ABSTRACT
Wine is an ethanol-aqueous solution containing several organic and inorganic substances. The elemental content of wines depends upon factors such as the type of ground and underground soil of the vineyard, the climatic conditions of the geographical region, the proximity of the vineyard to areas of high traffic and to areas overburdened with industrial activities, the agrochemical treatment of the vine plant, the vinification methods, the wine-processing equipment and, finally, the type of storage container, including the type of the cork used for bottling. The chapter describes the sources of the most important trace elements in wine. It examines the role that each element plays in the wine-making and aging processes. Aluminum toxicity and its effect on the stability of wines are problems resulting from excessive aluminum. When vineyards are treated with arsenic pesticides, the corresponding wines appear to have relatively high arsenic concentrations.
