Classification of Sicilian red wines from autochthonous and allochthonous cultivars according to anthocyanin pattern.

The anthocyanin pattern of Sicilian wines produced from autochthonous and allochthonous grape varieties was characterized and classified by stepwise forward canonical discriminant analysis. Anthocyanins were determined in 83 samples of Sicilian young red wines from autochthonous and allochthonous grape varieties (Nero d'Avola, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah) by a rapid HPLC method suitable for routine analysis, over two vintages, 2004 and 2005. Wines from the same grape variety produced in different years had similar anthocyanin patterns. Malvidin-3-glucoside was the major component, and the total anthocyanidin glycoside concentration was higher than that of anthocyanidin acylglycoside in all Sicilian wines studied. The application of canonical discriminant analysis showed that 100% of 2004 samples and that 96% of 2005 samples were correctly classified according to grape variety. Furthermore, discriminant analysis found the highest degree of differentiation in wines from the autochthonous cultivar Nero d'Avola. Copyright © 2007 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. All rights reserved.