Advancing grapevine science through genomic research

Carmenère fruit during ripening of a Vertical shoot positioning, VSP, trained experimental vineyard with north-south row orientation.

In recent years characterized by hot dry summers, the implementation of innovative irrigation tools in the vineyard represents a crucial challenge to ensure optimal production and to avoid excess of water consumption. It is known that the grapevine reacts to multiple stresses – i.e., high temperatures and wa- ter shortage – through adaptive mechanisms that are detrimental to the yield. Furthermore, this condi- tion is usually aggravated by high solar radiation, which could negatively affect the phenolic composi- tion of the grapes. Therefore, a cooling system has been developed aiming to reduce bunches’ sunburn damage.

Struck flint/struck match/gun smoke/mineral aroma is considered desirable in some styles of wines, with this character sometimes evident in wines such as Burgundian Chablis and cooler climate barrel-fermented Australian Chardonnay.

Random sampling is often considered to be the best protocol for fruit sampling because it is assumed to produce a sample that best represents the vineyard population.

As an industry that thrives more on, but may also be more affected by, vintage variation and regionality than any other agricultural enterprise, grape and wine production is ever more being impacted challenged by climate change.