terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Grape berry size is a key factor in determining New Zealand Pinot noir wine composition

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

Abstract

Read full article on OENO One

Making high quality but affordable Pinot noir (PN) wine is challenging in most terroirs and New Zealand’s (NZ) situation is no exception. To increase the probability of making highly typical PN wines producers choose to grow grapes in cool climates on lower fertility soils while adopting labour intensive practices. Stringent yield targets and higher input costs necessarily mean that PN wine cost is high, and profitability lower, in line-priced varietal wine ranges. To understand the reasons why higher yielding vines are perceived to produce wines of lower quality we have undertaken an extensive study of PN in NZ. Since 2018, we established a network of twelve trial sites in three NZ regions to find individual vines that produced acceptable commercial yields (above 2.5kg per vine) and wines of composition comparable to “Icon” labels. Approximately 20% of 660 grape lots (N = 135) were selected from within a narrow juice Total Soluble Solids (TSS) range and made into single vine wines under controlled conditions. Principal Component Analysis of the vine, berry, juice and wine parameters from three vintages found grape berry mass to be most effective clustering variable. As berry mass category decreased there was a systematic increase in the probability of higher berry red colour and total phenolics with a parallel increase in wine phenolics, changed aroma fraction and decreased juice amino acids. The influence of berry size on wine composition would appear stronger than the individual effects of vintage, region, vineyard or vine yield. Our observations support the hypothesis that it is possible to produce PN wines that fall within an “Icon” benchmark composition range at yields above 2.5kg per vine provided that the Leaf Area:Fruit Weight ratio is above 12cm2 per g, mean berry mass is below 1.2g and juice TSS is above 22°Brix.

DOI:

Publication date: May 31, 2022

Issue: Terclim 2022

Type: Article

Authors

Damian Martin1, Rebecca Deeds4, Melodie Lindsay4, Katie Parish-Virtue4, Paul Kilmartin4, Bruno Fedrizzi4, Leandro Dias Araujo5, Tanya Rutan6, Emma Sherman3, Muriel Yvon1, Lily Stuart1, Franzi Grab1, Claire Scofield2, Michelle Schurmann2 and Claire Grose1

1The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Marlborough, New Zealand
2The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Clyde, New Zealand
3The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
4School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
5AGLS Faculty, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
6Bragato Research Institute, Marlborough, New Zealand

Contact the author

Keywords

Pinot noir, grape, vine, wine, yield, quality, region, terroir

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terclim 2022

Citation

Related articles…

Molecular characterization of wines nucleophilic potential by ultra-performance liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry

The knowledge about the molecular fraction associated to white wines oxidative stability is still poorly understood.

Read More

Characterization of non-cultivated wild grapevines in Extremadura (Spain) 

Several Eurasian wild grapevine populations were found along Extremadura region (southwestern Spain). For conservation and study, one individual from four different populations (named L1, L2, L5 and L6) was vegetatively propagated and planted at Instituto de Investigaciones Agrarias Finca La Orden (CICYTEX), Badajoz. The aim of the present work was to characterize those conserved individuals from four different populations based on both an ampelographic description and a molecular analysis. Three vines per individual were studied.

Read More

Assessment of plant water consumption rates under climate change conditions through an automated modular platform

The impact of climate change is noticeable in the present weather, making water scarcity the most immediate mediator reducing the performance and viability of crops, including grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). The present study developed a system (hardware, firmware, and software) for the determination of plant water use through changes in weight through a period. The aim is to measure the differences in grapevine water consumption in response to climate change (+4oC and 700 ppm) under controlled conditions. The results reveal a correlation between daily plant consumption rates and reference evapotranspiration (ETo).

Read More

LARGE-SCALE PHENOTYPIC SCREENING OF THE SPOILAGE YEAST BRETTANOMYCES BRUXELLENSIS: UNTANGLING PATTERNS OF ADAPTATION AND SELECTION, AND CONSEQUENCES FOR INNOVATIVE WINE TREATMENTS

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is considered as the main spoilage yeast in oenology. Its presence in red wine leads to off-flavour due to the production of volatile phenols such as 4-vinylphenol, 4-vinylguaiacol, 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol, whose aromatic notes are unpleasant (e.g. animal, leather, horse or pharmaceutical). Beside wine, B. bruxellensis is commonly isolated from beer, kombucha and bioethanol production, where its role can be described as negative or positive. Recent genomic studies unveiled the existence of various populations.

Read More

Vineyard’s ozone application to induce secondary metabolites accumulation in grapes and wine

In viticulture sector to find new tools for pest management has become an urgent necessity. Hence, grapevines cultivation has high production rate demand and to meet the intensive market request, a massive use of pesticides is often required. In addition to the environmental problems associated with large use of chemicals, there is an increasing number of consumers which are asking for

Read More