Stable isotopes determination in some Romanian wines

Abstract

This paper presents a study concerning the isotopic fingerprint (18O and 13C) of some wines prepared from relevant Romanian grape varieties (e.g. Feteasca Alba (FA), Feteasca Regala (FR) and Cabernet Sauvignon (CS)) obtained in different vintage years (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008). These wines were obtained from different vineyards having a significant role in the wine market: Cotesti, Tohani, Stefanesti, Aiud, Cotnari, Bucium, Murfatlar, Bujoru, Dragasani and Valea Calugareasca. Several observations related to the dependence of isotope ratios on geographical origin and climatic conditions were drawn. The authentic wines obtained from the FA grape variety from six different vineyards showed δ18O values in the range of+3.28 (Cotesti region – 45 °38′N/27 °04′E) to−2.60 ‰ (Aiud region – 46 °19′N/23 °45′E). The δ13C values were very similar for all the samples with an average of about−26 ‰. The difference between the δ18O values was due to the different climatic zones, which have an influence on the δ18O values of wine water. For the wine variety CS obtained from the Dealu Mare–Tohani vineyard, production years 2003 and 2004, a greater difference in the δ18O values of wine water ranging from 1.89 (in 2004) to 5.35 ‰ (in 2003) was noted. This difference is explained by the different mean annual temperatures in 2003 and 2004.