PREPARATION, OPTIMIZATION AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF PLUM (Prunus cerasifera)- WHITE GRAPE (Vitis vinifera) WINE

Abstract

Plums is rich in a variety of vitamins, and minerals, including calcium, which ensures blood clots normally. They also supply potassium and vitamin C as well as being rich in protective polyphenols all of which are associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Plum (prunus cerasifera) and grape (Vitis vinifera) wine were prepared using different proportions of plum and grape juice (0%, 25%, 33.3%, 50%, 66.7%, 75%, and 100%) using wine yeast (S. cerevisiae) at the rate 1 g/L of the must. 100% grape juice in the must was taken as a control sample. The pH and total soluble solids (TSS) of the must were maintained at 3.9±0.1 and 25°Bx respectively and fermentation was carried out for 24 days at 25-30°C. The prepared wine was analyzed for TSS, pH, acidity, reducing sugar, alcohol contents, total phenolics, aldehyde, esters, tannin, methanol contents and antioxidants properties. Sensory attributes (color, flavor, smell, taste, clarity, and overall acceptability) of wine were evaluated using a 9-points hedonic scale rating test. The sensory score data were analyzed by ANOVA using GenStat 12 Edition, 2014 at 5% level of significance. Plum: grape juice in the ratio of 33.3:66.7% was found to be best, based on a 9-point hedonic rating test. The means sensory score showed that there was significant difference among all the products with respect to color, flavor, smell, taste, clarity, and overall acceptability of the product. Variation in juice content of plum and grape of must significantly (p<0.05) affect the wine quality. From sensory evaluation the best sample (plum: grape juice ratio 33.3:66.7%) had 7.5°Bx TSS, 3.89 pH, 0.03% volatile acidity (as acetic acid), 10.7%(v/v) alcohol content, 272.93(mg GAE/100 ml) total phenolic, 49.36(g/100 L) total esters, 0.24 (g/100 L alc.) total aldehyde, 83.34% (DPPH inhibition) and 0.9 (g/L) methanol. Hence this wine had potential for commercialization to be made within the means of common people.