Plum base wines prepared with potassium metabisulphite or sodium benzoate were converted into sparkling wine, either by `Methode Champenoise' or tank method with artificially carbonated wine serving as a control. In both the secondary fermentation methods ethanol and low temperature acclimatized yeast; Saccharomyces cerevisiae UCD-595 with optimized sugar (1.5%) and di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate (0.2%) were used. Both methods of sparkling wine production and the type of base wine affected the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of the sparkling wine produced. In the secondary fermented wines, most of the physico-chemical characteristics were altered compared to that of artificially carbonated wines except volatile acidity, methanol, propanol and ethanol. Furthermore, these wines contained lower proteins, minerals and amyl alcohol than the base wine. In general, the sparkling wines produced by either of the secondary fermentation method had lower sugar, more alcohol, higher macro elements but lower Fe and Cu contents than the artificially carbonated wines. An overview of the changes occurring in the sparkling wine in comparison to artificially carbonated wine revealed that most of the changes took place due to secondary fermentation. The bottle fermented wine recorded the highest pressure, low TSS and sugars. The secondary bottle fermented wine was the best in most of the sensory qualities but needed proper acid-sugar blend of the base wine before conducting secondary fermentation. Sparkling wine made from base wine with sodium benzoate was preferred to that prepared with potassium metabisulphite. The studies showed the potential of plum fruits for production of sparkling wine.
Plum; Prunus salicina L.; Sparkling wine; potassium metabisulphite; sodium benzoate; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
