HS-SPME/GC–MS and chemometrics for the classification of Balsamic Vinegars of Modena of different maturation and ageing

Head space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with GC–MS analysis has been applied for the determination of the characteristic volatile profile of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (BVM) with the aim to distinguish the less matured products (matured in wooden barrels for at least 60 days) from the aged ones (aged in wooden barrels for at least 3 years). Coupling the HS-SPME/GC–MS analysis data with multivariate statistical techniques, such as Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Classification Trees (CT), it has been possible to classify BVMs on the basis of different maturation and ageing. A matured BVM presents an aromatic profile characterised by high contents of 3-methyl-1-butanol, 4-ethyl-phenol, and 3-methyl-1-butanol acetate, while an aged BVM is characterised by a prevalence of ethyl acetate, ethyl acetoacetate, furans, 2,3-butanediol and 2,3-butanediol acetate. This work represents a first attempt to classify Balsamic Vinegars of Modena on the basis of their maturation and ageing.