Abstract

Wine oxidation appears to include the formation of hydroxyl radical ( •OH), an exceptionally reactive and thus nonselective compound that might be involved in the production of important aldehydes and ketones. This experiment examined the •OH oxidation of glycerol, a major wine constituent, and thus a likely target of such oxidation, in model wine, generated by hydrogen peroxide and iron catalysis. The oxidation products generated were analyzed as their hydrazones using LC-DAD/MS. Glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone were the main compounds identified, both of which were also observed in naturally aged and •OH-oxidized wines. As anticipated, the presence of ethanol in the model wine did not preclude the formation of these compounds. Additionally, when a young red wine was treated with these oxidation derivatives, a noteworthy increase in color was observed, most likely due to the formation of novel anthocyanin-based structures. © 2006 American Chemical Society.