Geographical traceability based on 87Sr/86Sr indicator: a first approach for PDO Lambrusco wines from Modena

Area of Science:

• Geochemistry
• Food traceability
• Analytical chemistry

Background:

• The strontium isotope ratio (87Sr/86Sr) is a potential marker for food traceability.
• Variability in this ratio is influenced by geological factors, soil bioavailability, and plant uptake.
• Establishing a robust analytical strategy is crucial for linking food products to their origin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratio in soils, grapevine branches, and grape juices.
• To develop a reliable analytical method for food traceability.
• To determine the correlation between isotopic values in different matrices and their territory of origin.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios in soil, grapevine branches, and grape juice samples.
• Optimization of strontium separation techniques to minimize interferences.
• Assessment of analytical method precision and performance.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation was observed between the (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratios in the bio-available soil fraction and grape juices.
• The correlation improved significantly when considering the isotopic values from grapevine branches.
• The study demonstrated the potential of strontium isotopes for geographical traceability in oenological products.

Conclusions:

• The (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratio serves as an effective traceability marker for wine.
• Integrating data from soils, branches, and juices provides a robust method for origin determination.
• This approach enhances the ability to link food products to their specific territories.