Changes in gas-chromatographic volatiles of young Airen wines during bottle storage

Twenty-six commercial Airen variety wines from La Mancha (Spain) corresponding to four successsive vintages (1990–1993) were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and characterized through 30 minor and major volatiles. Stepwise discriminant analysis applied to the GC variables obtained showed that, as in other varietal wines, diethyl succinate content increased during 3 years of storage, whereas isopentyl acetate and 2-phenylethyl acetate decreased over this period. A progressive increase in acetaldehyde content was also detected.