Volatile Compounds by SPME-GC as Age Markers of Sparkling Wines

Abstract

Cava acquires its characteristic aroma during aging. Twenty-eight volatile compounds of 221 sparkling wines made from different base wine were quantified by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and discriminant analysis was applied. Isoamyl and hexyl acetates, ethyl decanoate, 2-phenylethyl acetate, and vitispiranes were found to be markers of young sparkling wines (<9 months). Vitispiranes and 1,2-dihydro-1,1,6-trimethylnaphthalene (TDN) were also able to discriminate aged cava (>20 months), while diethyl succinate could be an age marker throughout the aging period.