Le pays du Brulhois

The conceptual image of a wine related to the terroir has consequences in technical terms. Among factors affecting the typicality, producers put forward the environmental factors of the terroir system

Winemaking generates various types of residues (vine shoots, stalks, pomace, wine lees and filtration cakes) which can have a notable environmental and economic impact. Wine by-products are rich in bioactive compounds and therefore their valorization can be beneficial on different levels.

Rootstocks not only provide tolerance to Phylloxera, but also ensure the supply of water and mineral nutrients to the whole plant. Rootstocks are an important way of adapting to environmental conditions while conserving the typical features of scion varieties. We can exploit the large diversity of rootstocks used worldwide to aid this adaptation. The aim of this study was to characterise rootstock regulation of scion mineral status and its relation with scion development.

Atypical ageing (ATA) is a wine aroma fault occurring in white wines characterised by an early loss of varietal aroma as well as nuances of wet mop, acacia blossom, shoe polish and dirty rag among others. 2-aminoacetophenone (2AAP) – a degradation product of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) – has been described as the major odour-active compound and chemical marker responsible for this off-flavour. Depending on the aroma intensity of wines, its odour threshold varies from 0.5 to 10.5 μg/L. It seems that a stress reaction in the vineyard triggered by climatic, pedological and viticultural factors can ultimately cause ATA development in wines and therefore shorten their shelf-life.

Global changes in temperature patterns necessitate the development of viticultural adaptation strategies. One promising approach involves modifying the training system and elevating trunk height. This study explored the potential of raising the vine trunk as an adaptive strategy to counteract the effects of increasing temperatures and delay ripening. Thermal conditions, radiation levels, and must composition were measured at different heights (10 and 150 cm) in a commercial vineyard of the minority variety Maturana Blanca, trained on a vertical cordon.