Volatile components of Negroamaro red wines produced in Apulian Salento area

Volatile composition of monovarietal young red wines made from Negroamaro cultivar, an autochthonous grape variety of Vitis vinifera grown exclusively in Salento area (southeast of Italy in Apulia region), was investigated. Volatile compounds were extracted following a solid phase extraction (SPE) method, and then analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results showed a complex aroma profile rich in alcohols, esters and fatty acids, with a minor contribute from aldehydes, lactones, volatile phenols and sulphur compounds. For the first time, aromatic patterns that characterise wines produced from Negroamaro autochthonous grape variety were established, starting a fundamental register of typicity and geographical identity of Apulians wines. Statistical data analysis techniques (Principal component analysis (PCA) and ANOVA) showed the structure of the experimental data and the significant differences for each compound in the different wines.