Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 The effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur foliar applications in hot climates

The effect of Nitrogen and Sulphur foliar applications in hot climates

Abstract

Vine 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. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different foliar fertilization (spray applications) on the chemical and sensory composition of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc musts and wines. A Sauvignon blanc plot in the Elgin area and a Chenin blanc plot in the Somerset West area (Western Cape, South Africa), with naturally low nitrogen status, were sprayed three weeks and one week prior véraison. Urea (10 kg/ha) was used for the nitrogen application (N), elemental micronized sulphur (5 kg/ha) for the sulphur application (S), and combined urea (10 kg/ha) and elemental micronized sulphur (5 kg/ha) were used for the sulphur and nitrogen application (N+S). The applications were sprayed on the foliage of the vines and the control received no applications. Analysis of YAN, non-volatile and volatile compounds, namely volatile thiols, major volatiles, fatty acids, esters, alcohols, monoterpenes, and glutathione were done to evaluate the differences between the treatments. Sensory evaluation was performed by expert tasters using a free sorting method at two different stages of aging (3 months and 9 months after bottling). The YAN levels in the grapes were higher in the N and N+S applications compared to the control. The wines produced from the S and N+S applications contained more 3-mercapto-hexanol (3MH) and 3-mercaptohexyl-acetate (3MHA) compounds. Therefore with sufficient nitrogen and sulphur in the vines there may be an increase in aromatic quality and ageing potential of the Sauvignon blanc and Chenin blanc vines.

References
Jreij, R. et al., 2009. Combined effects of soil-applied and foliar-applied nitrogen on the nitrogen composition and distribution in water stressed Vitis Vinifera L. cv Sauvignon blanc grapes. J. Int. Sci. Vigne Vin, 43(4), pp.179–187. Lacroux, F. et al., 2008. Effect of foliar nitrogen and sulphur application on aromatic expression of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc. J Int Sci Vigne Vin, 42(3), pp.125–32.

Publication date: May 17, 2024

Issue: Macrowine 2016

Type: Poster

Authors

Astrid Buica*, Aleta Bruwer, Wessel du Toit

*Stellenbosch University

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Macrowine | Macrowine 2016

Citation

Related articles…

New acylated flavonols identified in the grape skin of Vitis vinifera cv. Tannat and their wines

Flavonols are a class of flavonoid compounds derived from plant secondary metabolism. There they play different roles like antioxidants, internal regulators and UV screenings. In red wines, flavonols have increasingly received consideration by part of scientific and winemakers according their properties began to arise known. Among these stand out wine colour stabilization and their value as bioactive compounds. In this work the complete series of the acetylated and p-coumaroylated derivatives of the 3-O-glycosides of methoxylated flavonols, namely isorhamnetin, laricitrin and syringetin, have been identified in grapes and their respective wines from Vitis vinifera cv. Tannat.

Micro-meteorological, compositional and transcriptional study of corvina grape color during ripening

Grape anthocyanin content and composition could affect the quality and the production strategies of red wines. Differences in the pigment composition modify the color properties in terms of hue, extractability and stability. Thus, for the production of a highly qualitative wine such as “Amarone”, variations in the pigment composition are not negligible. The aim of this work was the investigation of the anthocyanin profile changes during ripening in Corvina grapes, the main cultivar for the “Amarone” production. The experiment took place in 2015, in two vineyards located in Valpollicella (Italy).

Metabolomics comparison of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in Sauvignon blanc and Shiraz

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) is the main driver of alcoholic fermentation however, in wine, non-Saccharomyces species can have a powerful effect on aroma and flavor formation. This study aimed to compare untargeted volatile compound profiles from SPME-GC×GC-TOF-MS of Sauvignon blanc and Shiraz wine inoculated with six different non-Saccharomyces yeasts followed by SC. Torulaspora delbrueckii (TD), Lachancea thermotolerans (LT), Pichia kluyveri (PK) and Metschnikowia pulcherrima (MP) were commercial starter strains, while Candida zemplinina (CZ) and Kazachstania aerobia (KA), were isolated from wine grape environments. Each fermentation produced a distinct chemical profile that was unique for both grape musts. The SC-monoculture and CZ-SC sequential fermentations were the most distinctly different in the Sauvignon blanc while the LT-SC sequential fermentations were the most different from the control in the Shiraz fermentations.

Use of computational modelling for selecting adsorbents for improved fining of wine

The occurrence of faults and taints in wine, such as those caused by microbial spoilage or various taints, have resulted in significant financial losses to wine producers. The wine industry commits significant financial resources towards fining and taint removal processes each year. Fining involves the addition of one or more adsorptive substrates to juice or wine to bind certain components, thus reducing their concentration [1]. However, these processes are often not selective and can also remove desirable flavour and aroma compounds.

To a better understanding of the impact of vine nitrogen status on volatile thiols from plot to transcriptome level

Volatile thiols contribute largely to the organoleptic characteristics and typicity of Sauvignon blanc wines. Among this family of odorous compounds, 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) and 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one (4MSP) have a major impact on wine flavor. These thiols are formed during alcoholic fermentation by the yeast from odorless and non-volatile precursors found in the berry and the must. The effect of vine nitrogen status on 3SH and 4MSP in Sauvignon blanc wine and on the glutathionylated and cysteinylated precursors of 3SH (Glut-3SH and Cys-3SH) was investigated in this study.