The objectives of this project are to develop a complete analytical solution for the wine sector consisting of: (1) a multiparametric flow analysis system based on enzyme biosensors for monitoring alcoholic and lactic fermentation (2) mineralogical and geochemical investigations of vineyard soils and (3) detection of heavy metals in soil and relevant matrices of the winemaking process (grapes, must and wine). The European wine sector is facing intense competition from cheap wine imports and is obliged to improve product quality. As the winemaking process is an "art" and highly dependent on the experience and skill of the producers, fast, cheap and reliable analytical devices and services are essential to achieve efficient control at all stages of production. Current analytical techniques (FTIR or chromatographic analyses) are slow and expensive due to the complexity of the sample and too sophisticated to be used in situ by ordinary wine producers. This multidisciplinary project will develop two enzymatic biosensors for the detection of alcohol (oxidase-based) and lactic acid (dehydrogenase-based) respectively. The biosensors can be used stand-alone or integrated in a multiparametric flow analytical system that will quantify the signal using an analogue potentiostat. The detection of heavy metals is important for two reasons: (1) they are implicated in taste and flavour development and (2) to protect consumers from contaminated products. The soil has a major influence on the quality of the grapes and provides the specificity of the wine that determines consumer loyalty to products from a particular terroir. The combination of all three analytical systems offers a complete solution adaptable to the specificities of wine producers in different European countries, each with a different tradition and domestic market.