Using ICP-MS to Determine the Effect of Storage Temperature and Packaging on the Trace Metal Composition of Wine

Importance of the Topic

The trace metal profile of wine is critical for verifying product authenticity, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and monitoring quality throughout production and storage.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluated how packaging materials and storage temperatures influence trace metal levels in red wine. A single commercially available 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon was allocated into four packaging types—a green glass bottle with natural cork, a green glass bottle with a screw cap at two different fill heights, and a bag‐in‐box format—and stored at 10°C, 20°C, and 40°C for six months. Twelve unique conditions were compared to identify key factors affecting elemental composition.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Wine samples were diluted 1:3 with 1% nitric acid to reduce ethanol content. Trace metals were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) using an Agilent 7700x system. Calibration employed five‐point curves (0.1–500 µg/L) with matrix‐matched standards, and an internal standard mixture ensured accuracy. Detection limits for vanadium, chromium, copper, tin, and lead were established according to IUPAC guidelines. Data acquisition used Agilent MassHunter software, and statistical analysis—including principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap generation—was performed with Mass Profiler Professional.

• Packaging formats: natural cork bottles, low‐fill screw cap bottles, high‐fill screw cap bottles, and bag‐in‐box.
• Storage temperatures: 10°C, 20°C, 40°C over a six‐month period.
• Monitored isotopes: V, Cr, Cu, Sn, Pb among over 20 elements.

Main Results and Discussion

Packaging type exerted a stronger influence on trace metal profiles than storage temperature. Bag‐in‐box samples exhibited the lowest element concentrations, while screw cap bottles showed elevated tin levels due to leaching from the tin‐PVDC liner, particularly at 40°C. Chromium increases in bottled samples were attributed to prior storage in stainless steel kegs. Vanadium and copper concentrations decreased with higher temperatures across all packaging formats. PCA separated samples primarily by packaging along the first principal component (93.2% variance), with temperature contributing along the second component. A Venn diagram confirmed that packaging type is the predominant differentiator in trace element composition.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Authentication and traceability of wine products.
• Quality control by monitoring metal contamination from packaging.
• Informed selection of packaging materials to minimize undesired leaching.

Future Trends and Applications

Expanding the elemental panel and integrating more detailed studies of winemaking and storage steps will enhance understanding of metal dynamics. Advanced chemometric approaches and real‐time monitoring techniques may enable on‐line quality control and provenance verification, benefiting producers and regulatory bodies.

Conclusion

ICP‐MS analysis demonstrates that packaging material plays a decisive role in shaping the trace metal composition of wine, with storage temperature also affecting specific elements such as copper and tin. These findings underscore the need to consider both packaging and storage conditions for quality assurance and product safety.

References

1. Hopfer H., Ebeler S.E., et al. Profiling the trace metal composition of wine as a function of storage temperature and packaging type. J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 28, 1288–1291 (2013).
2. Taylor V.F., et al. Multielement analysis of Canadian wines by ICP-MS and multivariate statistics. J. Agric. Food Chem., 51, 856–860 (2003).
3. Rossano E.C., et al. Influence of winemaking practices on rare earth elements in white wines studied by ICP-MS. J. Agric. Food Chem., 55, 311–317 (2007).