terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Congress on Grapevine and Wine Sciences 9 2ICGWS-2023 9 Typicality of Rioja wines: identification of sensory profiles for the three subregions of DOCa Rioja

Typicality of Rioja wines: identification of sensory profiles for the three subregions of DOCa Rioja

Abstract

Within the DOCa Rioja three main production areas are differentiated: Rioja Alta (RA), Rioja Alavesa (RAv) and Rioja Oriental (RO). They are three diverse territories with particular characteristics that are claimed to give rise to differentiated profiles. The present work aims at evaluating the sensory diversity of young commercial red wines in these three subregions. Therefore 30 young red wines (mainly Tempranillo and vintage 2021), ten from each subregion, were sensory described following a non-verbal free sorting task and a verbal free comment task by 32 well-established Rioja winemakers. The sorting task evidenced that the main sensory differences perceived were between Rioja Oriental and Rioja Alta/Rioja Alavesa. These differences were mainly attributed to colour intensity, body/structure and liquorice aroma, which were perceived with higher intensity in wines from Rioja Alta/Rioja Alavesa than in those from Rioja Oriental. The free description task showed shared sensory profiles but also specific sensory profiles for each of the three regions. Rioja Alta and Alavesa display a common sensory profile characterised with high colour intensity and purple-violet hue, high aroma intensity with fresh fruit and lactic aromas and high acidity. Similarly, Rioja Alavesa and Oriental share a prototype of wine described with low colour and medium aromatic intensities, grassy and fresh aroma, and powerful tannin with low acidity. Regarding specific characteristics, Rioja Alta presents a unique and typical profile with high colour intensity, ripe fruit, spicy and balsamic/mint aromas with powerful tannins. Rioja Alavesa´s typical profile is characterised by medium colour intensity, gummy candy, fresh fruit, lactic and floral aroma, with silky, and mellow mouthfeel. The characteristic profile for Rioja Oriental was moderate colour intensity with ruby-garnet hue, dried fruit, jammy fruit, alcohol and spicy aromas and light in mouth. This project is of particular importance since it is the first-time scientific research tries to distinguish between the three subregions of DOCa Rioja and attempts to provide a sensory identity, contributing at the same time to a better understanding of the notion of typicity in wine.

Acknowledgements: This project was funded by the Instituto de Estudios Riojanos (call 2022).

DOI:

Publication date: October 13, 2023

Issue: ICGWS 2023

Type: Poster

Authors

A. Iosofidis1, M. Gonzalez-Hernandez1*, C. Castillo Rio1, P. Fernández-Zurbano1, M. P. Sáenz-Navajas1

1Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (Universidad de La Rioja-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Gobierno de La Rioja). Departamento de Enología, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain

Contact the author*

Keywords

designated origin, red wine, typicity, free description, sorting task

Tags

2ICGWS | ICGWS | ICGWS 2023 | IVES Conference Series

Citation

Related articles…

Effect of biological control agents on grapevine rhizosphere microbiome and grapevine defenses

Plant diseases are a major obstacle to crop production. The main approaches to battle plant diseases, consist of synthetic chemicals to attack infecting pathogens. However, concerns are increasing about the effects of chemicals in the environment, leading to an increase in the use of biocontrol agents (BCAs), due to their assets, such as, antagonism, and competition. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the introduction of Bacillus subtilis PTA-271 (Bs PTA-271) and Trichoderma atroviride SC1 (Ta SC1) produce distinctive modifications in the composition and network structure of the grapevine rhizosphere microbial community, as well as grapevine induced defenses.

The interplay between water deficit and nitrogen and potassium nutrition in Vitis vinifera L.

Climate change is expected to provoke an increase in the frequency and intensity of drought events and water scarcity that will have detrimental effects on photosynthesis and plant yield. To sustain an appropriate plant yield under sub-optimal conditions, a common practice is the application of high amounts of fertilizers with negative environmental consequences. The present study aims at evaluating the interplay between water and nutrient availability, namely nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), in two grapevine cultivars with a different sensitivity to water shortage stress. Two-year-old Vitis Vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache grapevine plants grafted on SO4 rootstock have been transferred in pots under semi-environmental conditions.

Stomatal abundance in grapevine: developmental genes, genotypic variation, and physiology

Grapevine cultivation is threatened by the global warming, which combines high temperatures and reduced rainfall, impacting in wine quality and even plant survival. Breeding for varieties resilient to these challenges must address plant traits such as tolerance to supraoptimal temperatures and optimized water use efficiency while minimizing productivity and quality losses. Stomatal abundance (SA) determines the maximum leaf potential for transpiration and thus water loss and cooling. Since SA results from a developmental process during leaf emergence and growth, knowledge on the genetic control of this process would provide specific targets for modification.

Preliminary results of water status and metabolite content of three new crossbreed winegrape genotypes

This study presents the preliminary results obtained in 2022, of the evaluation of three new crossbreed winegrape genotypes and their parental varieties, grown under controlled irrigation (60% ETc) and rainfed conditions in a wine-growing area with scarcity of water and high temperatures (Murcia, southeast Spain). The genotypes MC16 and MC80 were obtained from crosses between the varieties ‘Monastrell’ and ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’, and MS104 from crosses between ‘Monastrell’ and ‘Syrah’ [1]. The objective of this study was to analyse the physiological response and vegetative development of the 6 genotypes under the two irrigation conditions, and to study their effect on the content of soluble sugars and chlorophyll in the leaf.

Characterization of a Sémillon clonal population: exploring genetic diversity, metabolomic profiles, and phenotypic variations

Sémillon is a cultivated grape variety known for contributing to dry and sweet white wine production. However, only seven approved clones have been officially recognized in France[1]. In this study, we aimed to characterize the genetic diversity and metabolomic profiles of a Sémillon clonal population, shedding light on the potential variations within this important grape variety.