Distribution of crown hexameric procyanidin and its tetrameric and pentameric congeners in red and white wines.

Nineteen red and white wines were screened for the presence of crown (oligomeric cyclic) procyanidins with 4, 5 or 6 (epi)catechin monomers by means of HPLC-HRMS/MS. For the first time, the distribution of crown procyanidins in wines obtained from several grape varieties was discussed including white wines. The ratios between crown and non-cyclic procyanidins allowed the samples to be discriminated by grape variety. The crown hexameric procyanidin was present in the red wines and absent in the white wines analyzed. The crown pentameric procyanidin was absent in Gewürztraminer. In Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, the pentameric procyanidin was present only in the cyclic form. Less oxidized high quality red wines displayed a higher fraction of crown to non-cyclic procyanidins than the other wines. These compounds are proposed as potential complement markers of wine quality and authenticity.