Phenolic characterisation of grapevine cultivars from Galicia (Spain): Brancelao, Merenzao e Mencia (Vitis vinifera L.)

The polyphenolic composition of Brancellao, Merenzao and Mencìa grapes from Galicia (northwestern Spain), was studied using spectophotometric and High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) methods. The results showed significant differences between these cultivars. The total anthocyanins ranged from 215 mg/kg berries in Brancellao to 422 mg/kg berries in Mencìa. The three cultivars were characterized by an interesting anthocyanin profile for winemaking with a prevalence of malvidin-3-glucoside. The skins and seeds, both had small amounts of flavonoids. In contrast to Brancellao and Mencìa, Merenzao had more flavonoids in the seeds (64%) than in the skins. The most important parameters for differentiating between the cultivars were the peonidin and malvidin derivative forms, and the total amount of acetyl-glucosides.