Chemometric prediction of the geographical origin of Croatian wines through their elemental profiles

The concentration of 16 selected elements in 140 wines from two wine producing regions in Croatia was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Multivariate statistical methods of cluster analysis and principal components analysis were used to evaluate data of these 16 elements in all wines. Differentiation of wines according to their colour and geographical origin on the basis of elements composition was achieved. White and red wines were clearly separated. Differentiation of Croatian white wines according to their origin was based on the following elements: Cd, Fe, Cr, K, Mg, Ca, Pb and Co (continental region) and Na, Sn, Ni, Zn Al, Cu and Zn (coastal region). In case of red wines, elements such as K, Ca, Mg, Na and Co turned out to be characteristic for wines originating from the continental region, while Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, Al and As for wines originating from the coastal region of Croatia. The relationship between the concentrations of different considered elements could be an adequate tool in differentiating wines produced in different geographical areas in Croatia.