Rare earth elements absorption patterns in grapevine “Vitis vinifera L.” cultivated in carbonate terrains (south-eastern Sicily, Italy)

Vitis vinifera L. vineyards grown on carbonate soil (Hyblean Plateau, SE Sicily) have been characterized in terms of rare earth elements (REEs) distribution. Results highlighted that the absorption of REEs by plants depends on the composition of the underlying soil, which in this case derives from limestone parent rock, allowing us to recognize the area of origin. Indeed, even slight differences in REEs content in soils may affect the absorption pattern of each grapevine cultivar. Importantly, the various parts of the plants showed differences in REEs absorption; such REEs fractionation is particularly evident in the leaf and juice samples. In general, the uptake and concentrations of REEs in plant tissues may be related to many factors such as geographical, climatic and lithological features. This is also pointed out by the statistical investigation, which took into account either the grapevine variety or each part of the plant. By taking into consideration both the grape variety and the type of soil, the present “multi-elemental” approach aims to provide a useful geochemical tool for assessing the geographical origin of the production area of wine.