A Review of Ladybug Taint in Wine: Origins, Prevention, and Remediation

Gary J Pickering; Andreea Botezatu

doi:10.3390/molecules26144341

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A Review of Ladybug Taint in Wine: Origins, Prevention, and Remediation

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A Review of Ladybug Taint in Wine: Origins, Prevention, and Remediation

Gary J Pickering and Andreea Botezatu

Molecules, Vol.26(14), pp.1-16

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26144341

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Abstract

grape quality

ladybird taint

methoxypyrazines

Review

wine faults

wine quality

Ladybug taint (also known as ladybird taint) is a relatively recently recognized fault that has been identified in wines from a wide range of terroirs. Alkyl-methoxypyrazines—particularly 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine—have been determined as the causal compounds, and these are introduced into grape must during processing, when specific species of vineyard-dwelling Coccinellidae are incorporated into the harvested fruit. Coccinella septempunctata, and especially the invasive Harmonia axyridis, are the beetles implicated, and climate change is facilitating wider dispersal and survivability of H. axyridis in viticultural regions worldwide. Affected wines are typically characterized as possessing excessively green, bell pepper-, and peanut-like aroma and flavor. In this paper, we review a range of vineyard practices that seek to reduce Coccinellidae densities, as well as both “standard” and novel wine treatments aimed at reducing alkyl-methoxypyrazine load. We conclude that while prevention of ladybug taint is preferable, there are several winery interventions that can remediate the quality of wine affected by this taint, although they vary in their relative efficacy and specificity.

Details

Title: A Review of Ladybug Taint in Wine: Origins, Prevention, and Remediation
Authors: Gary J Pickering (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Andreea Botezatu (Author) - Texas A&M University
Publication details: Molecules, Vol.26(14), pp.1-16
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144341
ISSN: 1420-3049
Copyright note: Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99578808802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary