Wine is one of the economically most important beverages and may be subject to fraud and mislabelling, although that there are specific and strict rules protecting its authenticity in Europe. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), recently identified and characterized thanks to advances in genomics, are considered the newest type of molecular marker for grapevine identification. The protocol developed for SNP detection by quantitative real-time PCR (SNP genotyping) is a highly promising assay for varietal authentication of ‘Nebbiolo’ wines, and it represent an excellent reference for future protocols for the detection of other grapevine varieties in wines. The substantial advances for the sector of the new SNP genotyping protocol could provide an effective system for the traceability of a beverage product, such as wine, relevant to the Italian economy.
The techniques used for the varietal identification of grapes in wines are traditionally based on chemical and biochemical parameters or on microsatellite molecular markers. However, such methods are time consuming and generally do not give reliable results in wines. The certification of DOC and DOCG productions is rigorously established by the regulations and is still mainly based on harvest quantity declarations. The method based on the amplification of new SNP markers allows identifying in wines the possible presence of grapes other than those indicated on the label, with: (i) high sensitivity and specificity in detecting DNA; (ii) reduced analysis time; and (iii) straightforward interpretation of results, even in non-specialised laboratories. The technology would contribute substantially to the protection of wine producers and consumers, and to make the assayed product more competitive in the wine market.