Scientists Discover Blueberry Wine Maximizes Berry Benefits

It is suitable for both sweet and dry. The main thing is to keep it in cool conditions.

Blueberries are considered one of the most beneficial berries. They are rich in trace elements, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. There are many ways to preserve and use them in cooking. However, not all methods allow for the maximum retention of the berry's positive properties. Scientists from Spain decided to investigate how beneficial blueberry wine can be.

Initially, the researchers made 8 liters of juice from the berries mixed with sugar. They added a bit of yeast. The juice was pre-tested for the content of antioxidant compounds, the most well-known of which is vitamin C. Then, the juice was divided into eight flasks, split into two groups.

In four flasks, the wine was prepared at a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius, while the other group was at 21 degrees. In each group, the contents of two flasks underwent only partial fermentation, resulting in sweet wine. In the other two flasks, fermentation was completed, yielding dry wine.

Then, each sample was analyzed for antioxidant content and activity. These indicators were compared. The results showed that blueberry wine managed to retain all the beneficial properties of the berries regardless of the preparation method. Moreover, the antioxidant activity was found to be higher than that of blueberry juice.

However, the concentration of different types of antioxidant compounds varied. For example, longer fermentation times led to a decrease in the concentration of anthocyanins, flavonols, and tannins. Temperature also plays a role. The wine aged in warmer conditions contained half as much vitamin C.

The researchers concluded that blueberry wine maximally preserves the beneficial properties of the berries, but temperature and fermentation time significantly affect the concentration of specific substances.