D-O-C Stable Isotopes, 14C Radiocarbon and Radiogenic Isotope Techniques Applied in Wine Products for Geographical Origin and Authentication

Abstract

Oxygen, deuterium and carbon isotopes were measured in wine products in two Greek vineyards, Amydaio (north) and Nemea (south). The enriched isotope values in Nemea reflects the higher evapo-transpiration rate and the more arid condition of Southern Greece. White wines were slightly more depleted than red wines of the same year and the same growing region probably due to different harvest periods. Further was pointed out the variety of isotope values with respect to vintage year indicating that the vintage year contributes to the development of isotopes in wine water. In both vineyards the trend lines intersect the oxygen and deuterium isotopes of irrigation water highlighting the source water and the initial isotopic composition of grape berries. δ13C values of ethanol confirmed the origin of C3 plants and the authentication of wine products without detecting adulteration with industrial alcohol. The results of 14C measurements in ethanol extracted from Greek wines follow the known pattern of 14C variations in atmospheric CO2. The homogeneity of 87Sr/86Sr and 144Nd/143Nd isotope values confirms that the territorial and geological signal is transferred through the vineyards in the final product, wine, certifying the exclusively provenance of the wine areas Amydaio and Nemea.