Comparison of the evolution of low molecular weight phenolic compounds in typical Sherry wines: Fino,Amontillado, and Oloroso

Changes in the content of low molecular weight phenolic compounds (hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, aldehydes, and their esterified derivatives, tyrosol and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde) during the aging of three different classes of Sherry wine, Fino, Oloroso, and Amontillado, have been studied. The samples studied were taken from each of the scales of the particular aging system applied to the three classes of wine. Clear differences were observed in the behavior of the low molecular weight phenolic in the three classes of wine. The wines subjected to oxidative aging presented a higher phenolic content overall, with the exception of the esterified derivatives of phenolic compounds that are mainly found in the samples that have not undergone any process of oxidation. MANOVA results confirmed that there are significant differences between all of the samples of the three types of wines. Using LDA, a classification of 100% of the samples has been made.