Terpenoids and norisoprenoids in italian red wines

Abstract

AIM: Terpene compounds are associated with floral notes and are characteristic of aromatic grape varieties such as Muscat (Jackson, 2008). They are generally considered to potentially contribute to the aroma of white wines. However, there is a growing interest towards the potential contribution of terpene compounds to the aroma of red wines. The aim of this work was to investigate the occurrence of different terpenes in red wines from Italian varieties.

METHODS: For this study wines from 11 mono-varietal Italian red wines from 12 regions were used (19 Sangiovese, 11 Nebbiolo, 10 Aglianico, 11 Primitivo, 10 Raboso del Piave, 9 Cannonau, 11 Teroldego, 3 Nerello, 9 Montepulciano, 7 Corvina). All samples were from vintage 2016 and none of them had been in contact with wood. A total of 19 terpenes and 7 norisoprenoids were analysed by mean of SPME-GC-MS analysis using a DVB-CAR-PDMS fiber. The wines were collected in the framework of the activities of the D-Wines (Diversity of Italian wines) project.

RESULTS: Significant differences among varieties were observed for basically all the compounds analyzed with the exception of limonene. Overall, the concentrations of the various terpenes remained in the same order of magnitude. However, some differences are noticeable between varieties. Corvina was characterized by higher level of linalool, followed by Aglianico, Nebbiolo, Primitivo and Sangiovese. Cyclic terpenoids appeared as good varietal markers, for instances Montepulciano was characterized by 1,4-cineole and 1,8-cineole, whereas Sangiovese showed higher levels of p-cymene, α-terpinene and 1,4-cineole. Higher terpinene-1-ol content was characteristic of Montepulciano and Raboso wines. Relatively high levels of the norisoprenoid β-damascenone were found in Cannonau up to 3.68 µg/L.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study provide the first survey of a large number of terpenoids and norisoprenoids in different mono-varietal Italian red wines. The results showed that a large number of terpenoids were present in Italian red wines with specific profiles related to the varieties.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

MIUR project N. 20157RN44Y

DOI:

Publication date: September 16, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Davide Slaghenaufi

University of Verona,Giovanni, LUZZINI, University of Verona Marangon, Matteo, University of Padua Mattivi, Fulvio, University of Trento Moio, Luigi, University of Naples ‘Federico II’ Versari, Andrea, University of Bologna Luca, ROLLE, University of Turin Maurizio, UGLIANO, University of Verona

Contact the author

Keywords

terpenes, norisoprenoids, red wine, aroma

Citation

Related articles…

Genetic prospecting of rainfed viticulture in the region with the largest cultivated area in Chile

The Maule region hosts up to a third of the total area of vineyards in Chile, in an environment where ancient practices inherited from the colonial past coexist with modernity and dynamism that include technified irrigation and fine vines. In the dry land of Maule there is a viticulture that has subsisted with ancient vines and traditions transmitted over generations, and there is little clarity about the origin and classification of the Maule viticulture, giving rise to the use of different concepts as synonyms to describe the ancient, minority, patrimonial or Criollas vines. In order to characterize and protect the ancient material, we studied the genetic diversity of a territorial collection that covers 80% of the communes of the region, prioritizing plants established more than 40-60 years ago.

The terroir of Pinot noir wine in the Willamette valley, Oregon – a broad analysis of vineyard soils, grape juice and wine chemistry

Wine-grapes in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, are grown on three major soil parent materials: volcanic, marine sediments, and loess/volcanic.

Hierarchy of the interactions between physical and biological parameters intervening in the Pyrenean Gascon foothill vineyard

Un travail sur les A.O.C. du piémont pyrénéen occidental permet de construire une hiérarchie de paramètres climatiques, géo-pédologiques, morphologiques, de saisir leurs niveaux d’interaction et d’élaborer une méthodologie pour proposer un zonage

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry: a promising technology for the high throughput phenotyping of grape berry volatilome

Wine grapes breeding has been concentrating a lot of efforts within the grape research community over the last decade. The quick phenotyping of genotype quality traits including aroma composition remains challenging. Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS), a technology first available in 2008 and developing rapidly, could be particularly valuable for this usage. The aims of this study were i) to use SIFT-MS, to analyze the whole volatilome from different grape varieties, ii) to assess the ability of this technology to discriminate varieties according to their grape aroma composition, and iii) to study the stability of SIFT-MS signal over maturation to define a sampling strategy.

Influence of the carbonic maceration winemaking method on the colour features of Tempranillo red wines

During recent years, carbonic maceration (CM) wines are increasingly demanded by consumers. The Spanish Rioja Qualified Designation of Origin (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is a winemaking area