Pinot noir has a reputation for lower color stability than other red wine varieties. Because it has relatively low anthocyanin and phenolic content and lacks acylated anthocyanin pigments compared to other red vinifera varieties, color extraction and stability are particularly important. Varying the processing during fermentation of red wine can produce high quality wines. Pectolytic enzymes are used in wine processing for many purposes from increasing juice yield and filtering rates to improving color and phenolic extraction. Macerating enzymes used in this study, Scottzyme Color Pro (Scott Laboratories), Scottzyme Color X (Scott Laboratories), Lallzyme EX (Lallemand), GB Rapidase EX Color (Gist Brocades), and Vinozyme G (Cellulo) were added to 1997 Oregon Pinot noir must prior to fermentation to observe color, aroma and flavor changes. These commercial enzymes have been reported to increase color and improve aroma and flavor of red wines. The effect of these enzymes had not previously been investigated on Oregon Pinot noir but the manufacturers reported increased polymeric phenols, polymeric anthocyanins, tannins, color stability, red hue and saturation of red wine varieties. These enzymes have varying manufacturer recommended usage levels and it is not known how the dosage levels and the enzymes themselves affect Oregon Pinot noir. Sensory evaluations of these wines, at a high and low dosage level, were conducted through free-choice profiling by winemakers and descriptive analysis from a trained panel. In addition, chemical analyses were performed and related to sensory panel results. Overall the addition of these enzymes to Oregon Pinot noir produced wines with greater purple, red descriptors and higher color intensity than the control wine from trained descriptive panel and winemaker panel results. In aroma, the enzyme treated wines were higher in vegetative and earthy descriptors compared to the control. GB Rapidase EX Color (Gist Brocades) was higher in bitterness flavor compared with other samples. Low enzyme wine treatments separated wine samples more from the control then high enzyme wine treatments. The color and appearance, aroma and flavor axes of the profile maps were not significant in the high enzyme treated wines as determined from the winemaker panel. Furthermore, the winemaker panel found acidity the only aroma or flavor descriptor significant in the high dosage ANOVA results. Whereas six descriptors in the low enzyme ANOVA results were significant in separating aroma and flavor samples. Except for Lallzyme EX (Lallemand) treated wine, the hunter colorimeter results showed all low enzyme treated wines were significantly (p<0.05) more red-purple (lower hues) than the high enzyme treated wines. / Graduation date: 1999