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Wine

The largest private reference database in wine

Agroisolab offers a wide range analysis to suit the needs of authenticity, quality and safety testing.

Not only does Agroisolab have access to the ever-growing database for the EU, but also the largest SIRA reference database of wines with more than 3900 reference samples.

Agroisolab currently has samples mainly from:

  •     Argentina

  •     Australia

  •     Austria

  •     Bulgaria

  •     Chile

  •     France

  •     Germany

  •     Greece

  •     Hungary

  •     Italy

  •     Portugal

  •     South Africa

  •     Spain

  •     USA (California)

Agroisolab's global wine database

Our wine reference database can be viewed below. Please click on each country to view the amount of reference samples we have from each country.

What tests do Agroisolab offer?

Many of the common types of wine fraud can be detected by isotopic testing. Here are the current tests that Agroisolab offers:

Origin/Authenticity - Using stable isotope analysis, Agroisolab are able verify claims of geographic origin, determine whether water has been added to wine, and detect chaptalisation (addition of sugar) using D/H(I) with Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) and carbon isotope ratio analysis.

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Additionally, Agroisolab are able to determine whether the source of carbon dioxide in sparkling wines is natural or not. We are also able to determine the sources of fermentation in spirits and wine vinegars.

For a brief overview of the science involved in these tests, please see below.

Quality testing - Agroisolab are able to offer wine quality testing using Oenological Standard analysis that covering all requirements for determining wine quality.

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Safety/Residues/Contaminants - Agroisolab are able to access an extensive suite of analytical services for determining residues and contaminants in wine ranging from pesticides to allergens.

Interested in testing wine with us? For more information, contact us.

What is the EU wine databank?

The EU wine databank was established in 1991 to protect the reputation of EU wine and minimise fraud, such as the additions of sugar and extra water in wine, by enabling laboratories to perform authenticity analyses. It has played a fundamental role in helping the EU Member States to develop the scientific and technical competences needed to carry out isotopic analysis of wine.

Agroisolab founder Professor Förstel originally developed the stable isotope method to determine the origin of wine, and played a crucial role in creating the EU wine databank.

Participating wine producers submit samples of their produce annually to the databank. As a result, it is possible for stable isotope laboratories to authenticate claims of geographic origin on bottles of wine sold at retail to a high level of accuracy.

How does origin analyses of wine work with isotopes?

In Europe, there are distinct regions that can be defined by the isotopic composition of their groundwater. The groundwater in some of these regions has more heavy oxygen present (18O), and some has less heavy oxygen.

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As a result, grapes grown in the regional groundwater will absorb the oxygen isotope signature of their region.

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Since wine is made from fermented grapes, it is possible to determine the geographic origin of a wine by examining the oxygen isotope ratios in the water fraction of the wine.

Further work has been carried out to isolate and analyse the isotope ratios of other components of wine. Analysing the isotopic composition of the alcohol (ethanol) in wine can help determine if sugar has been added to the wine, or can further enhance geographic origin interpretation.

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