Terroir 1996 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 “Garrigues”, part of the mediterranean vine terroirs

“Garrigues”, part of the mediterranean vine terroirs

Abstract

[English version below]

Les paysages viticoles méditerranéens présentent une originalité qui ne se retrouve nulle part ailleurs : ils associent des garrigues très odoriférantes à des parcelles de vignes souvent qualitatives. La connaissance empirique des vins du Languedoc par leurs dégustateurs a conduit la Chambre d’Agriculture de l’Hérault à supposer que les arômes de la garrigue environnante peuvent se retrouver dans les vins (arômes de ciste, de genévrier, … ) Grâce à la collaboration d’une cave coopérative héraultaise, des essais ont été mis en place pour vérifier cette hypothèse. Ils comportent une première partie expérimentale, débutée en 2000, basée sur la comparaison d’échantillons de vins de Grenache, provenant de mini­ récoltes (50 kg) de parcelles très contrastées de par leur environnement de garrigue. La seconde partie des essais a débuté en 2001 et consiste en une sélection parcellaire au terroir de parcelles de grenache qualitatives entourées de garrigues et entourées de vignes (5 ha par lot environ.) Chaque lot est vinifié séparément par la cave coopérative. Les premiers résultats de dégustation sont très encourageants. Ils montrent que les spécificités de l’environnement naturel des vignes méditerranéennes pourront probablement être valorisées à terme par l’élaboration de vins originaux et difficilement imitables sur le marché.

The mediterranean viticultural landscapes are made of original patterns of qualitative vineyards alterning with odorous garrigues. Some connoisseurs of the Languedoc wines noted typical aromas of garrigue plants in the wines made from the most isolated vineyards. The Hérault Chamber of Agriculture decided to study whether these assumptions can be validated or not, in order to valorize the regional typicity of these wines. Two experiments were made on the vineyard of a partner wine coop. The first one, started in 2000, compares two samples of grenache wines made from vinifications of about 50 kg of grapes, each plot being located in contrasted places (one bordered by garrigues and one by vines). The second one started in 2001 and consists in the wine- making from a selection of about 10 ha of qualitative vines of grenache, 5 ha among garrigues and 5 ha among other vines. The first winetastings are very promising. They show that one must consider the wild environment as a whole part of the vine terroir definition, on the understanding that the potentiality of a terroir can only be expressed by vines technically perfect.

DOI:

Publication date: February 15, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2002

Type: Article

Authors

William TRAMBOUZE (1), Jean-Pierre ARGILLIER (2), Nathalie GOMA-FORTIN (1)

(1) Chambre d’agriculture de l’Hérault, BP 83, allée du Géreral Montagne, 34120 Pézenas
(2) Chambre d’agriculture de l’Hérault, Maison des agriculteurs, Mas de Saporta, 34970 Lattes

Contact the author

Keywords

terroir viticole, garrigue, sélection parcellaire, typicité du vin
vine terroir, garrigue, vineyard selection, wine typicity

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2002

Citation

Related articles…

Role of climate on grape characteristics of “Moscato bianco” in Piemonte (Italy)

L’objectif de l’étude était de connaître le rôle du climat sur les aspects phénologiques du cépage « Moscato bianco » dans les différentes zones de production du vin Moscato d’Asti aocg en Piemonte (Italie) et ses effets sur l’époque de vendange. La représentation cartographique ( échelle 1 :25000) de exposition, altitude, climat, index

Tropical fruit aroma in white wines: the role of fermentation esters and volatile thiols

Volatile thiols are impact aroma compounds, well-known in the literature for imparting tropical fruit aromas such as passion fruit, guava, grapefruit, and citrus in white wines [1]. More recent evidence suggests that tropical fruit aromas are also caused by other aroma compounds besides thiols, such as fermentation esters, or the interaction between these volatile families. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of combining esters and/or thiols to determine their impact on the fruitiness aroma perception of white wines. Pinot gris wine was produced at the OSU research winery and was dearomatized using Lichrolut® EN. Combinations of fermentation volatile compounds were added to the wine, forming the aroma base. Treatment wines were composed of additions of different concentrations and combinations of thiols and/or esters. Samples were subjected to sensory analysis where forty-six white wine consumers evaluated the orthonasal aroma of the wines and participated in Check-All-That-Apply (CATA).

Aromatic maturity is a cornerstone of terroir expression in red wine

Harvesting grapes at adequate maturity is key to the production of high-quality red wines. Enologists and wine makers define several types of maturity, including technical maturity, phenolic maturity and aromatic maturity. Technical maturity and phenolic maturity are relatively well documented in the scientific literature, while articles on aromatic maturity are scarcer. This is surprising, because aromatic maturity is, without a doubt, the most important of the three in determining wine quality and typicity (including terroir expression). Optimal terroir expression can be obtained when the different types of maturity are reached at the same time, or within a short time frame. This is more likely to occur when the ripening takes place under mild temperatures, neither too cool, nor too hot. Aromatic expression in wine can be driven, from low to high maturity, by green, herbal, fresh fruit, ripe fruit, jammy fruit, candied fruit or cooked fruit aromas. Green and cooked fruit aromas are not desirable in red wines, while the levels of other aromatic compounds contribute to the typicity of the wine in relation to its origin. Wines produced in cool climates, or on cool soils in temperate climates, are likely to express herbal or fresh fruit aromas; while wines produced under warm climates, or on warm soils in temperate climates, may express ripe fruit, jammy fruit or candied fruit aromas. Growers can optimize terroir expression through their choice of grapevine variety. Early ripening varieties perform better in cool climates and late ripening varieties in warm climates. Additionally, maturity can be advanced or delayed by different canopy management practices or training systems.

Estudio de fertilidad en variedades blancas en Castilla-la Mancha

La adaptación de nuevas variedades a zonas de cultivo fuera de su área de origen presenta múltiples interrogantes. En Castilla-La Mancha se está produciendo en los últimos años una gran inquietud por la diversificación y la reconversión de variedades.

Outside and inside grapevine roots: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a ‘nebbiolo’ vineyard 

In field conditions, grapevine roots are colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Little is known about the species composition of AMF communities associated to grapevine.