Ellagitannins and Flavano-Ellagitannins: Red Wines Tendency in Different Areas, Barrel Origin and Ageing Time in Barrel and Bottle

Abstract

During maturation and ageing in oak barrels polyphenolic compounds from oak wood, and particularly C-glucosidic ellagitannins, can be released from wood to the wine. These ellagitannins can be involved in oxidation reactions, affecting the wine’s organoleptic properties such as astringency. In this study C-glucosidic ellagitannins and flavano-ellagitannins, acutissimins A and B and epiacutissimins A and B, as well as mongolicain A, which is the result compound of acutissimin A oxidation, were identified and quantified. The quantification was carried out by HPLC-UV-MS in 185 commercial samples from different cultivar areas (Bordeaux and Rioja), different barrel oak wood (French oak barrels and American oak barrels) and different ageing periods. The results show differences between the two zones in terms of compound concentrations. Moreover, the ageing process in bottle for Bordeaux wines are unlike Rioja wines behavior in bottle.