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Peer-Review Record

Estimation of Chemical Compounds in Selected Italian and French Wines Produced through Organic and Conventional Methods

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2466; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062466

by Alicja Ponder^1,*

, Maciej Frąckowiak¹, Marcin Kruk²

and Ewelina Hallmann^1,3

Reviewer 1:

Ygor Jessé Ramos

Reviewer 2: Anonymous

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 2466; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14062466

Submission received: 22 February 2024 / Revised: 8 March 2024 / Accepted: 12 March 2024 / Published: 14 March 2024

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The study titled "Estimation of chemical compounds in selected Italian and French wines produced from organic and conventional methods" investigates the chemical composition of Italian and French wines produced through organic and conventional methods. Focusing on three types of wines - Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah - the research quantifies and qualifies the levels of organic acids and polyphenols, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, as well as their different chemical fractions.

The results indicate that in French wines, organic products had significantly higher amounts of lactic and acetic acids, catechins, and rutin compared to conventional ones, highlighting Syrah as one of the best wines in this selection. On the other hand, Italian wines showed similar results between organic and conventional methods, with organic Cabernet-Sauvignon surpassing in quality.

The study addresses a topic of growing interest for both consumers and producers - the comparison between organic and conventional wines, focusing on their chemical profile. The methodology used for the analysis of chemical compounds is well detailed, including techniques such as HPLC and titration analysis, which contributes to the credibility and replicability of the study. The use of two-way ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA) to interpret the data contributes to a solid and well-founded statistical analysis.

Some points serve as criticism; however, they do not invalidate the idea as the study focuses on only three types of wine from two geographical regions. A broader sample could offer more generalizable insights. Although the study mentions comparisons with existing literature, a more in-depth discussion on how the results align or diverge from previous research would be beneficial, especially considering contradictory claims in the literature. The study could benefit from a more thorough exploration of how organic versus conventional cultivation methods specifically contribute to the observed chemical differences, including considerations of agricultural practices and environmental conditions. This would have a greater connection with the journal chosen for publication.

Questions:

Critical points that must be considered include the need to enrich the discussion by comparing the results in detail with previous studies and theorizing about the reasons for the divergences found.

To explore more deeply how specific cultivation practices influence chemical differences, possibly through additional studies or collaborations with agronomists.

Points for observation:

· Limit conclusions to the scope of the study, acknowledging the need for further research to confirm whether the findings are applicable in a broader context.

· Be cautious when interpreting results, clearly distinguishing between correlation and causality, and consider including control variables or more complex statistical models to isolate the effect of cultivation practices.

· Use standardized and validated methodologies for chemical compound analysis and provide complete details on measurement methods to ensure replicability and comparability of results.

· Contextualize the analysis of polyphenols within the existing literature, discussing how these compounds influence the sensory properties and quality of wine, in addition to their potential health effects.

· Carefully select wines for comparison, ensuring that only cultivation practices differ between organic and conventional groups, keeping all other variables as constant as possible.

Methodology modifications:

- Information on how wine samples were selected, including inclusion/exclusion criteria, can aid in understanding the representativeness and generalizability of the results.

- Specific details about the organic and conventional cultivation practices for the vineyards from which the wines were produced are crucial to differentiate the two study groups.

- The methodology should include a detailed description of analytical procedures, including sample preparation, analysis conditions (e.g., temperature, time, pH).

- Description of quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurements, including the use of internal standards, analysis repetitions, and error detection methods.

- Details on how wine samples were stored and handled before analysis can influence the outcomes, especially for compounds sensitive to oxidation or degradation.

- Specifications of reagents (e.g., purity grade, supplier) and equipment (e.g., chromatograph model, type of column) used in the analyses.

- Clearly define the collection period. It is described that considerations of annual variations (different vintages) and geographical differences between the regions of origin of the wines, which can affect the chemical composition.

Abstract:

"Were analyzed" is more appropriate than "were analysed", considering the use of American English for consistency in international scientific publications. "Three different types of wines were examined" is correct, but for clarity, specifying "varieties" instead of "types" may be more precise. "Quantified and qualified" could be replaced by "quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed" for greater scientific accuracy. "In the group of French wines, significantly more lactic and acetic acids, as well as catechins and rutin, were found in the organic products than the conventional products." is correct, but clarity could be improved as: "Among the French wines, organic varieties contained significantly higher levels of lactic and acetic acids, as well as catechins and rutin, compared to their conventional counterparts."

Introduction:

"Wine is produced by fermentation the alcohol in grapes and grape must." should be corrected to "Wine is produced by fermenting the sugars in grapes and grape must into alcohol." "The factors that determine the quality of wine are called quality triads" can be clearer as: "The factors determining wine quality are known as the quality triad."

Materials and Methods:

"For analytical purposes following chemicals were used" should be "For analytical purposes, the following chemicals were used" "All chemicals and reagents purchased in Sigma-Aldrich Company" should be "All chemicals and reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Company"

Put all “p” in italics.

Results and Discussion:

"Significantly more dry matter was found in the organic samples than the conventional samples" can be improved to "Organic samples contained significantly higher levels of dry matter compared to conventional samples."

Put all “p” in italics.

Put all “-O-“ in italics.

Conclusions:

"The bioactive compounds found in grapes and wine have been linked to health benefits in the human body and may be affected by agronomic parameters." can be improved to "Bioactive compounds in grapes and wine, linked to health benefits, can be influenced by agronomic practices."

Author Response

Reply to Reviewer no. 1

Thank you very much for the review and for your positive recommendation to publish our manuscript in the Applied Sciences journal. Below you can find answers for your comments and suggestions:

Comment 1: “Critical points that must be considered include the need to enrich the discussion by comparing the results in detail with previous studies and theorizing about the reasons for the divergences found.”

Authors’ response: The manuscript section “Discussion” has been thoroughly revised. According to the Reviewer's suggestion, many new topics, points and a critical discussion of the obtained results were added.

Comment 2: “To explore more deeply how specific cultivation practices influence chemical differences, possibly through additional studies or collaborations with agronomists.”

Authors’ response: Authors would like to thank the Reviewer for his critical suggestion. However, they would like to explain, that described experiment is a “basket study” type. In such a case, the analytical object was purchased as a market product. No wine samples were taken directly from vineyards (fruit samples) or wine production sites (processing plant). Of course, this thread will be developed in the next planned experiment. Grapes will be obtained directly from producers. Wine production will take place in a controlled laboratory experiment.

Comment 3: “Limit conclusions to the scope of the study, acknowledging the need for further research to confirm whether the findings are applicable in a broader context.”

Authors’ response: According to Reviewer suggestion all conclusion section was re-written

Comment 4: “Be cautious when interpreting results, clearly distinguishing between correlation and causality, and consider including control variables or more complex statistical models to isolate the effect of cultivation practices.”

Authors’ response: Information about controlled variables has been added to the content of the chapter on the origin and selection of individual wines. All wines came from the same regions in a given country, within the types of production. Therefore, the dependent variables were the production system and the type of wine.

Comment 5: “Use standardized and validated methodologies for chemical compound analysis and provide complete details on measurement methods to ensure replicability and comparability of results.”

Authors’ response: All research methods used in the manuscript have appropriate references. The measurement methods used in this work are not anonymous. The presented research methods have been described in the available literature and described in full detail, enabling repeatability and carrying them out in other conditions and in other laboratories. Missing information about methodological details was added to appropriate parts of Material and methods description.

Comment 6: “Contextualize the analysis of polyphenols within the existing literature, discussing how these compounds influence the sensory properties and quality of wine, in addition to their potential health effects.”

Authors’ response: All section Discussion was re-written according to Reviewer suggestion. Much more points which were missing before, now is compared and discussed with modern literature in the light of wine properties and quality.

Comment 7: “ Carefully select wines for comparison, ensuring that only cultivation practices differ between organic and conventional groups, keeping all other variables as constant as possible .”

Authors’ response: The reviewer's suggestion was taken into account when correcting the discussion section.

Comment 8: “Information on how wine samples were selected, including inclusion/exclusion criteria, can aid in understanding the representativeness and generalizability of the results.”

Authors’ response: According to Reviewer suggestion all classification and wine selection awa added to manuscript text.

Comment 9: “Specific details about the organic and conventional cultivation practices for the vineyards from which the wines were produced are crucial to differentiate the two study groups.”

Authors’ response: As Authors explain in response to comment no. 2 presented experiment is a "basket study" type. Wines were purchased in the market, so Authors not collected information about cultivation system in vineyards. The rules of organic and conventional plants cultivation were described only as general outline in the Introduction section.

Comment 10: “The methodology should include a detailed description of analytical procedures, including sample preparation, analysis conditions (e.g., temperature, time, pH) .”

Authors’ response: All these points were carefully checked, correct or add into manuscript text.

Comment 11: “Description of quality control procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurements, including the use of internal standards, analysis repetitions, and error detection methods.”

Authors’ response: All details of the method description have been supplemented in the manuscript. No internal standards were used, only external standards. All standard curves are included in the supplementary materials. Number of repetitions and experimental objects: Total number of repetitions for the organic (n=12), conventional (n=12), Cabernet Sauvignon (n=12), Merlot (n=12), and Syrah (n=12) systems for Italian and French wines.

Comment 12: “Details on how wine samples were stored and handled before analysis can influence the outcomes, especially for compounds sensitive to oxidation or degradation..”

Authors’ response: According to Reviewer suggestion missing information about wine storage was added into manuscript text

Comment 13: “Specifications of reagents (e.g., purity grade, supplier) and equipment (e.g., chromatograph model, type of column) used in the analyses.”

Authors’ response: According to Reviewer suggestion missing information about Specifications of reagents (e.g., purity grade, supplier) and equipment (e.g., chromatograph model, type of column) used in the analyses was added into manuscript text

Comment 14: “Clearly define the collection period. It is described that considerations of annual variations (different vintages) and geographical differences between the regions of origin of the wines, which can affect the chemical composition.”

Authors’ response: According to Reviewer suggestion missing information about wines collection period and geographical differences as well place of origin of wines were added into manuscript text.

Comment 15: “Were analyzed" is more appropriate than "were analysed", considering the use of American English for consistency in international scientific publications. "Three different types of wines were examined" is correct, but for clarity, specifying "varieties" instead of "types" may be more precise. "Quantified and qualified" could be replaced by "quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed" for greater scientific accuracy. "In the group of French wines, significantly more lactic and acetic acids, as well as catechins and rutin, were found in the organic products than the conventional products." is correct, but clarity could be improved as: "Among the French wines, organic varieties contained significantly higher levels of lactic and acetic acids, as well as catechins and rutin, compared to their conventional counterparts.”