Quantitative Ranking Evaluation of Wine Quality

Authors: A. Brunel, A. Kernevez, F. Leclere, J. Trenteseaux

Abstract:

Today, wine quality is only evaluated by wine experts with their own different personal tastes, even if they may agree on some common features. So producers do not have any unbiased way to independently assess the quality of their products. A tool is here proposed to evaluate wine quality by an objective ranking based upon the variables entering wine elaboration, and analysed through principal component analysis (PCA) method. Actual climatic data are compared by measuring the relative distance between each considered wine, out of which the general ranking is performed.

Keywords: Wine, grape, vine, weather conditions, rating, climate, principal component analysis, metric analysis.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1111989

References:

[1] OIV, (Online), November 2014, (http://www.oiv.int/oiv/ info/fr_vins_effervescents_OIV_2014).
[2] A.R. Graça: Wine Regions of the World—Version 1.3.2. Available at http://geocommons.com/overlays/3547.
[3] P. Combris, S. Lecocq, M. Visser: Estimation of Hedonic Price Equation for Bordeaux Wine: Does Quality Matter, The Economic J., Vol.107, pp.390-402, 1997.
[4] S. Lecocq, M. Visser: What Determines Wine Prices: Objectives vs Sensory Characteristics, J. Wine Economics, Vol.1(1), pp.42-56, 2006
[5] The Wine Advocate Rating System, (https://www. erobertparker.com/info/legend.asp).
[6] C. Van Leeuwen, Ph. Friant, X. Chone, O. Tregoat, S. Koundouras, D. Dubourdieu: Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on Terroir, Amer. J. Enology and Viticulture, Vol.55(3), pp.207-217, 2004.
[7] E. Vaudour: The Quality of Grapes and Wine in Relation to Geography: Notions of Terroir at Various Scales, J Wine Res., Vol. (13), pp.117-141, 2002.
[8] M.A. White, P. Whalen, G.V. Jones: Land and Wine, Nat Geosciences, Vol. (2), pp.82–84, 2009.
[9] P. Coll, E. Le Cadre, E. Blanchart, P. Hinsinger, C. Villenave: Organic Viticulture and Soil Quality: A Long-Term Study in Southern France, Appl Soil Ecol., Vol.50, pp.37-44, 2011.
[10] V. Ginsburgh, O. Gergaud: La Qualité des Vins de Bordeaux se Résume-t-elle Uniquement à celle de son Terroir ? La Journée Vinicole, Vol.21381, p.13-15, 2005.
[11] M.O. Downey, N.K. Dokoozlian, M.P. Krstic: Cultural Practice and Environmental Impacts on the Flavonoid Composition of Grapes and Wine: A Review of Recent Research, Amer. J. Enology and Viticulture, Vol.57(3), pp.257-268, 2006.
[12] G.V. Jones, M.A. White, O.R. Cooper, K. Torchmann: Climate Change and Global Wine Quality, Climatic Change, Vol.73(3), pp.319-343, 2005.
[13] M.R. Mozell: The Impact of Climate Change on the Global Wine Industry: Challenges and Solutions, Wine Economics and Policy, Vol.3(2), pp.81-89, 2014.
[14] L. Hannah, P. Roehrdanz, M. Ikegami, A. Shepard, M. Shaw, G. Tabo, L. Zhi, P. Marquet, R. Hijmans: Climate Change, Wine, and Conservation, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol.110(17), pp. 6907–6912, 2013.
[15] A.B. Tate: Global Warming Impact on Wine, J. Wine Res., Vol.2(2), pp.95-109, 2001.
[16] R. Mira de Orduna: Climate Change Associated Effects on Grape and Wine Quality and Production, Food Research International, Vol.43, pp.1844-1855, 2010.
[17] L.B. Webb, P.H. Whetton, E.W.R. Barlow: Climate Change and Wine Grape Quality in Australia, Climate Research, Vol.36, pp.99-111, 2008.
[18] H.R. Schultz: Climate Change and Viticulture: A European Perspective on Climatology, Carbon Dioxide and UV-B Effects, Australian J. of Grape and Wine Research, Vol.6(1), pp.2-12, 2000.
[19] G.H. Kenny, P.A. Harrison: The Effects of Climatic Variability and Change on Grape Suitability in Europe, J. Wine Research, Vol.4, pp.163-183, 1993.
[20] F. Laget, J.L. Tondut, A. Deloire, M.T. Kelly: Climate Trends in a Specific Mediterranean Viti-cultural Area between 1950 and 2006, J. Internat. des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin, Vol.42(3), pp.113-123, 2008.
[21] G.V. Jones: Climate Change in the Western United States Grape Growing Regions, Proc. 7th Intern. Symp. on Grapevine Physiology and Biotechnology, pp.41-59 (Ed L. E. Williams), 2005.
[22] B. Seguin, I. Garcia de Cortazar: Climate Warming: Consequences for Viticulture and the Notion of Terroirs in Europe, Proc. VII Intern. Symp. on Grapevine Physiology and Bio-technology, L.E. Williams ed., pp.61–69, Davis, USA, 2005.
[23] H. Fraga, A.C. Malheiro, J. Moutinho-Pereira, J.A. Santos Future Scenarios for Viti-cultural Zoning in Europe: Ensemble Projections and Uncertainties, Intern. J. of Biometeorology, Vol.57(6), pp.909-925, 2013.
[24] M.C. Ramos, G.V. Jones, J.A. Martinez-Casanovas: Structure and Trends in Climate Parameters Affecting Wine Grape Production in Northeast Spain, Climate Research, Vol.38(1), pp.1-15, 2008.
[25] B.G. Coombe, P. Iland: Grape Berry Development and Wine Grape Quality, P.R. Dry, B.G. Coombe, eds, Viticulture, Vol.1: Resources, pp.210-48, Winetitles, 2nd Ed., Adelaide, 2004.
[26] G. Alleweldt, H. During, K.H. Jung: The Effects of Climate on Berry Development, Yield, and Quality of Grapevines: Results of a Seven-year Factor Analysis, Vitis, Vol.23, pp.127-142, 1984.
[27] A.L. Robinson, P.K. Boss, P.S. Solomon, R.D. Trengove, H. Heymann, S.E. Ebeler : Origins of Grape and Wine Aroma. Part 1. Chemical Components and Viti-cultural Impacts, Amer. J. Enology and Viticulture., Vol.65(1), pp.1-24, 2014.
[28] J.M. Tarara, J.M. Lee, S.E. Spayd, C.F. Scagel: Berry Temperature and Solar Radiation Alter Acylation, Proportion, and Concentration of Anthocyanin in Merlot Grapes, American J. Enology and Viticulture, Vol.59(3), pp.235-247, 2008.
[29] P.R. Petrie, P.R. Clingeleffer: Effects of Temperature and Light (Before and After Budburst) on Inflorescence Morphology and Flower Number of Chardonnay Grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.), Australian J. Grape and Wine Research, Vol.11(1), pp.59-65, 2005.
[30] E. Neethling, G. Barbeau, H. Quenol, C. Bonnefoy: Evolution in Climate and Berry Composition for the Main Grape Varieties Cultivated in Loire Valley, Climatologie, Vol.8, 2011.
[31] C. van Leeuwen, O. Tregoat, X. Chone, B. Bois, D. Pernet, J.-P. Gaudillière: Vine Water Status is a Key Factor in Grape Ripening and Vintage Quality for Red Bordeaux Wine, Vigne et Vin Publications Internat., Vol.43(3), pp.121-134, 2009.
[32] J. Kennedy: Understanding Grape Berry Development, Practical Winery and Vineyard J., July/August 2002.
[33] J. Marais, F. Calitz, P.D. Haasbroek: Relationship between Microclimatic Data, Aroma Component Concentrations and Wine Quality Parameters in the Prediction of Sauvignon Blanc Wine Quality, South African J. for Enology and Viticulture, Vol.22, pp.22-26, 2001.
[34] S. Lecocq, M. Visser: Spatial Variations in Climate and Bordeaux Wine Prices. J. Wine Economics, pp.114-124, 2006.
[35] L. Webb, P. Whetton, E.W.R. Barlow: Modeling the Relationship between Climate, Wine Grape Price and Wine Grape Quality in Australia, Climate Research, Vol.36, pp.89-98, 2008.
[36] I.G. de Cortazar-Autauri, V. Daux, E. Garnier, P. Yiou, N.E. Viovy, B. Seguin, J.M. Boursiquot, A.K. Parker, C. van Leeuwen, I. Chuine: Climate Reconstructions from Grape Harvest Dates: Methodology and Uncertainties, The Holocene Online First, April 9, 2010.
[37] H.F. Liu, B.H. Wu, P.G. Fan, S.H. Li, L.S. Li: Sugar and Acid Concentrations in 98 Grape Cultivars Analyzed by Principal Component Analysis, J. Science of Food and Agriculture, Vol.86, pp.1526-36, 2006 .
[38] L. Durand : Mise en Place d'un Protocole de Traitement de Données pour l'Etude de l'Adaptation d'une Large Gamme de Cépages aux Evolutions, Mém. Fin d'Etudes Ingénieur Agronome Agrocampus Ouest & Master Stat. Appliquée, Univ. de Haute Bretagne (Rennes 2). 2012.
[39] A.S. Rotaru, I.D. Pop, A. Vatcă, A. Cioban: Usefulness of Principal Components Analysis in Agriculture, Bull. UASVM Horticulture, Vol.69(2), pp.504-509, 2012.
[40] D.A. Jackson: Stopping Rules in Principal Components Analysis: A Comparison of Heuristic and Statistical Approaches, Ecology, Vol.74(8), pp.2204-2214, 1993.
[41] Omer Gokcekus and Dennis Nottebaum: The buyer’s dilemma – Whose rating should a wine drinker pay attention to?, American Association of Wine Economists, Working Paper N.91, www.wine-economics.org