δ¹³C : A still underused indicator in precision viticulture  

To alter the vineyard microclimate and produce quality wine under a semi-arid climate, black geotextile inter-row mulch (M) was applied for two vintages (2016-2017). The grapes were sampled at three growing stages to conduct the untargeted metabolome and transcriptome analysis. The upregulated genes related to photosynthesis and heat shock proteins confirmed that M weakened the total light exposure and grapes suffered severe heat stress, resulting in lower sugar and higher acids at harvest. The integration of metabolome and transcriptome analysis identified the key genes responsible for the enhancements in phenylalanine, glutamine, ornithine, arginine, and C6 alcohol concentrations, and the downward trend in ε-viniferin, anthocyanins, flavonols, terpenes and norisoprenoids concentrations in M grapes.

The plasticity of grapevines in response to diverse growing conditions is influenced, among other factors, by the extent to which the roots explore the soil and the ability to accumulate and retrieve water and nutrients.
Newly planted grapevines, in particular, face challenges due to limited resources. The young plant’s ability for a fast and intensive penetration of the soil is vital in periods of water scarcity. The selection of an appropriate, site-specific rootstock significantly impacts both, the quality of the fruit produced and the economic success of the wine estate.

Nowadays the use of Torulaspora delbrueckii is more and more common in winemaking. However, its behavior in presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not always predictable.

Sulphur dioxide has long been considered an irreplaceable additive due to its numerous significant positive effects during winemaking and beyond.

This article explores the contemporary culture of wine consumption in Ukraine through the lens of social, economic, and cultural transformations triggered by European integration, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full-scale war since 2022.