Evaluation of potential and real qualities of virgin olive oil from the designation of origin (DO) “Aceite Montes de Alcaraz” (Albacete, Spain)

The potential and real qualities of virgin olive oils, from the designation of origin (DO) “Aceite Montes de Alcaraz”, were evaluated. The regulated physicochemical and sensory parameters, the stability parameters and the fatty acid, sterol and triterpenic dialcohol compositions were analysed. The results of the regulated parameters in the potential quality study classified all the analysed oils into the “extra virgin” category. The varieties Picual and Cornicabra showed remarkably high stability, due to their high total polyphenol content. The fatty acid contents fell within the intervals required by the EU regulations in all the analysed samples. The distribution of fatty acid composition covered the normal range expected for olive oil. Oleic and linoleic acids were the most useful fatty acids used to discriminate the varieties Picual and Cornicabra from the others. The variety Cornicabra stood out due to its high campesterol content. All the analysed samples in the real quality study were classified into the “extra virgin” category according to the regulated physicochemical parameters, but only 67% of them qualified if the sensory parameters were also taken into account. The predominance of the variety Picual in the study area was mainly responsible for the high oil stability and reflects the fatty acid and sterol composition of the oils from the oil mills in the potential quality study.