A review of the analytical methods to determine organic acids in grape juices and wines

The determination of low molecular weight organic acids in grape juices and wines is important because of their influence in organoleptic properties (flavour, colour and aroma) and in the stability and microbiologic control of these beverages. The analysis of these acids allows to check the process of maturation of grapes and to control the evolution of the acidity of wines during the several stages of their elaboration process (alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation, aging process, etc). In this work, a comprehensive review of the analytical methods developed for the determination of short-chain organic acids in grape juices and wines has been shown. This review included non-enzymatic spectrophotometric, enzymatic, chromatographic and electrophoretic methods. Details of the chromatographic and electrophoretic conditions of these methods have been collected in tables. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.