Analysis of red wine phenolics: Comparison of HPLC and spectrophotometric methods

A recently developed ion-pair normal phase HPLC method which allows a preci se chromatographic evaluation of the whole class of high-molecular-mass phe nolics of wine was used in order to check the performance of spectrophotome tric methods. Thirty-two monovarietal red wines (vintages 1993 and 1998) we re analysed for total high-molecular-mass phenolics, proanthocyanidins with 2-4 units, and proanthocyanidins formed by 5 or more units, by means of th e normal phase HPLC method. In addition the following spectrophotometric as says were performed: total phenols by Folin-Ciocalteu, Bate-Smith transform ation of proanthocyanidins into cyanidin and catechins and proanthocyanidin s reactive to vanillin.