The influence of pre-fermentative treatments on the volatile, chromatic features, organic acids and phenolic content of Fetească albă Romanian wine

¹ Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Iaşi, 700490 Iaşi, Romania
² Oenological Research Center – Romanian Academy – Iaşi Branch, 700505 Iaşi, Romania

^a e-mail: vvcotea@yahoo.com

Abstract

The present study evaluates the influence of some pre-fermentative treatments on the volatile content, the chromatic parameters, the total polyphenol index and Folin-Ciocâlteu index of experimental wines obtained from Fetească albă grape variety. Five experimental samples were produced: FA V0 (control sample), FA V1 (sodium bentonite treatment), FA V2 (glutathione treatment), FA V3 (tannin treatment), FA V4 (oenological coal treatment). The use of pre-fermentative treatments show lower values of Folin-Ciocâlteu index and total polyphenol index, excepting sample treated with tannin. Major color differences are found in the sample treated with tannin and oenological coal. Gas-chromatographic analysis reveals the presence of common wine esters, such as: hexanoic acid ethyl ester, ethyl caprylate, ethyl lactate, ethyl caprate, ethyl myristate, ethyl palmitate, that contributes at the accomplishment of the wines from the sensorial point of view. Diethyl malonate, a compound that occurs naturally in grapes has an apple-like odor and it was identified in the control sample and in the samples treated with tannin and oenological coal, being found n greater quantity in the control sample (0.02 mmol/L)and the sample treated with coal (0.03 mmol/L). Another ester, methyl oleate that offers a mild-fatty odor wasn't identified in the control sample, but it was detected in the samples treated with clay, tannin and oenological coal. Using the HPLC method it was also analysed the presence of some organic acids in wine samples.