terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 GiESCO 9 GiESCO 2023 9 Vineyard altitude as a climate change adaptation strategy and its effect on Riesling during grapes and wine composition during ripening

Vineyard altitude as a climate change adaptation strategy and its effect on Riesling during grapes and wine composition during ripening

Abstract

Context and purpose of the study. Climate is one of the main drivers of spatial and temporal variability in grapevine physiology and therefore a key determinant of grape composition and final wine value. The world has warmed 1.1 °C since pre-industrial times, and the latest IPCC report indicates an additional 0.5 to 1.3 °C of warming by mid-century with continental locations warming at a greater rate than the oceans. Changes in grapevine phenology have been widely observed over the past 30 years, and further warming will have marked consequences for grape and wine composition, which will require adaptation strategies for grape growers and winemakers. Elevation has a direct impact on air temperature (with average temperatures decreasing by about 6.5 °C per 1000 m), and wine regions with large elevations ranges provide ideal locations to study the effects of warming within a small area. The Canberra District wine region is characterised by its wide range of vineyard elevations, ranging from 264 to 1419 m, and is recognised as a producer of premium Riesling in a range of styles that suit local climatic conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect ~1 °C differences in growing season temperatures on Riesling grape and wine composition and sensory attributes in three vineyards located at different elevations.

Materials and methods. Riesling grapes were sampled from three different vineyards located at three altitudes (464 m, 596 m, and 800 m), in the Canberra, Australia, during the 2018 and 2019 vintages. Canopy and bunch temperature and stem water potential were monitored throughout the growing season. Basic chemical parameters as well as volatile compounds and carotenoids were measured on samples collected every two weeks between véraison and harvest. In 2019, wines were also madeand their volatile composition and sensory attributes were assessed. 

Results. Significant differences were found between all three sites, with night temperature variations impacting the concentration of benzenoid and terpenes measured in the both grape and wine samples. Wines made the from the coolest vineyard had a distinct floral and citrus sensory profile whilst those from the two warmer sites were characterised by more tropical and peach notes. This study provides an insight into understanding the influence of temperature differences due to altitude variations on grape and wine composition. Specific wine styles were able to be produced and the work can be utilised by grape growers in the selection of future vineyard sites to help mitigate future temperature increases. 

DOI:

Publication date: June 15, 2023

Issue: GiESCO 2023

Type: Article

Authors

J.M. Gambetta1*, B. Holzapfel2,3, L.M. Schmidtke3, A. Hall3, J. Blackman3

1CSIRO, Werribee, VIC, Australia
2New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga, Australia
3Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia

Contact the author*

Keywords

climate change, Riesling, altitude, volatile compounds, mitigation

Tags

GiESCO | GIESCO 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Effect of foliar application of Ca, Si and their combination on grape volatile composition

Calcium (Ca) is an important nutrient for plants which plays key signaling and structural roles. It has been observed that exogenous Ca application favors the pectin accumulation and inhibition of polygalacturonase enzymes, minimizing fruit spoilage. Silicon (Si) is a non-essential element which has been found to be beneficial for improving crop yield and quality, as well as plant tolerance to diverse abiotic and biotic stress factors. The effect of Si supply to grapevine has been assessed in few investigations, which reported positive changes in grape quality and must composition.

Late winter pruning induces a maturity delay under temperature-increased conditions in cv. Merlot from Chile

Chile is considered vulnerable to climate change; and these phenomena affect several mechanisms in the grape physiology and quality. The global temperature increase affects sugar contents, organic acids, and phenolic compounds in grapes, producing an imbalance maturity. In this sense, an alternative to reduce the impact is to perform pruning after vine budburst, known as “Late Pruning” (LP).

Effect of two water deficit regimes on the agronomic response of 12 grapevine varieties cultivated in a semi-arid climate

The Mediterranean basin is one of the most vulnerable regions to Climate Change effects. According to unanimous forecasts, the vineyards of Castilla-La Mancha will be among the most adversely affected by rising temperatures and water scarcity during the vine’s vegetative period. One potential strategy to mitigate the negative impacts of these changes involves the identification of grapevine varieties with superior water use efficiency, while ensuring satisfactory yields and grape quality.

Influence of irrigation frequency on berry phenolic composition of red grape varieties cultivated in four spanish wine-growing regions

The global warming phenomenon involves the frequency of extreme meteorological events accompanied by a change in rainfall distribution. Irrigation frequency (IF) affects the spatial and temporal soil water distribution but its effects on the phenolic composition of the grape have been scarcely studied. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of four deficit irrigation frequencies of 30 % ETo: one irrigation per day (T01), two irrigations per week (T03), one irrigation per week (T07) and one irrigation every two weeks (T15) on berry phenolic composition at harvest.

Response of red grape varieties irrigated during the summer to water availability at the end of winter in four Spanish wine-growing regions: berry phenolic composition

Water availability is the most limiting factor for vineyard productivity under Mediterranean conditions. Due to the effects caused by the current climate change, wine-growing regions may face serious soil moisture conservation problems, due to the lower water retention capacity of the soil and higher soil irradiation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil recharge irrigation in pre-sprouting and summer irrigation every week (30 % ETo) from the pea size state until the end of ripening (RP) compared to exclusively summer irrigation every week (R) in the same way that RP, on berry phenolic composition at harvest.