Oenological potential, phenolic composition, chromatic characteristics and antioxidant activity of red single-cultivar wines from Castilla-La Mancha

Abstract

Young wines made from red grape varieties in danger of extinction in Castilla-La Mancha (Bobal and Moravia Agria) together with the reference red grape cultivar from this Spanish region (Cencibel) were elaborated and their phenolic composition, chromatic characteristics, and antioxidant activity were studied. Differentiation of wines according to their grape cultivar was possible by their anthocyanin profiles, which were mainly dominated by malvidin 3-glucoside. Grape cultivar differentiation was also achieved by the aglycone-type flavonol profiles. However, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and stilbene profiles were very heterogeneous with regard to grape cultivar. All wines studied had high amounts of total resveratrol, with Bobal and Moravia Agria wines showing the higher amounts of this kind of compound than Cencibel wines although they occurred mainly as cis-isomers. The chromatic characteristics for all wines were those expectable for young red wines with high copigmentation contribution. Finally, all wines showed high values of antioxidant activity which could be connected with their also high content of total polyphenols. This study showed that this grape variety provides a viable alternative to traditional grape varieties cultivates in La Mancha region, increasing the offer to the consumer, which favors the differentiation of La Mancha wines on the national and international market.