title: Validation of a rapid conductimetric test for the measurement of wine tartaric stability.
abstract: This work was aimed at optimizing a rapid and reproducible conductivity test for the evaluation of wine tartaric stability, in order to improve the practices for the prevention of tartaric precipitations during bottle aging. The test consists in measuring the drop of conductivity in wines kept under stirring for a fixed time, at low temperature, after the addition of micronized potassium bitartrate crystals (KHT). An experimental design was planned to study three factors affecting the test: temperature, duration and dose of added potassium bitartrate. A standard protocol was defined to produce a micronized potassium bitartrate starting from available commercial products, since the dimensions of the crystals can affect the final conductivity values. After the choice of the best conditions the method was validated. Two different stability thresholds were defined for white wines and for red/rosé wines by comparing the results of the mini-contact test with those of the cold test.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Centro di Ricerca per l'Enologia, via P. Micca 35, 14100 Asti, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.bosso@crea.gov.it.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosso
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Centro di Ricerca per l'Enologia, via P. Micca 35, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Centro di Ricerca per l'Enologia, via P. Micca 35, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrozziello
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Centro di Ricerca per l'Enologia, via P. Micca 35, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guaita
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Centro di Ricerca per l'Enologia, via P. Micca 35, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Andriani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asproudi
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria - Centro di Ricerca per l'Enologia, via P. Micca 35, 14100 Asti, Italy.
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panero
mesh_terms: D003217:Conductometry / Q000379:methods*; D013644:Tartrates / Q000032:analysis*; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013644:Tartrates; C029768:tartaric acid
keywords: Cold test; Mini-contact test; Potassium bitartrate; Tartaric stability; Wine