Characterization of white and rosé sparkling wine lees surface volatiles

Abstract

Cava is a sparkling wine that requires a second fermentation in the bottle. Its volatile fraction is conditioned by different parameters (grape, vinification process, fermentative yeast, and aging time). During the autolysis process, yeasts release compounds into the wine, but lees can adsorb certain compounds on their surface. Therefore, the aim of this work was to characterize different white and rosé Cavas, and their lees. For this, white Cavas (CGR1: 40 months; CR1: 16 months) and rosé Cavas (CRR1: multivarietal coupage; CRR2: monovarietal; both 20 months) were studied. Once disgorged, lees were freeze-dried (L-CGR1, L-CR1, L-CRR1 and L-CRR2). In addition, lees waste from the winery were collected. pH, total polyphenol index (TPI) and colour intensity (CI) of Cavas and lees were determined. The volatile fraction was analysed by Head-Space Solid Phase Microextraction followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Lees showed higher values than their respective Cavas for TPI and CI, especially in the case of the L-CGR1. Most of the volatiles were identified both in Cavas and their lees, esters being the main compounds. Therefore, lees can retain phenolic and volatile compounds on their surface, which could be of interest as a new ingredient in the food industry.