Differentiation and Grouping Characteristics of Varietal Grape Musts and Wines from Majorcan Origin

¹ Department of Food Technology. Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. Camino Vera 14. 46071 Valencia. Spain
² Department of Chemical Engineering. Universitat de Valencia. Dr. Moliner 50. 46071 Burjassot (Valencia). Spain
³ Department of Chemistry. Universitat de les Illes Balears. Crta. Valldemossa km 7.5. 07071 Palma de Mallorca. Spain.

Forty-six samples of three Majorcan red grape musts, Manto Negro, Callet, and Fogoneu, from two close viticultural regions, Zona Alta and Zona Baja, were tested on the basis of twelve conventional variables. Physicochemical data were treated by pattern recognition techniques by means of discriminant analysis and non-hierarchical clustering, thus allowing characterization according to the geographical and varietal origin of samples. Discriminant analysis gave rise to coincident classification results (average percentage error 18.5%) when distinguishing both varieties and zones. Clustering analysis revealed a strong varietal affinity among the studied grape samples. A further comparative study for the musts considered and the corresponding wines, previously studied for sixteen conventional variables, showed that in the discriminant statistical treatment correlation could be established among cultivars in terms of color intensity and nitrogen content. Musts and wines from different zones were fairly related to some geographical characteristics of the regions. When considering hierarchical clustering, an evident relationship between musts and wines was exclusively achieved by means of the varietal origin of the samples.

Key words: characterization, grape musts, wines, Majorca

Submitted on March 12, 1990