Variety “Rebula” (Vitis vinifera L.) determines the terroir Goriška brda “Collio” in Slovenia

Water and nutrient availability significantly impact crop yield, thus the application of sustainable strategies towards efficient water use and nutrient absorption by plants is needed.

Cover crops in vineyards have been extensively studied, as the choice of grass species and their management significantly influence soil properties and vine performance.

The SUSTAIN project aims at assessing the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and vulnerability in vineyard soils under a climate change scenario.

One of the major threats to viticulture is represented by fungal pathogens. Plasmopara viticola, an oomycete causing grapevine downy mildew, is one of the principal causes of grape production losses. The most efficient management strategies are represented by a combination of agronomical practices, fungicides’ applications, and use of resistant varieties. Plant resistance is conferred by the presence of resistance (R) genes. Opposed to them, susceptibility (S) genes are encoded by plants and exploited by pathogens to promote infection. Loss or mutation of S genes can limit the ability of pathogens to infect the host. By exploiting post-transcriptional gene silencing, known as RNA intereference (RNAi), it is possible to knock-down the expression of S genes, promoting plant resistance.

The market share of Rosé wine in France has grown from 11 % to 32 % over the last 20 years. Current trends are towards rosé wines of a lighter shade of pink, and where possible, containing a greater concentration in varietal thiols. Grape varieties, the soil on which they are grown, viticultural practices and winemaking technology all impact the polyphenols, color and aromas of rosé wines.