Sherry wines volatile compounds

Peinado, R. A., Moreno, J. J., Ortega, J. M., and Mauricio, J. C. (2003). Effect of gluconic acid consumption during simulation of biological aging of sherry wines by a flor yeast strain on the final volatile compounds. ]. Agric. Food Chem. 51, 6198-6203. 

At least 2-5 years are needed to make dessert wines. In the production of sherry the wine is stored in partially filled butts, i.e. in the presence of excess air. Ror yeasts develop on the wine surface in the form of a continuous film or wine cover (sherry yeast). The typical sherry flavor is derived from the aerobic conditions of maturation. During this time the concentrations of the following compounds increase at the expense of alcohol and volatile acids ethanal, acetals, esters, sotolon (cf. 5.3.1.3) and 2,3-butylene glycol. In port wine production the wine is drawn off to casks before the end of fermentation and is fortified with wine distillates. The fortifying procedure is repeated several times ( multiple addition ) until the desired alcohol content is reached. Sotolon is the key aroma substance of Port wine. Its odor threshold in this wine is 19 pg/1. Its concentration increases linearly during storage. Port stored for one year and for 60 years contained 5 and 958 pg/1 sotolon respectively. 

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