Volatile compounds of bottled wines with Denomination of Origin from the Canary Islands (Spain)

The concentrations of the following major volatile compounds: ethanal, ethyl acetate, methanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol and amylic alcohols were determined by gas chromatography in 153 bottled wines with Denomination of Origin (DO) from the Canary Islands. The volatile compounds analysed were within the normal intervals described for each type of wine. The content of methanol was low and does not represent a toxicological risk for consumers. Isobutanol, methanol and total higher alcohols permitted a better differentiation of wines according to the type. The island of production had more influence on the volatile profile than the DO within an island. Principal component analysis tend to separate red wines from the remainder of the wines and a differentiation of the red wines as a function of the vintage was observed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.