Components of 42 wines have been analysed using state-of-the-art equipment for the first time. The data generated will provide an extremely accurate basis for definitively characterising wine varieties, as well as an innovative approach for routine wine analysis. The method could also allow a wine to be clearly authenticated or to uncover counterfeits, as well as provide new insights into the role of specific substances in giving wines their aroma. High-performance liquid chromatography was used in combination with ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry to pinpoint the characteristics of various red wines.