VOLATILE COMPOSITION OF SOME RED WINES FROM ROMANIA ASSESSED BY GC-MS

Four varietal wines Feteasca Neagra, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir from Romania were submitted to a liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 29 volatile compounds were identified and quantified over two periods of ageing. Wines were differentiated by a number of compounds, such as esters, higher alcohols, and lactones. During wine ageing, all chemicals changed in the volatile composition. Most of alcohols and acids (hexanoic and octanoic acids) increased during ageing, while the esters, except ethyl lactate and diethyl succinate, were found in lower concentrations as ageing time increased. Considering all the volatile compounds detected, esters and higher alcohols are the main contributors for Romanian red wines.