Sara Canas, M. Conceição Leandro, M. Isabel Spranger, A. Pedro Belchior
Influence of Botanical Species and Geographical Origin on the Content of Low Molecular Weight Phenolic Compounds of Woods Used in Portuguese Cooperage
Summary
The influence of botanical species (Quercus and Castanea sativa) and geographical origin (Portugal?three different sites, France and North America) on the qualitative and quantitative content of some
extractable low molecular weight phenolic compounds was assessed by HPLC. Chestnut wood had the
highest total content of low molecular weight phenolic compounds, followed by the Portuguese oaks and
the French oaks, whereas the American oak had the lowest content of these compounds. The contents of
phenolic acids, phenolic aldehydes, scopoletin and umbelliferone were significantly different among the
studied woods. Both the botanical species and the geographical origin affect the content of low molecular
weight organic compounds of woods used in Portuguese cooperage. The results also show that the
botanical species seem to be more important than the geographical origin to explain the difference in the
wood phenolic composition. So, the separation of trees according to their origin is of considerable interest
for coopers and winemakers to choose wisely the woods for the ageing of brandies.
Holzforschung, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0018-3830
Volume: 54, 04/2000
Pages: 255 - 261
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