Stable isotopes determination in some Romanian wines

This paper presents a study concerning the isotopic fingerprint (O-18 and C-13) 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 delta O-18 values in the range of +3.28 (Cotesti region -45 degrees 38'N/27 degrees 04'E) to -2.60%(Aiud region -46 degrees 19'N/23 degrees 45'E). The delta C-13 values were very similar for all the samples with an average of about -26 parts per thousand. The difference between the delta O-18 values was due to the different climatic zones, which have an influence on the delta O-18 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 delta O-18 values of wine water ranging from 1.89 (in 2004) to 5.35 parts per thousand(in 2003) was noted. This difference is explained by the different mean annual temperatures in 2003 and 2004.