Isotope ratio mass spectrometry: Analysis of wines from different european countries

Natural stable isotope ratios for carbon, hydrogen and oxygen depend on the origin of the studied chemical compound. Such a precept is the basis of the control of the authenticity of food and especially alcoholic beverages. 13 C/ 12 C analysis of ethanol as well as 18 O/ 16 O determination of water contained in wines from different European countries underline the importance of the photosynthetic pathway as well as of the environmental and climatological conditions of the vine. Interesting results in agreement with isotopic fractionation rules for the geographical origin of the samples were obtained. That encouraged us to propose the establishment of a database for isotopic parameters in wines.