Gas chromatography-olfactometry characterization of corvina and corvinone young and aged wines

Abstract

AIM AND METHODS: Corvina and Corvinone are the two main grape varieties used in the production of Valpolicella, Recioto and Amarone, top-quality red wines in north-eastern Italy. This work aimed at determining the aroma composition of Corvina and Corvinone experimental wines and identify the main aroma compounds contributing to the aroma characteristics of Corvina and Corvinone monovarietal wines. Five Corvina and five Corvinone wines were studied, the grapes coming from five different vineyards in Valpolicella. Volatile compounds were extracted by SPE and identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), whereas their aroma impact was determined by gas chromatography- olfactometry (GC-O).

RESULTS: Based on the GC-MS-O analysis, 95 odor zones were detected, from which 68 compounds were successfully identified. Using the criterion of a value higher than 30% in modified frequency (MF %), 51 compounds were selected and grouped according to odor similarity. Compounds with values below 30% were discarded. Modified frequency percentage (MF %) was calculated using the frequency of citation and the intensity of each odor zone (Dravnieks, 1985). Fifteen groups were created with the following odor descriptors: vegetal, fruity, lactic, berry-like, balsamic, chemical, reductive, plastic, toasted-burnt, sweet, floral, rancid, herbaceous, sweet-spices and spicy. Diacetyl, ethyl butyrate, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, 1-octen-3-one, methional, 2-/3-methylbutyric acid, methionol, beta-damascenone, 2-methoxyphenol (guaiacol), beta-phenethyl alcohol, 4- propylguaiacol, and eugenol, were found to be the most potent compounds. A number of other potent odor zones were detected but could not be identified, in particular associated with the odor descriptors such as balsamic, sweet-spices and toasted-burnt. Identification of the chemical compounds responsible for these odor zones is currently in progress.

CONCLUSIONS:

This work helps to shed more light on the aroma composition of some of the most representative red wines made in Italy and from which there is little information available to date.

DOI:

Publication date: September 16, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Jessica Anahi Samaniego Solis

University of Verona,Giovanni LUZZINI, University of Verona Davide SLAGHENAUFI, University of Verona Giulio COSENTINO , University of Verona Maurizio UGLIANO, University of Verona

Contact the author

Keywords

gas chromatography; olfactometry; corvina; corvinone

Citation

Related articles…

VitExpress, an open interactive transcriptomic platform for grapevine

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.20.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...

A NEW TOOL TO QUANTIFY COMPOUNDS POTENTIALLY INVOLVED IN THE FRUITY AROMA OF RED WINES. DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION TO THE STU-DY OF THE FRUITY CHARACTER OF RED WINES MADE FROM VARIOUS GRAPE VARIETIES

A wide range of olfactory descriptors ranging from fresh and jammy fruit notes to cooked and oxidized fruit notes could describe the fruity aroma of red wines [1]. The fruity character of a wine is mainly related to the grape variety selected, to the terroir and the vinification process applied for its conception. In white wines, some volatile compounds confer directly their aroma to the wine while the question of “key” compound is more complex in red wines. According to many studies performed over the past decades, some fruity ethyl esters are directly involved in the fruity perception of red wines while others, present at subthreshold concentrations, participate indirectly to the fruity expression via perceptive interactions [2].

Carry over effect of shoot trimming and deficit irrigation on fruit yield and berry total soluble solids

The increase in air temperature that is occurring in many important wine-growing areas around the world is resulting in the decoupling between the phenolic and the technological maturity of grapevine berries. This new ripening pattern leads to the production of light-bodied high alcoholic wines, but this is in countertendency with the increasing consumers’ demand for wines with low-to-mid alcohol concentrations. The oenological techniques proposed to reduce wine alcohol content are often very expensive and lead to detrimental effects on wine quality. Many viticultural practices have been proposed to slow down sugar accumulation the berry. One possible strategy that was previously found to be suitable for Aglianico grapevine is post-veraison shoot trimming. The aim of this work was to assess the carry over effects on the following year of shoot trimming and vine water status on yield and total soluble solids because the expected reduction in vine fertility could lead to a reduction in the effectiveness of shoot trimming.

Q-NMR measurements: quantitative analysis of wine composition applied to Bordeaux red wines authenticity control

Traceability of wine is today a consumer demand and a scientific challenge. The methods of analysis must be able to control three fundamental parameters: the geographical origin, the grape varieties, and the vintage.

Impact of press fractioning on Pinot noir and Pinot meunier grape juice and wine compositions and colour

The separation of different grape juice press fractions is an important step in the production of sparkling base wines. A complete press cycle for this style of wine is a series of pressure increases (squeezes) resulting in variations in juice composition during the press cycle. After alcoholic fermentation, wines obtained from grape juices also exhibit strong differences for numerous characteristics. Nevertheless, there is no statistical study of the impact of the press cycle on grape juices and wine colour/composition. So, the aim of this study (vintage 2018) was to investigate the changes in composition and colour parameters of Pinot noir and Pinot meunier grapes juices, as well as their corresponding wines, during the pressing cycle.