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Experiments were carried out on Grenache, Carignan and Fer grapes in order to characterize the changes in nitrogen content of the musts, conventional enological parameters and aroma compounds of the wines induced by pre-fermentation heating of the grapes followed by alcoholic fermentation in liquid phase or in solid phase. In comparison to a standard vinification, we showed that a two-hour heat treatment at 70 °C induced a significant loss in several grape-derived aroma compounds (terpenols, norisoprenoids and some phenols) associated with an increase in α-terpineol, guaiacol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, which suggests thermal degradation. A significant increase in most of the ethyl esters, in acetates and in fatty acids were observed in wines fermented in liquid phase, together with a decrease in fusel alcohols. The substantial modification in the amino acid composition of the must seems to be a crucial element for the understanding of these changes., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A method for the quantitative determination of 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanoic (2OH2MB), 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic (2OH3MB), 3-hydroxy-3-methylbutanoic (3OH3MB), 2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic (2OH4MP) and 3-hydroxybutanoic (3OHB) acids has been optimized, validated and applied to a set of wines and other alcoholic beverages. The analytes were preconcentrated in a solid phase extraction cartridge and derivatized with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl bromide at room temperature for 30 min, followed by GC-MS analysis. Detection limits were between 0.5 and 29 μg L(-1), and linearity was maintained up to 3 or 12 mg L(-1), depending on the analyte. Recovery values were between 85 and 106 %, and reproducibility was better than 12 % RSD in most cases. The first specific study of these analytes in wine and other alcoholic beverages is herein reported. Concentrations ranged from the method detection limits to 7820, 519, 8510, 3470 and 2500 μg L(-1) for 2OH2MB, 2OH3MB, 3OH3MB, 2OH4MP and 3OHB, respectively, which may have relevant sensory effects. These products were not found in distillates (except 3OHB) but were all present in beer. 2OH2MB, 3OH3MB and 3OHB were found in unfermented grape derivatives. Sherry wines had the highest levels of all except for 3OHB.

A method to analyse 2-methylpentanoic, 3-methylpentanoic and 4-methylpentanoic acids as well as cyclohexanecarboxylic acid has been developed and applied to wine and other alcoholic beverages. Selective isolation with solid phase extraction, derivatization with 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl bromide at room temperature for 30 minutes, and further analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in negative chemical ionization mode provides detection limits between 0.4 and 2.4 ng/L. Good linearity up to 3.6 μg/L, satisfactory reproducibility (RSD<10%) and signal recovery of around 100% represent a robust method of analysis. Concentration data of these analytes in wine and other alcoholic beverages are reported for the first time. The levels found ranged from the method detection limits to 2630 ng/L, 2040 ng/L and 3810 ng/L for 2-, 3- and 4-methylpentanoic acids, respectively, and to 1780 ng/L for cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. There are significant differences depending on the type of wine or beverage. Distilled beverages, beer and aged wines have higher contents in methylpentanoic and cyclohexanecarboxylic acids., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new method for analysing 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine, 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine in wine has been developed and applied to wine. The analytes are extracted from 25 mL of wine in a solid-phase extraction cartridge filled with 60 mg of cation-exchange mixed-mode sorbent. Analytes are recovered with triethylamine in dichloromethane and the organic extract is analysed by GC-SIM-MS using 3-isopropyl-2-ethoxypyrazine as internal standard. The detection limits of the method are in all cases under 1 ng/L, below the olfactory thresholds of the compounds in wine. The repeatability of the method is around 15% for levels in wine of 2 ng/L. Linearity is satisfactory and recoveries are in all cases close to 100% with RSD between 13% and 20%. The method has been applied to the analysis of 12 Chilean white and 8 Spanish red wines. The levels found suggest that 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines can exert a significant sensory contribution to the aroma of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc wines, while most likely they play a nearly negligible role on traditional Ribera and Rioja Spanish red wines., (© 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)