Terroir et marché des A.O.C

Ampelography is aimed at describing the vine according to several characteristics, such as morphology, agronomic aptitudes, technological potential, and genetics. The description of varieties and species of vitis has long been the subject of numerous scientific and technical studies by eminent specialists for a long time, which have led the OIV to publish in 1983 the “descriptor list for grape varieties and vitis species”, a milestone among the OIV worldwide recognised codes.

Drought and heat stress will pose challenges for the future of viticulture and wine quality, as grapevine biological processes are pushed beyond their optimum conditions. Efforts are increasing to study and predict the effects of drought spells and heatwaves on grapevine physiology and resulting harvest quality. This calls for the development of adequate systems to induce and manipulate the required stress, especially in open field trials where conditions are more difficult to control. We present a semi-controlled system for studying drought and heat stress in grapevine in the field.

The technique of crossing, whether free or controlled, has always been a source of variability allowing the selection of new varieties with improved fitness.

Recent advancements in genomic sequencing technologies have enabled more detailed and direct studies of DNA methylation, which can help characterise epigenetic variations in plants. The Grapevine Improvement team at the Bragato Research Institute is studying the use of Oxford Nanopore sequencing to identify epigenetic changes associated with environmental differences among clonally-propagated grapevines.

This study involved sequencing DNA from the same Sauvignon Blanc clone, sourced from diverse New Zealand viticultural regions, using the PromethION platform.

In recent years, wine consumption has been evolving towards new trends. On the one hand, awareness of health and responsible consumption has been growing, and with it, the demand for wines with lower or without alcohol content [1].