The South African vineyard landscapes: impact on long term cultural practices

The European Landscape Convention (ELC, 2001) defined the landscape as the “part of a
territory as perceived by the population and resulting from the action of natural and/or human factors and their interrelationships”. Wine landscapes, protected or not under figures such as cultural landscapes or Cultural heritage, are a clear demonstration of this definition, denoting the interrelationships of the natural
environment and the action of the human, which modulates the territory to give the different wine
landscapes. This work was focused on the study of the effect of the human factors linked to the cultivation of the vine on the modification of the landscape.

Accentuated cut edges (ACE) is a novel grape crushing technique used sequentially after a conventional crusher to increase the extraction rate and content of polyphenolics, as shown for Pinot noir wine. This inspired us to apply the technique during Shiraz and Sauvignon blanc winemaking, primarily to assess its impact on the extraction of varietal thiol precursors in grape must/juice and formation of varietal thiols in the resultant wines

Grape phenolic content is an important quality factor that influences the appearance and mouthfeel of premium red wines.

Quantity and quality of flavonoïds in grape berries are important parts of their global quality. Several studies had shown that tannins are responsible for some major flavour properties of red wines such as colour, bitterness and astringency. Nevertheless, their synthesis and properties are still misunderstood. Some studies had suggested that the tannic pool was set before veraison. Thus, the comprehension of the relations between environment and setting of this tannic pool, up to the harvest, is not sufficient.

Bacillus velezensis and Trichoderma harzianum are relevant microorganisms used in viticulture as biocontrol agents against pathogens of trunk (e.g. Phaeoacremonium minimum), leaves (e.g. Plasmopara viticola) or fruit (e.g. Botrytis cinerea), or as biostimulants, improving the resilience of plants against biotic or abiotic stressors through different direct and non-direct interactions.
In this biotechnological approach, formulation plays a crucial role. Controlling water activity in the product, thus stabilising microbial viability is key to ensuring effective application. We present the benefits of the citrate ester CITROFOL® AI (triethyl citrate) as a novel bio-based carrier liquid in microbial formulations. CITROFOL® AI is safe for humans and the environment, thus offering a promising base for sustainable treatments in viticulture.