A useful approach for the differentiation of wines according to geographical origin based on global volatile patterns

In this study, the feasibility of solid-phase extraction combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry in tandem with partial least squares discriminant analysis was evaluated as a useful strategy to differentiate wines according to geographical origin (Azores, Canary and Madeira Islands) and types (white, red and fortified wine) based on their global volatile patterns. For this purpose, 34 monovarietal wines from these three wine grape-growing regions were investigated, combining the high throughput extraction efficiency of the solid-phase extraction procedure with the separation and identification ability. The partial least squares discriminant analysis results suggested that Madeira wines could be clearly discriminated from Azores and Canary wines. Madeira wines are mainly characterized by 2-ethylhexan-1-ol, 3,5,5-trimethylhexan-1-ol, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl dl-2-hydroxycaproate, decanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and (E)-whiskey lactone, whereas 3-ethoxypropan-1-ol, 1-octen-3-ol, (Z)-3-hexenyl butanoate, 4-(methylthio)-1-butanol, ethyl 3-hydroxybutanoate, isoamyl lactate, 4-methylphenol, γ-octalactone and 4-(methylthio)-1-butanol, are mainly associated with Azores and Canary wines. The data obtained in this study revealed that solid-phase extraction combined with gas chromatography and quadrupole mass spectrometry data and partial least squares discriminant analysis provides a suitable tool to discriminate wines, both in terms of geographical origin as well as wine type and vintage.