Automated Color Sorting of Hand-Harvested Chardonnay

Abstract

Rachis, raisins, rotten, and sun-burnt berries were removed from hand-harvested Chardonnay by automated color sorting. Rejected material comprised 4% (w/w) of the crop. Wine was made from sorted and unsorted fruit and was subjected to chemical and sensory analysis. Chemical analysis found that the sorted wine had a higher total phenolic level, pH, and residual sugar content. Sensory analysis showed sorted wine significantly differed in two attributes: higher tropical fruit aroma and higher sweetness. The two wines could not be strongly differentiated in other sensory characteristics, showing great similarity in palate attributes.