Upcycled Wine Prebiotic WellVine Shows Formulation Compatibility in Sensory Panel

A peer-reviewed sensory study examining the taste chemistry of WellVine, a prebiotic ingredient from upcycled Chardonnay grape marc by Sonomaceuticals, found that the ingredient had a taste profile compatible with functional product formulation.

Chardonnay grape marc is a whole-fruit upcycled ingredient with naturally-occurring fiber, polyphenols, organic acids, and other plant compounds, and is used in dietary supplements, functional food, snacks, and beverages as a prebiotic fiber to support gut microbial diversity.

In the study, researchers identified 39 taste-active compounds; however, just a small subset significantly influenced the overall taste profile. The resulting profile was characterized by mild natural sweetness, bright acidity, smooth velvety astringency, and very low bitterness.

Many fiber systems, botanical extracts, and polyphenol-rich ingredients introduce off-notes, drying mouthfeel, harsh bitterness, flavor instability, and increased masking requirements. This can increase development complexity, dependency on sweeteners, ingredient stacking, cost, and commercialization timelines.

“In functional foods, taste is often the difference between first purchase and repeat purchase,” said Scott Forsberg, CEO. “This study helps explain why Chardonnay marc behaves differently in formulation systems. The whole-fruit matrix appears to moderate harsh sensory characteristics in a way isolated ingredients often do not.”

The sensory experience was driven not by individual compounds, but by how those compounds behaved together within the complete food matrix, the company reported.

“Many functional ingredients require extensive correction systems once they enter finished products,” said Forsberg. “This research suggests whole-fruit ingredient structures, such as WellVine, may offer a more integrated sensory experience from the start with functional health benefits.”

In conclusion, the sensory study’s findings suggested that WellVine can have strong sensory acceptance, reduced taste-masking requirements, greater formulation flexibility, cleaner label positioning, and better overall alignment with functionality and consumer experience, the company reported.