AEDA

Higher quality Touriga Nacional (TN) wines are characterized by a fruity-citric aroma described as sweet and fresh citrus evoking the bergamota fruit (Citrus bergamia). In fact, “bergamota like” descriptor is a currently employed to rate higher quality TN wines. The aim of this work was to identify among volatile compounds present in bergamota fruit extracts (mainly terpenes) which contributes the most to the bergamota overall perception, and relate this data with the volatile composition of TN wines. By sensorial analysis the identification of the most important descriptors was performed. Among 18 descriptors 3 were selected: bergamota like aroma, orange-like and violet. A GC-O of an extract of a typical TN wine allows the identification of three related odorant zones ZO1, ZO2 and ZO3 related with bergamota-like aroma. By AEDA it was confirmed the importance of the ZO2 as one of the most important, this odorant zone corresponds to the presence of linalool and linalyl acetate. A similarity test was performed with a non TN wine added with linalol and linalyl acetate alone or in combinations. The highest similarity value was observed when linalool (SV=5.9) is added. In fact, results obtained from the analysis of several red wines from different varieties show that terpenols are present in higher amounts in wines coming from TN variety which prove that these compounds can be the clue of the varietal aroma of TN wines . More results are needed to validate statistically this information.