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Grape marc distillates are traditional alcoholic beverages, produced mostly in the Mediterranean countries. The present study proposes the enrichment of a Greek traditional grape marc distillate ( tsikoudia ) with selected herbs to enhance its natural antioxidants and functional properties. Total phenolic content, the antiradical and antioxidant activities, as well as the phenolic and sugar profiles using NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy were evaluated. The enrichment of distillates with Syzygium aromaticum L., Jasminum officinale L. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. exhibited the highest total phenolic content as well as the highest antioxidant and antiradical activities, whereas the lowest values were observed with Hippophae rhamnoides L. and Lycium Barbarum Mill. The implementation of NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies attested to the presence of phenolic compounds and of specific carbohydrates in herbal distillates, postulating their migration from selected herbal species to tsikoudia and probably contributing to their organoleptic characteristics. The target of this approach leads to new added-value distillates with enhanced characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suitability of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) and gas chromatography accurate mass spectrometry (GC–MS), based on a time-of-flight (TOF) MS analyzer and using electron ionization (EI), for the characterization of volatile and semi-volatile profiles of grape marc distillates (grappa) are evaluated. DLLME conditions are optimized with a selection of compounds, from different chemical families, present in the distillate spirit. Under final working conditions, 2.5 mL of sample and 0.5 mL of organic solvents are consumed in the sample preparation process. The absolute extraction efficiencies ranged from 30 to 100%, depending on the compound. For the same sample volume, DLLME provided higher responses than solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for most of the model compounds. The GC-EI-TOF-MS records of grappa samples were processed using a data mining non-targeted search algorithm. In this way, chromatographic peaks and accurate EI-MS spectra of sample components were linked. The identities of more than 140 of these components are proposed from comparison of their accurate spectra with those in a low resolution EI-MS database, accurate masses of most intense fragment ions of known structure, and available chromatographic retention index. The use of chromatographic and spectral data, associated to the set of components mined from different grappa samples, for multivariate analysis purposes is also illustrated in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the composition of secondary aroma compounds of fresh grape marc distillates as a result of variety and production technology, 30 samples (6 varieties×5 samples) were analysed. White grape marc samples from Malvazija istarska, Chardonnay and Muscat Blanc were obtained as by-products in standard white wine production, while red grape marc samples from Teran and Cabernet Sauvignon were obtained after standard red wine production procedures. Marc from red grape variety Muškat ruža porečki was obtained during the production of rosé wines. All fermented marc samples were distilled using a traditional copper alembic. The obtained distillates were subjected to GC/MS and GC/FID analyses. Malvazija istarska distillates exhibited exceptionally high methanol content. Distillates from white grape varieties were found to be characterized by higher C6 alcohol and 1-propanol concentrations, while red grape distillates contained higher amounts of the majority of alcohols, acids, and esters. In Muškat ruža distillates intermediate concentrations of many important aroma compounds were found. It was concluded that differences in the production technology parameters, depending on the variety, resulted in differences in secondary aroma profiles, most evident between distillates from white and red varieties. These findings were confirmed applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis (SLDA), which resulted in 100 % correct classification of distillates according to the variety and corresponding production technology.

To investigate possible relationships, the volatile aroma compound composition of 30 grape marc distillates obtained from six varieties was correlated with the sensory scores for basic properties ( clearness, odour and taste) obtained by sensory testing using the hedonic German DLG model. High negative Pearson's correlation coefficients were determined between total concentrations of long-chain ethyl esters and the scores for the property clearness. Strong positive correlation of middle-chain fatty acids and their ethyl esters, and strong negative correlation of sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, methanol, C6-alcohols, acetic and short-chain fatty acids, long-chain ethyl esters, ethyl acetate, other acetate esters, acetaldehyde and furanic compounds with the properties odour and taste were found. Principal component analysis corroborated these results. Monoterpenes were confirmed to be responsible for a typical Muscat aroma, as well as for descriptors such as flowery, rose, citrus and spicy/menthol in distillates made from Muscat varieties. A significant degree of correlation was found between the concentration of C6-alcohols and the frequency of quotation of the descriptor vegetative/grass. Indications were found that vegetative odours of C6-alcohols may act as suppressants of Muscat aroma. A certain degree of congruence was noted between higher concentrations of medium-chain ethyl esters and acetaldehyde, and the occurrence of fruity and nutty odours, respectively. Copyright © 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the behaviour of volatile compounds during a traditional alembic distillation, large numbers of important volatile compounds were identified and quantified by GC/MS and GC/FID analysis in different fractions of grape marc distillates made from two Muscat varieties. Generally, concentrations of terpenes, C13-norisoprenoids, acids and particular waxy esters and aldehydes were found to increase, while concentrations of higher alcohols and the majority of fruity and flowery esters were found to decrease during distillation. Because of the abundance in odoriferous monoterpenes, utilization of the tail fraction as a raw material for re-distillation was considered appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the composition of secondary aroma compounds of fresh grape marc distillates as a result of variety and production technology, 30 samples (6 varietiesx5 samples) were analysed. White grape marc samples from Malvazija istarska, Chardonnay and Muscat Blanc were obtained as by-products in standard white wine production, while red grape marc samples from Teran and Cabernet Sauvignon were obtained after standard red wine production procedures. Marc from red grape variety Muškat ruža porečki was obtained during the production of rose wines. All fermented marc samples were distilled using a traditional copper alembic. The obtained distillates were subjected to GC/MS and GC/FID analyses. Malvazija istarska distillates exhibited exceptionally high methanol content. Distillates from white grape varieties were found to be characterized by higher C, alcohol and I-propanol concentrations, while red grape distillates contained higher amounts of the majority of alcohols, acids, and esters. In Mužkat ruža distillates intermediate concentrations of many important aroma compounds were found. It was concluded that differences in the production technology parameters, depending on the variety, resulted in differences in secondary aroma profiles, most evident between distillates from white and red varieties. These findings were confirmed applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis (SLDA), which resulted in 100 % correct classification of distillates according to the variety and corresponding production technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]