BACKGROUND: Aromatic compounds are responsible for the final quality of wines. A semi-quantitative analysis was carried out during two consecutive seasons aiming to determine the volatile composition of 12 new white crosses obtained between Monastrell (M) and other varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon (C), Syrah (S) and Tempranillo (T) (MC10, MC180, MC9, MC69, MS30, MS33, MS82, MT103, MT19, MV11, MV67 and MV7), using a methodology based on gas chromatography-solid phase microextraction-mass spectrometry.RESULTS: On the one hand, 30 aromatic compounds were identified belonging to different chemical groups (alcohols, acids, terpenes, norisoprenoids and esters). The results showed how some crosses presented significant differences with respect to their parental. For example, in 2016, Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon showed high concentration of alcohols, acids and some terpenes, whereas the corresponding crosses showed a predominance of aromas belonging to esters. In 2017, as a result of edaphoclimatic conditions, the white crosses had higher concentrations of esters and acids. In addition, Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon showed similar concentrations of alcohols compared to 2016. On the other hand, sensorial analyses confirmed these results, so that mint and peppermint aromas and a fresh quality were detected in MC69 wine, especially in 2016, and fruity and acid aromas were detected in MC180 wine, which gave it a wide ranging complexity and aromatic potential.
CONCLUSION: The present study reports the first investigation of the volatile composition and sensory characteristics of directed crosses white wines obtained from Monastrell and other varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo and Verdejo.The results obtained indicate that the use of some of these white crosses could be a good option for growing them in this Mediterranean area as a result of the contribution of a good quality in the wine aroma.
Physicochemical determinations in grapes and winesThe harvested grapes were taken to the winery, where ∘ Brix was measured in each sample to check the ripening stage using a Refractometer Atago RX-5000X (Atago CO, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). In addition, total acidity (g L -1 ) and pH levels were measured at the end of alcoholic fermentation using a Metrohm 824 (Metrohm AG, Herisau, Switzerland) with a glass electrode (6.0233.100; Metrohm, Herisau, Switzerland) and percentage alcohol was measured (v/v) with an a Wine Anton Paar SP-1 M Alcolyzer (Anton Paar GmbH, Graz, Austria).
Isolation of volatile compounds by SPMETen millilitres of each sample was taken from each wine and added to 20-mL vials, and then 25 μL of an internal standard 2-octanol J Sci Food Agric 2020; 100: 38-49