Quantitative Profiling of Volatile and Phenolic Substances in the Wine Vernaccia di Serrapetrona by Development of an HS-SPME-GC-FID/MS Method and HPLC-MS

A headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection (HS-SPME-GC-MS/FID) method has been developed for quantifying the main volatiles of the Italian sparkling red wine Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, leading to establish that the divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxanecoated (gray) fiber, an equilibration time of 15 min, and an extraction time of 15 min at a temperature of 35 °C are the conditions representing the best compromise in terms of sensitivity and time expense, to carry out the analyses. Among the volatiles quantified, 2-phenylethanol, 3-methylbutyl acetate, and ethyl esters levels resulted to be above their odor thresholds, thus being probably responsible for the aroma of this wine with their positive attributes. Phenolic compounds, namely gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, (+)-catechin, and (+)-epicatechin, were also quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-MS, thus obtaining an overall characterization of molecules fundamental for both the sensory and the healthy characteristics of the wine. The total phenolic content was found to be in the range of 19.25–61.67 mg l−1 with the most abundant compound being gallic acid (7.44–25.78 mg l−1). Main differences in volatile and phenolic compounds between samples were discussed and analyzed by chemometric techniques as principal component analysis.