Grape berry size is a key factor in determining New Zealand Pinot noir wine composition

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is an ubiquitous yeast associated with different fermentation media such as beer and kombucha, where its presence is beneficial to bring an aromatic typicity. However, it is a main spoilage yeast in wines, in which it produces volatile phenols responsible for organoleptic deviations causing significant economic losses (Chatonnet et al., 1992). Cellar and winery equipment’s are considered as the first source of contamination, during fermentation and wine ageing process (Connel et al., 2002). Indeed, it is possible to find B. bruxellensis in the air, on walls and floors of the cellars, on small materials, vats and barrels.

Most consumers enjoy wine in moderation, however, there remains a minority that may develop risky drinking habits, potentially harming themselves and those around them. For the last fifteen years, a prime objective of the wine in moderation programme has been to educate and empower the wine sector and now for the first time, a central education tool has been developed, integrating the topic of moderate consumption horizontally in all wine activities. The entire wine value chain – from the producer to the salesperson to the restaurant service staff – can contribute to reduce harmful consumption and encourage responsible drinking patterns.

Contribution Foam is the characteristic that differentiates sparkling wines from still wines, being the first sensory attribute that tasters and consumers perceive and that determines the final quality of sparkling wines [1]. The foaming properties mainly depend on the chemical composition of wines [2-3], and different factors involved in wine composition will have an effect on foam quality. In Spain, the sparkling wine market focuses on the production of white and rosé sparkling wine, with very low production of red sparkling wines. However, this type of wines is elaborated in countries like Australia, South-Africa, Argentina, Italy or Portugal, with a great acceptance by consumers. No studies on the foaming characteristics of red sparkling wines have been found.

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.

Climate change and the growing need to reduce the use of phytosanitary products demand the exploration of disease-resistant grape varieties and/or adapted to drought conditions.