INVESTIGATIONS ON THE STEREOISOMERS OF 2, 3-BUTANDIOL

193 wines from foreign countries were investigated on the stereoisomer s (S,S)-, (R,R)- and meso (R,S)-2,3-butanediol. Of main interest was t he L(+), (S,S)-enantiomere that was stereodifferentiated with GC-analy sis on chiral phases. The percentage of the (S,S)-form of the entire 2 ,3-butanediol in wine was found to be maximally 3,3 per cent. More tha n 70 per cent of the wines are ranging from not detectible to 0,7 per cent. Products with a low malate-decomposition (lactic acid content up to 0,5 per cent) mainly show values under 0,3 per cent (S,S)-2,3-buta nediol, products with a strong malate-decomposition (content of lactic acid higher than 1,6 g/1) mostly show more than 0,7 per cent. Wines f rom foreign countries not belonging to the EC with quality levels simi lar to predicates more often but not generally show an increased conte nt in (S,S)-2,3-butanediol. With increasing age of maturity und a cove r of yeast (3 months up to 5 years) in the case of fine sherry the par t of the (S,S)-enantiomere continually increases, same as the meso-for m, while the (R,R)-2,3-butanediol is correspondingly decreasing.