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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Influence of the unité de terroir base on the typicity of winesin the AOC Priorat in Tarragona

Influence of the unité de terroir base on the typicity of winesin the AOC Priorat in Tarragona

Abstract

[English version below]

L’AOC Priorat, située derrière les montagnes du pré littoral de Tarragone, se caractérise par un climat méditerranéen avec une tendance à la continentalité et très peu de précipitation pendant le cycle végétatif. Les sols sont secs, pauvres et caillouteux, formés par des schistes. Au cours des années 2000 et 2001, une étude de l’influence du terroir sur la typicité des vins du Priorat a été réalisée en prenant comme référence trois cépages cultivés dans différentes parceIles pour mesurer l’effet du terroir et du mésoclimat sur la qualité des vins: Grenache noir x sol de schistes (situé à Bellmunt B) et Grenache x sol tertiaire avec des carbonates (Vilella baixa VB ); Carignan x sol de schistes (VB et Porrera P) et Cabernet-Sauvignon x sol de schistes (B) et Cabernet-Sauvignon x terrasses alluviales (VB). Il a été analysé l’évolution de la maturité, le rendement, la composition chimique des raisins et les paramètres de la couleur des vins. La vendange la plus précoce fut localisée en B, suivi de VB et P; les raisins atteignent un degré de maturité similaire sauf dans le cas de P. Le Carignan issu de vieilles vignes a présenté le rendement le plus faible tandis que le Grenache et le Cabernet montrent des valeurs plus élevées et différentes selon le millésime: elles augmentent en 2000 par rapport à 2001. Le Grenache dans tous les types sols donne un degré alcoolique plus élevé. Le Cabernet a présenté une concentration en tanins supérieure dans les deux sols, schistes et alluvions, avec quelques différences selon l’année. Les teneurs en anthocyanes ainsi que les valeurs d’intensité colorante sont similaires pour les vins de Carignan et Cabernet. De plus, pour des terroirs identiques, les vins de Carignan issus du mésoclimat VB, résultent les plus riches en anthocyanes et les plus colorés. La sècheresse des sols et le mésoclimat de la région a un effet important sur la composition des vins.

The Priorat AOC, which is situated behind the coastal mountain range of Tarragona, is characterised by a Mediterranean climate that tends towards continentality and has very little precipitation during the vegetation cycle. The soil is poor quality, dry and pebbly, and made up of schist. During 2000 and 2001, we evaluated the following parameters: the evolution of maturity, the yield, the chemical composition of the grapes and the colour of the wines. To measure how terroir and mesoclimate affect the quality of the wines, we studied three varieties grown in several plots: red Grenache in schist soil of Bellmunt B; Grenache in tertiary soil with carbonates in Vilella Baixa VB; Carignan in schist soil in VB and Porrera P; Cabernet Sauvignon in schist soil in B; and Cabernet Sauvignon in alluvial terraces in VB. The earliest harvest was in B, followed by VB and P. All grapes except those in P acquired a similar degree of maturity. Carignan from old vines had the lowest yield for each year. The yield values for Grenache and Cabernet were higher in 2000 than in 2001. The alcoholic content of wine from Grenache was the highest in all types of soil. For Cabernet, the concentration of tannins was higher in both soils, schist and alluvial. Anthocyanin content and total polyphenol index (IPT) were similar in Carignan et Cabernet wines. The Carignan wines produced in the VB mesoclimate were richer in anthocyanin and had a more intense colour than in P. These results show that the dryness of the terroir and mesoclimat has an important effect on the wine composition.

DOI:

Publication date: February 15, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2002

Type: Article

Authors

NADAL, M., MATEOS, A., ALSINA, X., CeRTA 

Dept Bioquimica i Biotecnologia, Facultat d’Enologia de Tarragona, URV, Espagne

Contact the author

Keywords

terroir, millésime, anthocyanes, tanins, rendement, qualité du vin, Priorat
terroir, millésime, anthocyanins, tanins, yield, wine quality, Priorat

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2002

Citation

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