Differential absorption of metals from soil to diverse vine varieties from the Valley of Tulum (Argentina): consequences to evaluate wine provenance.

We report the effect of vine variety on the absorption of metals from soil and follow the variety from wine through juice, verifying which metals could be used to assess wine provenance. Eleven metals were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy in 32 soils, 16 grapes juices, and 18 wines sampled from a single vineyard having four red grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Malbec, and Syrah). The K nearest neighbor method allows us to distinguish among different soils, juices, and wines. Linear discriminant analysis affords descriptors to point out differences, mainly Mg, Mn, Ca, K, and Na. Data analysis evidenced that some elements have equivalent concentrations in soil, juice, and wine, while others did not. Canonical analysis shows good correlation between grape juice and wine with their provenance soil. We suggest using Mg as a marker of wine provenance, while Mn could be used to evaluate differences between wine varieties associated with plant physiology.