Terroir 1996 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Response of the plant: a chief element for the characterisation of wine-growing “terroirs”

Response of the plant: a chief element for the characterisation of wine-growing “terroirs”

Abstract

Face au risque de banalisation des produits agroalimentaires, un intérêt toujours plus marqué se développe en faveur des produits du terroir. La viticulture a été pionnière en la matière et les études des effets du milieu naturel sur la qualité et la typicité des produits sont nombreuses et diverses.
La caractérisation des terroirs peut être faite facteur par facteur en analysant l’incidence des différents critères pris séparément. Elle peut être orientée vers la techerche de marqueurs susceptibles d’intégrer des facteurs liés au sol, au climat et à la plante.
L’approche peut être aussi globale par l’utilisation de systèmes d’information géographiques (SIG) capables de combiner un nombre très élevé de critères, grâce à des outils informatiques très puissants.
Indépendamment de la méthodologie choisie, les informations récoltées doivent être validées par l’étude du comportement de la plante en relafon avec la valeur des produits obtenus dans des terroirs déterminés. Le choix des méthodes de caractérisation va dépendre du niveau d’échelle souhaité qui peut aller de la micro parcelle à l’ensemble d’une région ou d’un pays. Il sera également fonction des objectifs recherchés, qui peuvent être divers, de la classification des crus à l’adaptation d’itinéraires viticoles appropriés.

Vis-à-vis the risk of vulgarising the agroalimentary products, an increasingly shown interest develops in favour of the “terroir” products. The viticulture blazed a trail in this field, and the studies of the effects of the natural environment on the quality and on the originality of the products are numerous and varied.
The characterisation of wine-growing “terroirs” can be done factor by factor by analysing the incidence of the various individual criteria. It can be directed towards the search for markers likely to integrate factors linked to the soil, the climate and the plant.
The approach can also be global by using geographical information systems (GIS) able to combine a very high number of criteria thanks to very powerful data-processing tools.
Independently of the chosen methodology, collected information must be validated by the study of plant behaviour in relation to the value of the products obtained in given “terroirs”. Choice of the characterisation methods will depend on the desired scale level, which can go from micro plot to a whole area or country. It will be also a function of the required objectives which can be diverse, from the vintage classification to the adaptation of suitable wine­growing practices.

DOI:

Publication date: February 15, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2002

Type: Article

Authors

F. MURISIER (1), J.-L. SPRING (1), S. BURGOS2) and V. ZUFFEREY (1)

(1) Station fédérale de recherches en production végétale de Changins, CH-1260 Nyon-Suisse
(2) Ecole d’ingénieurs de Changins, CH-1260 Nyon

Contact the author

Keywords

Caractérisation, terroirs viticoles, sols, climat, plante
Characterisation, wine terroir, soils, climate, plant

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2002

Citation

Related articles…

TARTARIC STABILIZATION MAY AFFECT THE COLOR AND POLYPHENOLIC COMPOSITION OF TANNAT RED WINES FROM URUGUAY

Tartrate precipitation affects the properties of wines, due to the formation of crystals that cause turbidity, even after being bottled. The forced tartaric stabilization is carried out frequently for young wines, through various physicochemical procedures. The traditional treatment for tartaric stabilization is refrigeration, but it can have a negative effect on wine’s sensory properties, and particularly on the color of red wines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different tartaric stabilization options on the color and phenolic composition of Tannat red wines from Uruguay.

Photo-oxidative stress and light-struck defect in Corvina rosé wines: influence of yeast nutritional strategies

Light exposure is one of the major factors affecting the sensory quality of rosé wines and resulting in the light-struck fault.

Narrow terraces and alternative training systems for steep sloop viticulture – Douro region

In Douro Region, vineyards are usually planted on hillsides with steep sloops. The models currently used for planting those vineyards are, depending on the initial slope of the hillside, vertical planting or terraces.

INVESTIGATING TERROIR TYPICITY: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY BASED ON THE AROMATIC AND SENSORIAL PROFILES OF RED WINES FROM CORBIÈRES APPELLATION

Volatile compounds play a significant role on the organoleptic properties defining wines quality. This particular role was exploited in several studies with the aim to differentiate wines from a more or less extensive production area, according to their sensory profile [1], as well as their chemical composition [2,3] (Di Paola-Naranjo et al., 2011; Kustos et al., 2020). Indeed, since aroma compounds development in grapes depends primarily on the environmental conditions of the vines and grapes (soil and climate), it is conceivable that these parameters craft the aromatic signature of the wine produced, in relation to its origin (Van Leeuwen et al., 2020). In this work, a general study on the aromatic and sensorial profile of wines produced in five sub-regions of the Corbières denomination, a renowned red grape varieties viticultural region in South France, was reported.

Chinese localization of wine aroma descriptors

Wine aroma descriptors are important tools for wine evaluation. The present well-known wine aroma descriptor system was created and based on Western culture, which makes difficult for Chinese consumers to recognize and learn wine. AIM: The aim of this study was to update the wine aroma descriptor system for Chinese.

Methods: Fifty-four wine aroma descriptors of ‘Le nez du vin’ was used as substitution candidates. Firstly, a survey on unfamiliar aromas was distributed to 150 untrained Chinese wine consumers. Twenty attributors, such as blackcurrent buds, quince, linden, were selected as the most 17 unfamiliar. Then, a descriptive analysis was performed by trained tasting panel to substitute the targeted twenty aromas perfume. Furthermore, reference standards were looked and new le nez du vin were made. Finally, a substitution analysis was performed to replace the unknown wine aroma to the Chinese local aromas.