Identification of free and bound volatile compounds as typicalness and authenticity markers of non-aromatic grapes and wines through a combined use of mass spectrometric techniques

Molecular approaches by means of a combined use of mass spectrometric techniques can be important in order to open new possibilities in the differentiation and defense of typical products; in this study, a possible approach to the analysis of varietal volatile compounds and some precursors of a non-aromatic grape variety (Falanghina cv., Vitis vinifera L.) was traced through a combined use of techniques based on mass spectrometry (GC/MS, LC/ESI-MS, MALDI-TOF-MS). Dominant terpene compounds (limonene, cis-furanlinalool oxide, geraniol, 4-carene, myrcene, linalool, alpha-terpineol), terpene-derivatives (bornyl acetate, menthol), terpene glycosides (glucosides, arabirrosylglucosides and rhamnosylglucosides of linalool and geraniol), and norisoprenoids (beta-damascenone) were identified in grapes and monovarietal wines, overcoming the analytical difficulties deriving from the low concentration of these compounds strictly related to the variety. The potential release of varietal volatile compounds from the grapes was also explored by enzyme hydrolysis. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.