EFFECT OF DRAWING OFF ON COLOR AND PHENOL IC-COMPOUNDS COMPOSITION OFRED WINE

The influence of drawing off on colour and phenolic compound compositi on of red wine in order to evaluate if this method increases the aging capacity of red wine was studied. This study was done over a three ye ar period (1990, 1991 and 1992). The wines obtained by the drawing off method showed colour intensities clearly higher than controls. Also, drawn off wines showed procyanidin concentration and levels of anthocy anins combined with procyanidins higher than controls. Therefore, thes e wines have a major colour stability useful against oxidation. Ah thi s data indicates that drawing off may be used as a technique to increa se the aging capacity of red wines in certain regions, where tradition ally the major proportion of red wine production is dedicated elaborat ion of young red wines, because of bad evolution in oak barrels.