Come proteggere un territorio viticolo: il punto di vista del giurista

Currently, climate change represents one of the major issues for the wine sector. The increasing temperature already recorded and expected in the upcoming years reduce the vegetative cycle of the grape varieties planted in Bordeaux area, affecting the physicochemical parameters of grapes and consequently, the quality of wine. From a sensory point of view, the attenuation of the fresh fruity character in some varietals is accompanied by the accentuation of dried-fruit notes [1]. As a new adaptive and ecological strategy on global warming, some winegrowers have initiated changes in the Bordeaux blend of vine varieties using late-ripening grape varieties [2]. 

From Porto and then through Bordeaux, Champagne and Bourgogne, wine geographical indications (gi) were the driving models for this form of protection of distinctive signs for collective use. Many studies present the benefits of recognizing a gi for a given region, the challenges of its implementation, as well as the possibilities of promoting territorial development.

There is a growing interest in the exploitation of vine-shoots waste, since they are often left or burned. Sánchez-Gómez et al. [1] have shown that vines-shoots aqueous extracts have significant contents of bioactive compounds, among which several polyphenols and volatiles are highlighted. Recent studied had demonstrated that the chemical composition of vine-shoots is enhanced when vine-shoots are toasted
[2,3]. The application of vegetable products in the vineyards has led to significant changes towards a more “Sustainable Viticulture”. An innovative foliar application for Airén vine-shoot extracts have been carried out to the vineyard. It has been shown that they act as grape biostimulants, improving certain wine quality characteristics [4].

Oenological tannins are products extracted from various botanical sources, such as mimosa,
acacia, oak gall, quebracho, chestnut and tara. The polyphenolic component is obtained through a solid-liquid extraction also using specific solvents, then removed by evaporation or freeze-drying. Tannins are employed in two phases of winemaking, during the pre-fermentative phase or during fining with different purposes such as modulate antioxidant activity, colour stabilization, bacteriostatic activity, protein stabilization and modulation of sensory properties. To date, the current regulatory framework is not very clear. In fact, the Codex Alimentarius classifies commercial tannins as “food additives” but also as
“processing aids”. The main distinction is that “additives” have a technological function in the final food, whereas “processing aids” do not. In this sense, oenological tannins, despite the technological treatments, could contain aromatic compounds of the botanical species they belong to and release them to the wine.

Terpenes are responsible for flavors and aromas of grapes, however, they also protect from radiation, participate in biotic stress and antioxidant mechanisms. The phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) mediates many of these stress responses and has been associated with increased terpene content in berries. Here, we generated transcriptomic data of Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Gamay’ cells treated with MeJA (100 μM) and cyclodextrins (50 μM) to understand these responses. Ontology analysis revealed that up-regulated genes (URGs) were enriched in jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling terms, as expected. Inspection of transcription factors (TFs) among URGs allowed us to study uncharacterized TFs.