Current Organizations / Institutes

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María José García-Esparza has a total of 16 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:


Latest Publications

  • Open Access

    The Application of the Ultrasound Technique in the Production of Rosé and Red Wines

    by Victoria Lizama, Inmaculada Álvarez, María José García-Esparza

    The application of the ultrasound technique (US) in the production of rosé and red wines has demonstrated that the aromatic composition of rose wine can be affected and that it contributes to increasing the color of red wines without increasing the extraction of astringent tannins. The ultrasound treatment has favored the extraction of anthocyanins, which has had an impact on the increase in color density (C.D.) and has allowed greater color stability over time. Moreover, significant differences have been found between the two US systems applied, with continuous treatment being more effective in the extraction of phenolic compounds than pulsed treatment. The application system of the US also affects the aromatic composition of the wines. These results are of interest, as some esters have been described as important odorants in wines.


  • Open Access

    Diversity of Indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Strains in Cabernet Sauvignon Fermentations from Utiel-Requena Region (Spain) as a Resource to Improve Wine Distinctiveness

    by Carmen Berbegal, Sergi Ferrer, Lucía Polo, Isabel Pardo, María José García-Esparza, Lorena Andrés, Inmaculada Álvarez, Victoria Lizama

    The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize autochthonous Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts from Cabernet Sauvignon grape must and to analyze how they impacted the final characteristics of the wines obtained from the same type of must. This work was carried out in a “Pago” winery located in Requena, Spain. Twenty-two isolates were obtained from grape must. After molecular identification and typing, 11 different strains were determined. Growth-related parameters and metabolic characteristics (glucose and fructose consumption and ethanol, glycerol and acetic acid production) were determined via laboratory-scale fermentations (50 mL) of Cabernet Sauvignon must. From 2 L fermentation batches, the residual sugar, density, ethanol concentration, titratable and volatile acidities, pH and polyphenolic and volatile compounds were determined, as well as the sensory attributes of the produced wines. Differences between strains in the growth and metabolic parameters were observed. Eleven S. cerevisiae strain profiles were characterized to establish which strain or strains of the selected yeasts would produce the highest polyphenolic and aromatic concentrations of the red Cabernet wines made in the “Pago winery”, to then multiply them for their use to make the red wines of this winery.


  • Open Access

    Diversity of Indigenous Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Strains in Cabernet Sauvignon Fermentations From “Utiel-Requena” (Spain) Region as a Resource to Improve Wine Distinctiveness

    by Carmen Berbegal, Sergi Ferrer, Lucia Polo, Isabel Pardo, María José García, Lorena Andrés, María Inmaculada Álvarez, Victoria Lizama

    The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize autochthonous Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts from Cabernet Sauvignon grape must and to analyze how they impacted the final characteristics of the wines obtained from the same must type. This work was carried out in a “Pago” winery located in Requena, Spain. Twenty-two isolates were obtained from grape must. After molecular identification and typing, 11 different strains were determined. Growth-related parameters and metabolic characteristics (glucose and fructose consumption, and ethanol, glycerol and acetic acid production) were determined by laboratory-scale fermentations (50 mL) of Cabernet Sauvignon must. From 2 L fermentation batches, residual sugar, density, ethanol concentration, titratable and volatile acidities, pH, and polyphenolic and volatile compounds were determined, as well as the sensory attributes of the produced wines. Differences between strains in the growth and metabolic parameters were observed. Eleven S. cerevisiae strain profiles were characterized to establish which strain or strains of the selected yeasts would produce the highest polyphenolic and aromatic concentration of the red Cabernet wines made in the “Pago winery” to then multiply them for their use to make the red wines of this winery.


  • Open Access

    Influence of Native S. cerevisiae Strains on the Final Characteristics of “Pago” Garnacha Wines from East Spain

    by Carmen Berbegal, Lucía Polo, Victoria Lizama, Inmaculada Álvarez, Sergi Ferrer, Isabel Pardo, Mª José García-Esparza

    This work studies the variability of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae present during the spontaneous fermentation of Garnacha grapes’ musts from a “Pago” winery from the east of Spain. The parameters used to select yeast are those related to growth, fermentative behaviour, and the influence on the wine’s aroma and polyphenolic composition. Yeast identification was performed by ITS analysis and typed by Hinfl mDNA restriction profile analysis. Growth and metabolic characteristics of the isolates were determined by laboratory-scale fermentations of sterile Garnacha must, and the composition of the polyphenolic and the volatile compounds, and the sensory attributes of the small-scale produced red wines were determined. Ten S. cerevisiae strains were isolated and characterized. Overall, strain 22H quickly grew, produced wines with moderate ethanol concentrations and low volatile acidity, and obtained the highest colour and aroma scores, plus a high score for sensory attributes.


  • Open Access

    Influence of the Dry Yeast Preparation Method on Final Sparkling Wine Characteristics

    by Carmen Berbegal, Lucía Polo, M. José García-Esparza, Inmaculada Álvarez, Fernando Zamora, Sergi Ferrer, Isabel Pardo

    The effect of preparing the commercial yeast prise de mousse S. cerevisiae IOC 18-2007 on the second fermentation kinetics of a Macabeo white base wine was evaluated. The influence of yeast preparation on the final “Cava” sparkling wines was determined. The medium glucose, peptone, yeast extract (GPY medium), and the characteristic classic pied de cuve procedure were used to prepare the inoculum, which was placed besides a tirage liqueur inside bottles in which a second fermentation took place by the “traditional method”. The fermentation kinetics were similar for the first 60 days regardless of the employed yeast inoculum preparation. In both cases, glucose was exhausted and a few grams of fructose remained on day 30. The ethanol concentration after 60 days was the same in all of the wines. The sparkling wines inoculated with the GPY-grown yeasts showed higher titratable acidity, lower total polysaccharide and protein contents, and greater foamability (HM) and foam stability (HS). Regarding volatile compounds, these wines contained higher esters, fatty acids, higher alcohols, and γ-butyrolactone. Differences in the wine’s visual and flavor attributes were not significant no matter what inoculum was used. However, the aroma score was significantly higher in the wines inoculated with the pied de cuve-prepared yeasts.


  • Isolation and characterisation of autochthonousSaccharomyces cerevisiaefrom ‘Pago’ Merlot wines of Utiel‐Requena (Spain) origin

    by C. Ut, C. Berbegal, V. Lizama, L. Polo, M.J. García, L. Andrés, I. Pardo, I. Álvarez

    Background and Aims To achieve both the control of the undesirable yeasts and the improvement of the characteristics of Merlot ‘Pago’ wines, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast diversity was investigated in a spontaneous ‘Pago’ Merlot fermentation from the Utiel-Requena region (Spain). Isolates of S. cerevisiae were characterised by a holistic procedure using the same Merlot grape must from which they were isolated. Methods and Results Yeasts were identified by internal transcribed spacer analysis and typed by HinfI mDNA restriction analysis. Growth and metabolic characteristics of the isolates were determined by laboratory-scale (50 L) fermentations of Merlot must and the composition of the polyphenolic and the volatile compounds and the sensory attributes of the wines were determined. Twelve S. cerevisiae strains were isolated and characterised. Strains 2E, 4A, 7A and 7F had better growth characteristics. Strains 9C and 7F produced wines of good intensity and colour quality, marked intensity and aroma quality, fruity character and better overall quality. Strain 9C displayed poor growth. Conclusions Strain 7F combined good growth characteristics and produced Merlot wines with the best colour, aroma and flavour characteristics during microvinifications. Significance of the Study Characterisation of S. cerevisiae made entirely in Merlot grape must allowed the influence of yeast strains on the final characteristics of commercial-scale Merlot ‘Pago’ wines to be more accurately deduced.


  • Immobilisation of yeasts on oak chips or cellulose powder for use in bottle-fermented sparkling wine

    by Carmen Berbegal, Lucía Polo, Ma José García-Esparza, Victoria Lizama, Sergi Ferrer, Isabel Pardo


  • Foam aptitude of Bobal variety in white sparkling wine elaboration and study of volatile compounds

    by María José García, José Luis Aleixandre, Inmaculada Álvarez, Victoria Lizama