There is significant interest in using metal profiles for geographic authentication of grapes and wines. A first step in successful application of this approach is understanding the variation in soil metal profiles within a single vineyard and relating this composition to that of grape berries and other tissues. In this study we have profiled the elemental composition of grape berries and vine plant tissue (leaves and rachises) from 36 different vines within one block of a commercial vineyard over the period of ripening. In addition we profiled soil metal composition from each of the vines (soil close to the rhizosphere) in order to correlate the soil composition to the berry and tissue composition. Frozen and dried tissues, berries, or soils were microwave digested and analyzed by ICP-MS. Sixty-eight elements were monitored and calibrated in the range of 0.1 to 500 �g/L, using matrix-matched calibration standards. An Internal Standard (ISTD) mix of six elements, covering the monitored m/z range from 7 to 209 amu, was constantly fed into the sample stream using a mixing tee. Significant differences in elemental composition among the sampled vines show that even within the same vineyard block elemental differences exist and are also reflected in both grape berries and plant tissue. Elements that show large differences within the same vineyard block include elements important from a viticultural (K, Mg) and from an enological standpoint (Fe, Cu).

Geographic authentication of wines: Relationships between metal composition in soils and grape berries

248th National Meeting (2014)

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