Monitoring the evolution of volatile compounds using gas chromatography during the stages of production of Moscatel sparkling wine

This study reports, for the first time, the main changes that occur with some important aroma compounds of Moscatel sparkling wines during winemaking, measured using headspace solid-phase microextraction, one-dimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) with mass spectrometry detection (MS). The best conditions of volatile extraction included the use of PDMS/DVB fibre, 2 mL of wine, 30% of NaCl, 40 °C for 30 min. The chromatographic profile of sparkling wines showed decreasing amounts of monoterpenes (limonene, 4-terpineol, terpinolene, citronellol, α-terpineol, linalool, hotrienol, and nerol oxide), increasing amounts of esters (terpenyl esters, ethyl octanoate, ethyl decanoate and hexyl acetate) and alcohols (1-nonanol and 2-phenylethanol). Sixty-nine compounds co-eluted in the first dimension; only six co-eluted in the second dimension. GC × GC/TOFMS allows more detailed study of the volatile profile of sparkling wines.