Project description
Sustainable wine ageing through roasted grape seeds
Traditional oak barrel ageing contributes to the development of sensory characteristics that are positively perceived by consumers, but it comes at a high environmental cost and poses significant sustainability challenges. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the VINSEED project investigates roasted grape seeds as a potential sustainable alternative to traditional oak ageing. It seeks to mitigate the ecological and economic burdens related to oak barrel maturation while also addressing evolving consumer expectations regarding wine style and sustainability. Optimised techniques for roasting seeds harvested from various Bordeaux grapes grown across different terroirs will be identified. Their impact on the chemical composition and sensory characteristics of wine will be investigated through advanced chemical and sensory analyses.
Objective
Wine aging traditionally depends on oak, a practice that influences wine flavor but raises economic and environmental concerns and increasingly conflicts with market trends for fresher, fruit-forward styles. This project proposes a circular, industry-relevant alternative: valorizing roasted grape seeds—an abundant winemaking by-product—as a natural aging technique capable of imparting desirable aromatic and structural qualities while reducing reliance on natural or synthetic aging materials. In particular, the research aims to achieve three interconnected objectives: (O1) develop and optimize reproducible roasting protocols for seeds originating from various Bordeaux grape varieties and terroirs; (O2) thoroughly characterize the chemical and sensory effects of seed-aged wines using GC and LC methodologies for volatile and phenolic profiling, respectively, along with GC-O, aromatic reconstitution, antioxidant assays, and trained panels; (O3) compare perceptual and compositional results with barrel-aged and chip-infused wines employing multivariate analyses. The experimental work will include controlled laboratory roasting, neutral-tank infused trials under defined contact ratios and times, chemical analysis, and sensory evaluations by both expert and consumer panels. Methodologically rigorous and interdisciplinary, the project advances beyond the current state of the art by applying thermal-processing science and high-resolution chemical–sensory integration to a novel matrix while redefining a vinification waste stream. The fellowship provides the researcher with training and skills in volatile profiling, GC-O, polyphenol analysis, sensory design, perceptive interaction, and chemometrics, thereby increasing academic independence and leadership, and strengthening industry relevance and employability. Outcomes will include open, FAIR datasets, peer-reviewed publications, and practical, validated protocols that support sustainable innovation in the wine sector.
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Keywords
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
33000 Bordeaux
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.