PVPP-polyphenol complexes: a molecular approach.

In dry white wines, two different forms of instability occur: (i) substantial yellow or yellow-green deposits are observed principally due to flavonol quercetin; and (ii) protein instability leads to protein casse. Polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP) is used to adsorb phenols from beverages, and bentonite is used to eliminate heat instable protein. However, in both cases, their effects are still largely unknown. This study uses a multitechnique approach to gain a better molecular understanding of the association of polyphenol aglycones with PVPP compared to that of glucosides with PVPP. The work demonstrates, that with aglycones, three forces drive complex formation: hydrophobic interaction, H bonds, and van der Waals bonds. With glucosides, the sugar moiety removes or reduces these driving forces. Thus, if the interaction between proteins and polyphenols is responsible for haze and precipitates, as is classically assumed, PVPP could prevent quercetin sedimentation.