Determination by High Performance Liquid Chromatography of Organic Acids in Spanish Rosé Wines from the Alpujarra-Contraviesa Region of Granada

Abstract

High performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze the principal organic acids present in wine (tartaric, malic and lactic acids) after purification of samples with Sep-Pak C₁₈ cartridges (Waters). The method was applied to 40 samples of home-made wines from the Alpujarra-Contraviesa region of the province of Granada (Southeast Spain). These wines are considered rose, but in most cases had been subjected to unintentional maceration. The results obtained showed that the wines had not undergone complete malolactic fermentation and presented low concentrations of tartaric acid. The proportion of the concentrations of malic and lactic acids suggested a possible alteration by the undesirable development of lactic bacteria.