Comparison of the volatile aroma components in noble rotted grape berries from two different locations of the Tokaj wine district in Hungary

The most famous wine type of Hungary is Tokaji Aszu. Noble rotted botrytised (Aszu) grape berries and a specific vinification technology give its unique delicious aroma and taste. The present work compares volatile aroma components of noble rotted Aszu grape berries from two different locations in the Tokaj wine district. Aszu grape berries have been soaked in 10% ethanol-containing water solutions and thereafter extracted with Freon 11. Volatile components were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total ion chromatograms contained 220-260 components. More than 80 components are identified, among them alcohols, aldehydes, acids, acetals, esters, epoxides, nitrils, furan derivatives and lactones. The compositional differences between the two Aszu grape samples are analysed according to the different component classes. The differences are quantitative rather than qualitative. Some delta-lactones are identified for the first time in noble rotted berries from Tokaj. These substances have very characteristic odor notes such as coconut, chocolate, peach, fruity. Together with the identified gamma-lactones they seem to be characteristic aroma components of Tokaji Aszu wines. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.