Effect of ultrasound on the production of xanthylium cation pigments in a model wine

•Ultrasonic modification on xanthylium generation in model wine was firstly investigated.•Iron ion could enhance the ultrasonic effect on the production of xanthylium.•Insufficient oxygen ingestion could limit the ultrasonic impact.•Free radical initiated by ultrasound was the main factor influencing the reaction.•Ultrasound can be employed to modify the wine quality by regulating the interaction. As a potential novel technique in the wine-making industry, ultrasound has received considerable attention. In this paper, a model wine system was constructed to investigate the effect of ultrasonic irradiation on the formation of xanthylium cation pigment derived from the (+)-catechin and the glyoxylic acid, an oxidation product of tartaric acid, so as to explore the changing mechanism of the wine color mediated by ultrasound. The results indicate that the long-term ultrasonic treatment can enhance the formation of the xanthylium cation pigment in the model wine, which is attributed to free radicals triggered by ultrasound, meanwhile, iron ions and oxygen can influence the ultrasonic effect. All these results suggest that ultrasound is promising to be employed in regulating the formation of the yellow pigment during wine aging thus modifying the wine organoleptic characteristic.