Classification of wines by means of multivariate data analysis using the SPME/CGC-chromatograms of volatile aroma compounds

The solid phase microextraction (SPME) is an effective solvent-free sample preparation technique for the capillary gas chromatographic (CGC) analysis of volatile aroma compounds of wines. Using discriminant analysis based upon only two terpene compounds, it was possible to analytically discern between the varieties Riesling, Muller-Thurgau and Silvaner grown in the same region. The discrimination of these varieties was unsuccessful for wines of different vintages (1988-1995). In order to obtain a highly significant classification, it was necessary to consider further aroma components described in wine literature. The differentiation between these wines by a similar high classification rate was obtained using a set of variables selected by mathematical methods. Wines prepared from known grape varieties were qualitatively recognized by factor- and cluster-analyses as well as the relative peak intensities of the terpene compounds in the SPME-CGC chromatograms. The composition of wine blends was quantitatively determined.
VITIS - Journal of Grapevine Research, Vol. 37 No. 4 (1998): Vitis