Radiation-associated effects on regulated deficit irrigation management in grapevine cv. Cabernet Sauvignon

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2025, Margot Berger (INRAE, UMR1287 EGFV, Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin, Villenave d’Ornon, France) speaks about epigenetics as an innovative lever for grapevine breeding in times of climatic changes. This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on OENO One.

The wine sector is greatly threatened by climate change, but is also one of its contributors.

Global warming and increased frequency and/or severity of drought events are among the most threatening consequences of climate change for agricultural crops. In response to drought, grapevine (as many other plants) exhibits osmotic adjustment through active accumulation of osmolytes which in turn shift the leaf turgor loss point (TLP) to more negative values, allowing to maintain stomata opened at lower water potentials1. We investigated the capacity of Pinot noir leaves to modulate their osmotic potential as a function of: (i) time (seasonal osmoregulation), (ii) growing temperatures, and (iii) drought events, to enhance comprehension of the resilience of grapevines in drought conditions. We performed trails under semi-controlled field conditions, and in two different greenhouse chambers (20/15 °C vs 25/20 °C day/night). For two consecutive vegetative seasons, grafted potted grapevines (Pinot noir/SO4) were subjected to two different water regimes for at least 30 days: well-watered (WW) and water deficit (WD).

Over the last few years, several tools have been developed to reduce the quantity of sulfites used during winemaking, including bioprotection. Although its effectiveness in preventing the development of spoilage microorganisms has been proven, few data are available on the impact of sulfite substitution by bioprotection on the final product. The objective of this study was therefore to characterize Chardonnay wines with the addition of sulfite or bioprotection in the pre-fermentation stage. The effects of both treatments on resulting matrices was evaluated at several scales: analysis of classical oenological parameters, antioxidant capacity, phenolic compounds, non-volatile metabolome and sensory profile.

This paper aims to (i) identify the state of the art regarding digital transformation in the transition to sustainability in the wine industry, (ii) analyze the adoption of digital technologies at different stages of the winemaking process and their contribution to the triple bottom line of sustainability, and (iii) present a research agenda that facilitates the development of the field, providing contributions to both literature and managerial practice.