Ugni blanc berry and wine composition impacted by thirteen rootstocks

Context and purpose of the study. Anthocyanins are essential phenolic compounds in red wine, contributing significantly to colour intensity, stability, and sensory quality.

Vineyard exposure to smoke can lead to grapes and wine which exhibit objectionable smoky and ashy aromas and flavours, more commonly known as ‘smoke taint’ [1, 2]. In the last decade, significant bushfires have occurred around the world, including near wine regions in Australia, Canada, South Africa and the USA, as a consequence of the warmer, drier conditions associated with climate change. Considerable research has subsequently been undertaken to determine the chemical, sensory and physiological consequences of grapevine exposure to smoke. The sensory attributes associated with smoke-tainted wine have been linked to the presence of several smoke-derived volatile phenols, such as guaiacols, syringols and cresols [2].

Artificial intelligence (AI) for winegrowers refers to robotics, smart sensor technology, and machine learning applied to solve climate change problems. Our research group has developed novel technology based on AI in the vineyard to monitor vineyard growth using computer vision analysis (VitiCanopy App) and grape maturity based on berry cell death to predict flavor and aroma profiles of berries and final wines.

Warming trends over the winegrowing regions lead to an advance of grapevine phenology, diminution of yield and increased sugar content and must pH with a lower polyphenol content, especially anthocyanins. Canopy management practices are applied to control the source sink balance and improve the cluster microclimate to enhance berry composition. We hyphothesized that an early leaf removal might promote a delayed ripening through severe defoliation after fruitset; whereas, a late leaf removal at mid-ripening would reduce sugar accumulation.

The International Phylloxera Genotype Database “PHYLLI” which is supported by the 2014 ISHS Phylloxera group describes Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) genotypes, which are genotyped by seven SSR markers (Dvit6, DVSSR4, DV4, DV8, Phy_III_36, Phy_III_55, Phy_III_30). The samples are standardised by single founder lineages, that are equally biotyped.