Fast Screening of Wines Using SPME/GC

Significance of the Topic

The authentication of wine origin and the detection of illicit flavor additives are critical for quality control, regulatory compliance, and consumer confidence in the wine industry.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluated a rapid, solvent-free analytical approach combining solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography (GC) with a polyalkylene glycol (PAG) column to:

• Profile aroma compounds in muscat-type wines from two distinct regions (Eger, Hungary and Trento, Italy).
• Detect trace levels (down to 1 ppm) of cold-pressed coriander seed oil as a potential adulterant.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Sampling employed a 100 µm polydimethylsiloxane SPME fiber exposed to wine headspace for 10 minutes at ambient temperature, followed by 5 minutes desorption in a splitless GC inlet at 250 °C.
The GC system featured a 30 m × 0.25 mm ID, 0.25 µm PAG capillary column, hydrogen carrier gas at 45 cm/s, and flame ionization detection (FID) at 250 °C. The oven program ranged from 35 °C (5 min) with stepwise ramps to 220 °C.

Results and Discussion

Distinct chromatographic fingerprints were obtained for the two muscat wines, revealing significant differences in the relative abundances of key volatiles such as linalool, geraniol, and ethyl esters. Spiking tests with 1 ppm coriander seed oil produced three characteristic peaks, enabling unambiguous detection of adulteration. Profiling of standards in water confirmed the origin of these markers.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This SPME/GC approach offers:

• Rapid, solvent-free sample preparation.
• High sensitivity for volatiles at low ppb–ppm levels.
• Capability to authenticate wine origin and detect flavor adulterants.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances may include coupling SPME/GC with mass spectrometry for enhanced compound identification, automation for high-throughput screening, expansion to other varietals and food matrices, and development of standardized aroma libraries for forensic authentication.

Conclusion

Headspace SPME combined with PAG-GC provides an efficient, accurate tool for wine aroma profiling and adulteration detection, supporting quality assurance and origin verification in enology.

References

1. Vas G. Fast Screening of Wines Using SPME/GC. The Supelco Reporter. 1996;15(5).