Global variations in the deuterium/hydrogen isotope ratios of wine

Abstract Nearly 300 wines from 20 countries were purchased from UK retail outlets over the period 1994–97. The ethanol in the wines was distilled and the deuterium/hydrogen (D/H) ratio measured by deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (2H‐NMR) to investigate how it was influenced by country of origin. The main factor found to be influencing the distribution of D/H ratios of wine ethanols was the latitude of the vineyard. The deuterium content of the wine ethanol decreased with increasing distance from the equator. For countries such as Argentina and Chile, and for Washington State (USA), the proximity of large mountain ranges was postulated to have a considerable influence on D/H ratios. This was attributed to the widespread use of irrigation with mountain water. By separating the Americas from wine producers of other continents the correlation with latitude was strengthened. Further investigation of wines from Australia and Mew Zealand illustrated variations in D/H ratios due to climatic variation. It was...