Identification of the agronomical and landscape potentialities in Côtes du Rhône area (France)

“Vinum debet esse naturale ex genimine vitis et non corruptum”. The Eucharistic wine must be made with pure grapes that must not be contaminated in any way. This is how wine was born in the monastery of the Augustinians, and that is how the genetic improvement of grapevine implemented over the decades at the Agricultural Institute of San Michele all’Adige (since 1874; Trentino – Italy) has been oriented to make the cultivation of grapes always more sustainable. This concept is still current and meets the worldwide urgent need of reducing the use of chemicals, under a climate crisis scenario. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the varieties introduced in Trentino and the new cultivars produced by pioneer breeders have already embraced the principle of sustainable viticulture.

For characterization, sensory designing and authentication rapid analytical technologies have become available. Some, like Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry allow a rapid spectrum of the volatile compounds of wines. Combined with chemometrics wines can be characterized. The same approach can be used to calculate the results of virtual mixtures and allow formulation of constant quality blends. Other new techniques and portable devices based on spectroscopy allow measurements on production sites and in grocery stores, even for the smart consumer. We will present some examples of the application of these techniques for authentication of wines, both in the laboratory and on site.

New breeding techniques (NBTS) could play a significant role in the genetic improvement of grapevine by producing new grape varieties with improved quantitative and qualitative characteristics. However, the application of these new techniques faces some technical challenges. One of the challenges is the generation of embryogenic calluses, which are not only difficult to obtain but it is also difficult to maintain their competence during in vitro cultivation, and thus regenerate plants without defects.

This study examines the impact of wine tourism development on the sustainable competitive advantage of Spanish wineries, while also exploring the mediating roles of winery image and winery reputation in this relationship.

Galloylated flavan-3-ols are a class of polyphenolic compounds present in various plants, including grape seeds. These compounds are formed through the condensation of flavan-3-ols, such as catechins, although the precise mechanism by which gallic acid is incorporated into the molecule remains unclear.