Traditional alcoholic beverages produced from fermented grape pomaces (Vitis vinifera L.) are very popular in Greece and many other
Mediterranean countries and some times consumed in large amounts daily. Acetaldehyde and methanol are two important toxic volatile
compounds in wine and alcoholic beverages, that formed during grape pomace fermentation. The EU regulation 1576/89 Wxed common
analytical composition limits for those volatiles (1000 g/hL AA for methanol and 73–500 g/hl AA for acetaldehyde.
In this study the two major toxic volatile compounds, methanol and acetaldehyde, were determined in varietal grape pomace distillates.
Twelve of the most popular Greek grape varieties, six white and six red, were used for the production of grape pomace distillates
that were collected in ten equal volume fractions. Grape pomace distillates were analysed by gas chromatography with f1ame ionization
detector (FID) using pentanol-3 as an internal standard. The concentrations of these volatiles as well as their changes during distillation
were measured. It should be also pointed out that the two toxic compound, acetaldehyde and methanol was detected far below the acceptable
legal limits. The results may be useful for risk assessment of acetaldehyde and methanol.
© 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.