Reliable metal testing results to ensure your wine meets market standards
Essential trace elements and undesirable heavy metals can be introduced into wine through various parts of the wine making process from vine to vintage.
This includes:
- geochemical composition of rocks and soil
- trace elements from environmental pollution
- the use of fertilisers and pesticides
- contact of grape material with various materials used in winemaking, including stainless steel, different types of wooden barrels, glass bottles, and other equipment.
Hill Labs has provided export testing services since 2011, when we recognised the need for accurate metal testing in the wine industry. We have been IANZ accredited for the testing of metals in wine since 2018, using state of the art instrumentation.
The following elements are accredited using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy
(ICP-OES):
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Sodium
The below elements are accredited using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS):
- Antimony
- Arsenic
- Bismuth
- Boron
- Cadmium
- Chromium
- Copper
- Lead
- Manganese
- Mercury
- Nickel
- Silver
- Tin
- Zinc
For your convenience, we offer three profiles:
- Grape Elements
- Grape Elements Extended
- Heavy Metals
These are different groupings of the above elements to fit likely testing requirements, but any of the elements may be requested as needed.
Another 15+ elements are also available for analysis using the same method and are reported as unaccredited.
The Instruments
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a cutting-edge analytical technique widely used for detecting and quantifying trace metals in various samples, including wine. This technique is particularly valuable in the wine industry for ensuring product quality, safety, and regulatory compliance by providing precise measurements of metal concentration.
Advantages of ICP-MS
- High Sensitivity and Precision:
- ICP-MS is renowned for its ability to detect trace levels of metals with high sensitivity. It can measure metal concentrations at very low levels, making it ideal for analysing fine details in wine.
- Wide Dynamic Range:
- The technique can measure a broad range of metal concentrations, from very low to relatively high levels. This is particularly useful in wine, where metal levels can vary widely.
- Multi-Element Capability:
- ICP-MS can simultaneously detect multiple metals in a single analysis. This efficiency allows for comprehensive metal profiling, including both essential and potentially harmful elements.
- Low Detection Limits:
- The technique can detect metals at very low concentrations, down to ppt levels. This is crucial for monitoring trace elements that could impact wine quality or safety.
- Rapid Analysis:
- ICP-MS provides quick analysis times, making it possible to process many samples in a relatively short period. This speed is advantageous for routine quality control and large-scale testing situations.
For the higher levels of major elements present in wine, the laboratory also uses ICP-OES for many of the same reasons listed above, ensuring a timely and accurate service.
The Team
From worksheet approval to result signatory and technical support, our team brings over 20 years of combined experience, dedication and passion for ICP to ensure you can trust the results we report.
Testing for the presence of metal in wine offers the following benefits:
- Quality Control:
- Monitoring metal content is essential for maintaining wine quality. For example, excessive levels of iron can cause undesirable colour changes, while copper can affect flavour.
- Safety Assessment:
- Safety is a major concern in wine production. ICP-MS is used to detect harmful metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Ensuring that these metals are present only at safe levels helps comply with regulatory standards and protects consumer health.
- Regulatory Compliance:
- Many countries have regulations regarding metal content in food and beverages, including wine. ICP-MS helps wineries meet these regulatory requirements by providing accurate and reliable data.
If you have any questions about this, or any of our other services, please contact our Food & Bioanalytical Client Services Team at fnb.csm@hill-labs.co.nz or phone 0508 Hill Labs (44 555 22).
