2004
Soybeans are harvested a few weeks earlier than grapes and once the crop disappears, these beetles take refuge in nearby vineyards. They like the sweet juice of grapes particularly if vitis vinifera family fruit. According to researchers the Asian lady beetle is less interested in hybrid grapes because of their methylantrinilate flavour and interestingly enough hybrid grape wines like Baco Noir and Vidal tolerate much higher concentrations of the yellow secretion they emit when scared. Asian lady beetle's yellow secretion that causes wines to smell like peanuts is extremely potent and an infinitesimally small quantity can ruin thousands of litres of wine. In 2001, several Ontario wineries had to dispose a million litres of infected wine. Some tasters can detect Asian lady beetle infected wine that contains two part per trillion, the threshold is five part per trillion. An infected wine smells strongly of peanuts which many but not all consumers find objectionable. Infected wines do not represent a health hazard. Hybrid wines can contain up to 25 parts per trillion and not smell of peanuts. Surprisingly Sauvignon Blanc can contain up to 40 parts per trillion and smells, as it should naturally. Researchers have yet to determine the reasons for Sauvignon Bancs ability to tolerate much higher levels of pyrazine without smelling offensive.
One solution to avoid Asian lady beetle infection is to hand harvest and employ sorting tables to inspect each bunch of grape before crushing - a cost many if not most wineries can ill afford.
Now he consults and writes to increase wine, beer and liquor awareness. He conducts seminars and would be pleased to consider your requests. To peruse the list of his published books and order please contact him at hirayrberberoglu_3@sympatico.ca
www.littlefatwino.com