain unclear. Chemical drivers of sensory characteristics are also unknown representing a critical knowledge gap needed to guide product innovation. This study aimed to provide new knowledge regarding consumer acceptability of verjuice by identifying its sensory drivers of liking as a beverage, evaluating its potential use in different applications and identifying chemical drivers of its sensory characteristics. New Zealand consumers (n = 93) evaluated 13 verjuice samples from different countries. Furthermore, verjuice familiarity and its influence on emotional response was investigated to determine likely future consumer engagement. Sweetness was the most positive driver of liking in verjuice overall, followed by fruity and floral notes, smoothness, and to a lesser extent citrus flavour. Consumers expressed varied preferences for verjuice's sensory profile, with fruity, floral, and honey flavours driving beverage application, whilst winey and green apple notes were more associated with culinary scenarios. Some association between chemical parameters and sensory attributes were evident (e.g. sugars were highly associated with perceived sweetness, fruity, and floral attributes; these attributes also shared proximity with 1-hexanol and cyclohexanol). The general idea of verjuice elicited positive valence emotions, but consumers who were 'not familiar' felt more curious, and those 'familiar' felt happier and more satisfied. Findings highlight the potential to tailor verjuice for specific applications by understanding desired sensory profiles and related chemical parameters. Recognising the interplay between familiarity level and emotional response is crucial for positioning the product in the marketplace and fostering consumer engagement. Marketing initiatives are needed to increase verjuice familiarity and support product innovation, leading to increased product appeal.

While wildfire's impacts on wine have been considered a defect due to the introduction of smoke-related off-flavours, limited studies have investigated consumers responses to smoke-impacted wines. The aims of this work were (i) to explore how New Zealand consumers respond to smoke-impacted wine; (ii) confirm whether clusters of consumers existed and characterise them by their liking of smoky flavours in foods/beverages and subjective wine knowledge; and (iii) explore how different label concepts influence consumer responses. Participants responded to liking, emotions, and perceived sensory attributes of five blends of smoke-impacted wine with non-impacted wine, along with a smoke-impacted wine presented with four different label concepts. Two clusters of consumers were identified, with one disliking the smoke-impacted wine (smoke-dislikers) and the other cluster liking (smoke-liker). The smoke-liker cluster indicated a greater liking of smoke flavours in foods and beverages, along with a higher level of subjective wine knowledge. For the labels, the introduction of the label concept significantly increased liking of the wine for the smoke-dislikers, as well as had the power to elicit different emotions and sensory experiences. This research provides vital information to the wine industry as they adapt to future wildfire years, along with how the distinct sensory profile may not be detrimental to consumer acceptance and can be modulated by the type of information on label. Further research is needed to explore how different populations and wine styles correlate with these findings, and the effects of varying levels of smoke exposure in Pinot noir and other grape varietals.

Food industry has been searching for strategies to reduce sodium in foods. Verjuice, an acidic juice made from thinned grapes, appears to enhance perceived saltiness in pickles. This study aimed to determine the affective thresholds (Consumer Rejection Threshold: CRT, Compromised Acceptance Threshold: CAT, Hedonic Rejection Threshold: HRT) of pickles produced with verjuice and vinegar, in order to assess whether salt concentration can be reduced. Consumers ( n = 103) tasted eight pairs of samples (four per acidifier), comparing the control (14 g/L salt) with one of the treatments (either 0, 3.5, 7.0 or 10.5 g/L). Results showed that it is possible to reduce more salt by using verjuice as an acidifier compared to vinegar, without impacting preference in relation to the control. CAT values were similar for both acidifiers; however, HRT values for vinegar pickled cucumbers were lower compared to those with verjuice, suggesting that vinegar allowed for a greater salt reduction without sensory rejection. This work used hedonic and rejection thresholds to study whether salt concentration in pickle production can be reduced. This method has wide applicability in the food industry, offering a process to identify when the level of an ingredient exceeds or does not meet consumer expectations. Obtaining data on affective thresholds of pickles preserved with vinegar and verjuice (proposed herein as an acidifier alternative ingredient) is crucial for product development purposes, supporting quality control and guiding formulation development. The use of verjuice may be a first step in product innovation given its health and sustainable credentials. Data from this study show that food producers can reduce salt content in pickles down to ~4 g/L by preserving them with either vinegar or verjuice, without impacting liking compared to levels currently available in the market (14 g/L). This reduction can be implemented in the production of vinegar‐based pickles, leading to healthier products without compromising consumer acceptance.