Determination of varietal volatiles as quality and shelf-life markers/origin and typicalness tracers in southern italian wines

The composition of wine varietal volatiles (terpenes, norisoprenoids, etc.), expressions of distinctive vine genetic characteristics, was determined in some southern Italian wines. The aim was to tentatively identify specific quality and shelf-life molecular tracers, among compounds related to the grapevine biodiversity, and to observe their modifications under different storage conditions. During the shelf-life of bottled Fiano wine samples, high temperatures produced an increase of terpene interconversion and degradation. p-Cymene and some terpenyl oxides (linalool oxide and limonene oxide) were also produced which appeared as shelf-life molecular markers. In Aglianico wine samples, some terpene compounds ( -pinene, !-myrcene, 3-carene, 4-carene, limonene and linalool) acted as possible process markers during the ageing step. In autochthonous Ischia varieties, terpene compounds also acted as suitable indicators of geographical origin. The data obtained showed that some volatile compounds could be potential analytical tools for checking, saving and improving the quality of typical wines.