This research is the first study of McIntosh apple cider fermentation using different must treatments. The must materials included standard pressed juice, the common cider fermentation material, mash, direct from the apple shredder both with and without pectinase additions, and finally, pomace. These four treatments caused multiple differences from the standard hard ciders from juice, starting with the apple must characteristics, following through the yeast fermentation processes, and carried into the final ciders. Initial apple musts had different sugar content, pH, acids, total phenolics, and antioxidant activities. Although juice contained more total phenolics and had more antioxidant capabilities, it contained lower levels of yeast assimilable nitrogen. The sugar consumption dynamic changes had a differential dynamic trend but did not alter the capacity for complete apple cider fermentation. From the fermentation color dynamic changes, it indicated that must materials would have effects on color-changing amplitudes. Juice treatment had the largest changes from the must. Pomace and mash with pectinase had fewer color changes in multiple color values (L*, a*, b*). The mono phenolics in the final cider indicated that pomace ferments contained the least hydroxycinnamates but a similar amount of total flavanols as juice-fermented ciders. Cider from the juice contained the least flavonols, whereas the mash, both with and without pectinase treatments, had the largest amount of flavonols. This work will provide some applicable information for apple cider fermentation from the apple wastes in the cider industry.

This research is the first study on the influence of juicing methods on the ‘Aurora’ haskap juice quality. Three common juice extraction methods, namely, using a steam juicer, a centrifugal juicer, and a bladder wine press, were applied for haskap juice extraction. Both physicochemical assays and tests of antioxidant activities were employed to evaluate the qualities of the haskap juice. Generally, the centrifugal juicer increased and the steam juicer reduced concentrations of measured juice components relative to the press. The juice from the centrifugal juicer had the highest cloudiness. Sugar concentrations were about 40% lower in steam juice compared to the centrifugal juicer. Pressed juice had a slightly lower soluble solid content than the juice made with the centrifugal juicer and concentrations of glucose and fructose were similar between these methods. The methods altered pH and malic acid content without affecting the concentrations of tartaric and malic acids. Similar effects of juicing methods were seen in secondary compounds associated with health benefits and antioxidant capacities. Anthocyanin concentrations in press and centrifugal juicer extracts were similar, about 1.6 times higher than steam juicer extracts. Total phenolics and antioxidant activities were from two to four times higher in the centrifugal juicer extraction compared to steam juicing. Ascorbic acid and total flavonoid content in the haskap juice was increased by centrifugal juicing and decreased by steam juicing compared to the press. Overall, the juice extracted with the centrifugal juicer had concentrations of juice components that were 1.5–2 times higher than the steam juicer. The pressed juice had similar to slightly lower concentrations of components compared to the centrifugal juicer.

Blackcurrant is well known for its health benefits, but its wine products are understudied. In this research, studies were conducted after non-Saccharomyces and Saccharomyces yeast strain inoculation in less than 20% (w/v) fruit must for blackcurrant fermentation. Three inoculations were carried out on blackcurrant musts, as follows: (1) sequential inoculation with Torulaspora delbrueckii (strain Biodiva) followed by Saccharomyces EC1118 strain; (2) sequential inoculation with Metschnikowia pulcherimma (strain Flavia) followed by EC1118; (3) single-strain inoculation with EC1118 as the control treatment. None of these treatments did alter sugar consumption dynamics. Biodiva inoculation had impacts on both color dynamic parameter changes and final wine color profiles compared to EC1118. The final wine compositions indicate that Biodiva treatment had a significant impact on wine pH and acidity, whereas EC1118 single-strain largely influenced wine ethanol and glycerol contents. Although the total antioxidant capabilities were close among the three produced wines, the monophenol profiles indicate that Biodiva enhanced the total anthocyanin and hydroxycinnamates content but reduced the total flavanol contents in the final wine. EC1118 and Flavia wines contained more total flavanols compared to Biodiva treatment. The nonflavonoid profiles indicate that there were no significant differences among the three treatments. Our findings provide useful information for the application of yeast strains in blackcurrant wine fermentation.

A regionally developed and adapted dessert apple, ‘Wodarz’, was explored for its potential in apple cider production because of its consistent productivity when other apple cultivars have struggled with North Dakota’s climate. Due to the importance of yeast strain on the perceived quality of fermentation products, five commercial yeast strains, three wine yeasts (EC1118, Maurivin B, and 71B), and two cider yeasts (WLP775 and WY4766) were evaluated for their impact on the physicochemical properties, color, and sensory characteristics of ‘Wodarz’ cider. By assessing dynamic changes, such as spectral properties and sugar content, a comparison among yeasts was conducted across multiple dimensions. The lightness, chroma, and hue all showed variations throughout fermentation, though not across the final ciders. However, differences in the final color of the ciders were identified via ΔE calculations. Each yeast contributed different aromas and tastes to the final ciders. Among yeast strains, EC1118 had the strongest aroma intensity. Despite having subdued aroma intensity, 71B had strong acidity tastes and WLP775 had strong fruity tastes. Thus, our research suggests that yeast strains are an applicable factor in determining the final sensory attributes of local ‘Wodarz’ cider. This is the first report of fermentation outcomes using ‘Wodarz’ apples for cider. ‘Wodarz’ can be aromatically described using terms such as apple, honey, herbal, rose, and floral and fruit notes. The overall taste of ‘Wodarz’ cider is characterized by apple, honey, and rose notes followed by black pepper and grass.

The enology industry in North Dakota is extremely young, with less than twenty years of existence. At times throughout the development of the North Dakota viticulture and enology industries, commercial wine producers have elected to purchase or store fresh harvested grapes as frozen musts. To investigate the fermentation outcomes related to skin contact for red grapevine musts, a postfreeze fermentation experiment was conducted with fruit from ‘Frontenac’, one of the most widely grown red grapevines in the Upper Midwest U.S. and North Dakota. Four fermentation treatments were applied to frozen ‘Frontenac’ grapevine musts: steam juice extraction, rosé, 1 day after inoculation (DAI) skin contact, and 9 DAI skin contact. Samples were collected daily for ten days and analyzed for fermentation progress and spectrophotometric monitoring of wine color attributes and total phenolics. The final wines were analyzed two years after bottling. Steam-extracted musts were initially darkest; however, they were lighter as final wines than the 9 DAI wines and similar to rosé wines in lightness. Total phenolics were greatest for 9 DAI wines and total red pigments were lowest for steam-extracted wines. While differences between treatments were detected, the wines remained visually similar; this indicates that color extraction within the freeze–thaw processes of musts may obliterate subtly and make it difficult to produce wines of light color when stored under these conditions. Continued work with additional grapevines beyond ‘Frontenac’ may help fine-tune must and fermentation extraction procedures for small-scale wineries growing cold-hardy grapevines.