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…

«Nektar» -the new red variety wine grape aromatic high quality

The multi-annual study of the International Genetic Bank of the Grape Vine has shown that red varieties are enough, but the red varieties that produce high-quality red wine are minimal.

GRAPE SPIRITS FOR PORT WINE PRODUCTION: SCREENING THEIR AROMA PROFILE

Port is a fortified wine, produced from grapes grown in the demarcated Douro region. The fortification process consists in the addition of a grape spirit (77% v/v) to the fermenting juice for fermentation interruption, resulting in remaining residual sugars in the wine and increased alcohol content (19-22%). The approval of grape spirits follows the Appellation (D.O. Port wine) rules1 and it is currently carried out based on analytical control and on sensory evaluation done by the public Institute that upholds the control of the quality of Douro Appellation wines. However, the producers of Port wines would like to have more information about quality markers of grape spirits.

Fingerprinting the origin of rosé wines with a new high throughput polyphenomics method

Wine is a widely consumed alcoholic beverage with a high commercial value. More specifically, the worldwide consumption of rosé wine has increased by 20% since 2002[1]. But because of its high commercial value, it can become a subject of fraud, and authenticity control is necessarily required. More than one hundred polyphenols have been recently quantified in various rosé wines [2]. They are key components defining color, taste and quality of wines. Their amount and composition depend on many different factors such as grape variety, winemaking and age of the wine. In this study, the influence of geographic origin of some rosé French wines was investigated. An original and very fast UPLC-QTOF-MS method was developed and used to predict the geographic origin authenticity of rosé wines.

Barbera d’Asti: the characterization of the vineyard sites

[English version below]

L’objectif de l’étude est de mettre en évidence les différences rencontrées entre les vins Barbera d’Asti, qui sont produits en AOC. Celles-ci sont imputées aux terroirs caractérisés selon les facteurs pédologiques, climatiques, et qui conduisent à des différents potentiels viticoles et œnologiques. Il est proposé une individualisation des sous-zones.

Terroir valorization strategies in a reformed denomination area: the Prosecco case study

Aims: This work summarizes some of the upmost recent studies and valorization strategies concerning the Prosecco wine production area. After the geographical denomination Prosecco (DO) was strongly reformed in 2009, the newborn DOCG (controlled and guaranteed DO) and DOC (controlled DO) areas have required different and specific strategies to promote and protect the value of their production.