Fermentation-derived Aroma Compounds in Varietal Young Wines from South Africa

  • L. Louw Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602, Matieland, South Africa Distell Ltd., P.O. Box 184, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
  • A.G.J. Tredoux Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602, Matieland, South Africa
  • P. Van Rensburg Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602, Matieland, South Africa Distell Ltd., P.O. Box 184, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
  • M. Kidd Centre for Statistical Consultation, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
  • T. Naes Nofima Mat, Oslovegen 1, 1430 Ã…s, Norway
  • H.H. Nieuwoudt Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602, Matieland, South Africa

Abstract

The volatile composition of 925 single cultivar young Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz
and Cabernet Sauvignon wines of vintages 2005 to 2007, was determined using gas chromatography – flame
ionisation detection. Compositional data were compared to published data on young wines from South Africa and
other countries. South African young wines analysed in this study had a largely similar volatile composition to
that reported in the literature. Significant between-vintage and between-cultivar differences were observed in the
volatile composition of the wines investigated in this study. The concentration ranges of four compounds in red
wines, hexanol, propanol, diethyl succinate and ethyl lactate, and four compounds in white wines, 2-phenylethanol,
hexanoic acid, isoamyl acetate and propanol, were not influenced by vintage effects. This finding was interpreted
as the first indication that typical concentration ranges for some aroma compounds can be established for South
African young cultivar wines. A trend was observed in the white wines that the alcohols and their respective acetate
esters, as well as fatty acids and their ethyl esters, were responsible for the vintage-related effects. Differences in
volatile composition between Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc wines could also largely be explained on the same
basis. Classification models were established to discriminate between individual red wine cultivars and between the
two white wine cultivars and correct classification rates of respectively, 79 % and 85 % were achieved.

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Published
2016-12-12
Section
Articles