Spatial variability of grape berry maturation program at the molecular level 

Aim: Climate change is altering some aspects of winegrape production with an advancement of phenological stages which may endanger viticultural areas in the event of a late frost. This study aims to evaluate the potential of satellite-based remote sensing to assess the damage and the recovery time after late frost events.

For wine areas around the world, nature and climate are becoming factors of production whose endowment becomes a stake beyond the traditional economic factors: labor, capital, land. They strongly influence agricultural and environmental conditions for production.

Riesling wines are appreciated for their diverse aromas, ranging from the fruity fresh characters in young vintages to the fragrant empyreumatic notes developed with aging. Wine tasters often refer to Riesling wines as prime examples showcasing terroir, with their typical aroma profiles reflecting the geographical provenance of the wine. However, the molecular basis of the distinctive aromas of these varietal wines from major Riesling producing regions in Europe have not been fully elucidated. In this study, new lights were shed on the chemical characterization and the sensory contribution of volatile thiols to Riesling wines from Rheingau, Mosel, and Alsace. First, Riesling wines (n = 46) from the three regions were collected and assessed for their aroma typicality by an expert panel.

Grafting Vitis vinifera L. (wine traditional cultivars) onto North American grapevine species or hybrids is a common practice in viticulture given their tolerance against phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae). However, rootstock genetic background affects the response of grapevines to environmental stresses and their ability for establishing a symbiotic relationship with the microbial communities, and more specifically with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF).
The aim of this study was to evaluate Monastrell variety (clone ENTAV 369) grafted onto three rootstocks (140Ru, 110R and RG8) characterized by a different genetic background, in combination with AMF inoculation (Rhizophagus irregularis) vs. a non-inoculated control with regards to vegetative growth, leaf gas exchange parameters, and mycorrhization.

Phenolic compounds play a central role in sensory characteristics of wine, such as colour, mouthfeel, flavour and determine its shelf life. Furthermore, the major non-enzymatic wine oxidation process is due to the catalytic oxidation of phenols in quinones. Due their importance, during the years have been developed different analytical methods to monitor the concentration of phenols in wine, such as Folin-Ciocalteu method, spectrophotometric techniques and HPLC. These methods can also be used to follow some oxidation-related chemical transformations.