The Impact of Vineyard Origin and Winery on the Elemental Profile of Red Wines

Significance of the topic

Consumers demand transparency and authenticity in high–value foods and beverages. Wine provenance is a major quality indicator influenced by vineyard soil composition, viticultural practices, and winemaking processes. Elemental profiling by ICP-MS offers a powerful approach to verify geographic origin and detect adulteration, complementing DNA fingerprinting and organic marker analysis.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study investigated how vineyard origin and winery processing each affect the elemental fingerprints of red wines. Sixty-five monovarietal red wines from five Northern California vineyards were produced in five commercial wineries. Seventeen elements exhibiting significant vineyard-winery interactions were identified and modeled to separate effects of grape growing from winemaking.

Methodology

Wine samples were collected in metal-free containers after fermentation, diluted to ~4% ethanol in 5% HNO₃, and analyzed in duplicate. A six-point calibration (0–500 µg/L) matched to sample matrix and additional 1:1 000 dilutions for high-concentration elements ensured accurate quantification. Spikes and continuous calibration checks maintained data quality.

Instrumentation used

• Agilent 7700x ICP-MS with Octopole Reaction System (ORS3) collision/reaction cell
• Online mixing tee for internal standard addition (⁶Li, Sc, Ge, Y, In, Tb, Bi)
• MicroMist nebulizer and cooled spray chamber
• Agilent ICP-MS MassHunter for data acquisition
• Agilent Mass Profiler Professional for chemometric analysis

Main Results and Discussion

Of 63 monitored elements, 46 were detected (recoveries 93–103%). No significant variation was observed between grape cultivars. Analysis of variance identified 33 elements varying by winery, 26 by vineyard, and 17 elements (Be, Na, P, Ti, Zn, As, Rb, Cd, Sb, Cs, La, Pr, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb, Tl) showing significant interaction effects. Canonical variate analysis (CVA) separated samples by combined vineyard-winery factors, illustrating that winemaking practices often exert a stronger influence on elemental composition than vineyard location.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Multielement profiling supports authentication of wine origin, quality control, and detection of potential adulteration. Differentiating vineyard and winery contributions aids producers and regulators in verifying labels and tracing sources, ultimately protecting brand value and consumer trust.

Future Trends and Applications

Emerging trends include integrating elemental data with isotopic and metabolomic profiles for robust geographic classification. High-throughput screening and machine learning models will enhance resolution of origin determination. Portable or benchtop ICP-MS instruments may enable on-site verification in wineries and distribution centers.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that combined vineyard and winery effects can be disentangled through ICP-MS elemental fingerprinting and chemometric modeling. Seventeen key elements serve as markers for origin verification, and winemaking processes play a major role in defining the final elemental profile of red wines.

Reference

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