The possibility of using thermal analysis for a quick characterization of chemical changes was tested in the organic matter from composting materials. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG) and the first derivative of the TG (DTG) were calculated in oxidizing conditions on compost samples obtained from three composting piles. The composting piles were made by mixing winery and distillery residues with sewage sludge (pile 1), with cow manure (pile 2) and hen droppings (pile 3). The temperature values in the pile 1 showed a different evolution during the thermophilic stage of the composting process in relation to the piles 2 and 3. The thermophilic stage for pile 1 was 17 days, meanwhile for the piles 2 and 3 were around 80 and 110 days, respectively, and probably pile 1 was not well composted. The curves of ion current of CO2 have been recorded in order to shed light on changes occurring in organic matter during composting. Particularly DTG curves allowed us to distinguish between well (piles 2 and 3) and poor (pile 1) stabilized organic matter. The energy released was calculated for each sample by integrating the DTA curves and these results are agreed with the previous hypothesis. Information deriving from weight losses, registered by the TG and DTG curves, enables to follow the evolution state of the organic matter and therefore changes in its stability. These data could determine the final point of the composting process of winery and distillery residues and then reduce the time for compost harvest. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.