Chemo-diversity of chiral monoterpenes in different styles of Riesling wine from different regions

Monoterpenes are important characteristic compounds for aromatic white wines, including Riesling, but their enantiomer composition has been little explored in wine. Enantiomers can differ depending on region and style, as they are sensitive to environmental factors, and thus could be used for wine authentication. Thirteen monoterpene isomers were quantified by HS-SPME-MDGC-MS in fifty-four commercial Riesling wines from three wine styles (dry, medium dry and medium sweet) and four well-established wine-growing regions in Germany, France (Alsace) and the USA (New York and Oregon). Significant differences were found for nine out of the 13 enantiomers among different regions and eight enantiomers among styles. X-Y scatterplots of enantiomer pair concentrations, with excellent fitted lines, implies low variation of enantiomeric ratios from each region. The study suggests that wines from different regions and styles were differentiated by chiral monoterpene profiles. Chiral monoterpene analyses could provide supporting information in Riesling wine authentication by offering an objective measure of flavour quality, as these compounds are key compounds for Riesling aroma and flavor.