Process control of apple winemaking by low-resolution gas-phase Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.

Four apple wine fermentation processes have been observed by means of direct-inlet gas-phase FTIR spectroscopy. The apple juice concentrates were each fermented by two species of Saccharomyces cerevisiae starters, and the experiment was repeated. The development of the concentrations of 1-propanol, 4-methylpyridine, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate was monitored. Two different sampling methods were used--static headspace and direct injection of the must. The performance of the FTIR method is limited by the high ethanol concentration. It can be mathematically proven that the amount of sample can be selected so that any distortion due to ethanol is minimized. Headspace GC-MS was used for preliminary compound identification.