Analysis for low molecular weight phenolic compounds in a red wine aged in oak chips

The evolution of low molecular weight polyphenols in a red wine aging in different systems (barrels, oak chips and oak staves) made of different oak species was studied. All were placed under the same aging conditions in a wine cellar participating the Cigales Appellation of Origin programme (Spain). The wine aged in contact with oak chips experienced a quicker aging and loss of certain compounds, and a greater number of polymerisations than the wine aged in barrels. The discriminant analysis showed that samples of the same source wine aged in barrels, oak chips and oak staves tended to group together according to the aging system when wood from different botanical species is used (American, French or Hungarian).