Targeted Analysis for the Detection of Phenolics and Authentication of Albanian Wines Using LC-DAD/ESI-MS/MS Combined with Chemometric Tools

In recent years, Albania has seen a significant increase in wine production, which can be attributed to the growing interest in the diversity of native grape varieties. Among the most popular grape varieties are Kallmet, Shesh i zi (ShiZ), Shesh i bardhë (ShiB), and Cerruje, which are known for their distinctive wines as well as the planted area. A study was conducted to investigate the influence of the territory and vintage on phenolic compounds of single-variety wines from these grape varieties. Liquid chromatography identified and quantified thirty-one phenolic compounds, sub-grouped into flavonoids and non-flavonoids, with diode-array detection coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-ESI/MS). Within the red wines group, the ShiZ variety wine presented the highest phenolic content (1037 mg/L), followed by Kallmet cv. (539 mg/L); conversely, in the white wine group, the ShiB wines (699 mg/L) were distinguished from the Cerruje variety. Gallic acid was the main phenolic compound, followed by procyanidin B3. ShiB and ShiZ had the highest levels, at 215 and 136 mg/L, respectively. Among flavanols, (+)-catechin was found in the highest levels, with the maximum in Kallmet cv. red wine (58.9 mg/L), followed by (-)-epicatechin (29.1 mg/L). The ShiB wine had the highest content of flavonols, with quercetin-3-O-glucuronide and quercetin-3-O-glucoside as the main contributors. The highest quantity of stilbenoids belonged to Kallmet red wine (1.59 mg/L). Applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in red and white wine groups made a good separation possible according to variety and region. However, a separation according to vintage year was not successful.