Chemical composition and sensory evaluation of wines produced with different Moscato varieties

Abstract

Moscato grapes give very aromatic musts and wines, characterized by the presence of monoterpenoids. The Farroupilha region situated in the highlands of South Brazil, is responsible for 50% of Brazilian Moscato wines production, and obtained its Geographical Indication (GI) in 2015. Brazilian Moscato wines are produced with several varieties, mainly Moscato Branco, Moscato Bianco R2 and Moscato Giallo. The objective of this study was to characterize the aromatic profile of wines produced with the three varieties. Microvinifications were conducted with grapes collected in three vineyards located in Farroupilha. Volatile compounds were evaluated using gas chromatography, and sensory characteristics were determined by a panel of enologists using a specific descriptive chard. Moscato Giallo wines exhibited the highest concentrations of ethyl acetate, 2-phenylethanol, isoamyl acetate, linalool, and α-terpineol; Moscato R2 wines showed the highest concentrations of ethyl decanoate and nerol, while Moscato Branco wines, the most representative variety of Brazilian sparkling Moscato wines, exhibited the highest concentrations of ethanal and ethyl hexanoate, and intermediary concentrations of the other compounds. In sensory analysis, the three varieties exhibited pear, pitanga, rosemary, and citric fruits aromas, but in general, Moscato Giallo and Moscato R2 were more intense, while Moscato Branco showed the highest acidity.