Vine response to compost addition on a sandy-loam soil in the north-east of italy. Effects on root system, vegetative growth, yield and grape quality of Cabernet-Sauvignon cv

Enological tannins are a diversified group of winemaking products that vary in several aspects such as chemical composition, botanical origin, and production method. In consideration of their richness in phenolic compounds, one of their main application in vinification is related to their antioxidant capacity, in particular their ability to consume oxygen during red wine maturation.

One of the major problems affecting the viticulture sector is the quantity of plant protection products (especially copper) used to control the main foliar diseases of the vine. The Life Green Grapes project enter in the production context with the aim of reducing the use of fungicides throughout

Nitrogen composition of grape berries plays a key role in determining wine quality, affecting the development of alcoholic fermentation and the formation of volatile compounds. Grape nitrogen composition is influenced by several factors such as viticultural practices, soil management, timing or rate of fertilization and use of rootstock, among others.In this study a proximal, non-destructive tool based on NIR spectroscopy is presented to track the accumulation of a wide range of amino acids in intact grape berries during the ripening process.

The crunchy texture of table grapes is one of the key quality parameters during production. This varies from cultivar to cultivar, stage of harvest and vineyard performance. Cell wall properties are key drivers of berry quality (e.g., pericarp firmness and intactness) at harvest and beyond. Common practise amongst producers is to continuously monitor firmness by evaluating pericarp appearance of cross-sectioned berries prior to harvest. These qualitative methods can be quite arbitrary and imprecise in their execution, but more quantitative, yet simple and high-throughput methods to evaluate these cell wall polymers are not yet readily available.

Foliar application of urea may be an efficient way to alter grape and wine composition without increasing vine vigor. However, we know little about the impact of this practice on phenolic compounds and yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN). Adequate YAN is required for an efficient and complete fermentation, while phenolics are particularly important for the sensory profile of red wines. The goal of this study is to test the impact of foliar urea application at veraison, compared to the traditional soil-applied nitrogen fertilization early in the season, on Syrah berry and wine composition in field conditions.