An infrared laser sensor to characterize the gaseous headspace of champagne glasses under static and swirling conditions

The southern Côtes-du-Rhône vineyard shows a significant variety of ecological facets over the Lower Rhone Valley. Intending to characterize such a variety of “terroir “called vineyard situations, a spatial approach based on identification of soil landscapes has been initiated.

The ongoing climate change implies an increasing mean air temperature, which is signified by weather extremes or sudden changes between drought and local heavy rainfalls. These changing conditions are especially challenging for the established grapevine varieties growing under cool climate conditions due to an increased risk for fungal diseases like downy mildew (DM) and Botrytis bunch rot (BBR) as well as for grape sunburn. To meet that demand, the scope of most grapevine breeding programs is the selection of mildew fungus-resistant and climatic adapted grapevines with balanced, healthy yield and outstanding wine quality.

In this audio recording of the IVES science meeting 2022, Gonzaga Santesteban (Department of Agronomy, Biotechnology and Food Science, Public University of Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Navarra, Spain) speaks about cover crops in viticulture. This presentation is based on 2 original articles accessible for free on OENO One.

Grapevine is subject to multiple stresses, either biotic or abiotic, frequently in combination. These stresses may negatively impact the health status of plants and reduce yields. For biotic stress, grapevine is affected by numerous pest and diseases such as downy and powdery mildews, grey mold, black rot, grapevine fanleaf virus and trunk diseases (namely GTDs). The interaction between grapevine and pathogens is relatively complex and linked to various pathogenicity factors including cell-wall-degrading enzymes (especially CAZymes) and phytotoxic secondary metabolites, growth regulators, effectors proteins, and fungal viruses.

ine nitrogen deficiency can negatively influence the aroma profile and ageing potential of white wines. Canopy management can alter vine microclimate, affect the nitrogen availability and influence the response of leaf senescence. Increasing the nitrogen availability to vines can increase the Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen (YAN) levels in harvested fruit and wine. Studies show that foliar nitrogen and sulphur applications at véraison, on low YAN Sauvignon blanc grapes have an effect on the level of amino acids (Jreij et al. 2009) and on S-containing compounds such as glutathione and thiols (Lacroux et al. 2008), which in turn can influence the formation of major volatiles and the aroma profile of the wine.