Anthocyanins and nucleation seeds are key factors affecting quercetin precipitation in red wines

Abstract Background climate changes have been leading to an excessive synthesis of Quercetin (Q) and its glycosides (Q‐Gs) in specific red grape varieties, such as Sangiovese. This has resulted in concentrations overcoming the solubility threshold of Q in wines, with the consequent formation of undesirable precipitates. This study aims at assessing the impact of various factors, including anthocyanins, temperature, nucleation seeds, and time, on the precipitation of Q in red wine. Results The influence of anthocyanins on Q solubility was examined by adding a grape skin extract rich in anthocyanins to a model solution containing 89 μM of Q. The data revealed that the solubility of both Q and Q‐Gs increased as a function of the anthocyanin concentration in the model solution. In a subsequent experiment, red wines were stored at two different temperatures (2°C and 20°C), supplemented with Q nucleation seeds, and monitored over a 10‐day period. Notably, after only 3 days of contact with Q seeds at 2°C, a reduction of over 75% in Q concentration was observed in the supernatant. Among the considered factors, contact with nucleation seeds emerged as the most significant one (p < 0.0001). Conclusion Q precipitation in red wines is influenced by the presence of anthocyanins in solution, although it is not the sole determinant. The data also suggested that a potential strategy for wineries to mitigate the risk of Q precipitation in bottled wine would be the acceleration of this process by promoting the formation of nucleation seeds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.