Smoke tainted wine – what now?

Rotundone, the pepper aroma compound, has been detected in wines made from a large number of grape varieties. However, given the fact that analyzed wines were sourced from different winegrowing regions and seasons, made using different winemaking techniques and at different scales, it remains difficult to assess the real variety potential to produce rotundone.

The consumption of wine in traditional wine-producing countries like Italy, Spain, and France is decreasing.

This study explores and analyzes the socio-environmental implications associated with the cultivation of the “brs-vitoria” table grape variety. Focusing on its adoption by farmers in the vale do submédio São Francisco region in Brazil, this study delves into the diverse impacts and changes brought about since its introduction, encompassing both the social and environmental dimensions of agricultural practices in the area. Embrapa, brazil’s federal agricultural research institution, encompasses a network of 43 thematic research centers spread across the nation.

The Institut Français De La Vigne Et Du Vin (IFV) is conducting many experiments on innovative winegrowing practices, which are emerging in companies in the sector, or which are still at the R&D stage for agricultural suppliers. The purpose of these practices may be to reduce environmental impact, to adapt vineyards to climate change, or to achieve other technical, economic or social aims. Whatever the objective, it is necessary to verify the relevance of these new practices, and in particular their environmental relevance, i.e. That at the very least, the changes in practices do not increase the environmental impact of the technical itineraries.

Non-saccharomyces yeasts gained an increased interest in winemaking during the last decades, due to their ability to produce relevant amounts of polysaccharides. Moreover, a significant release of glutathione into the wine during fermentation was also observed with these strains, as well as an improvement of color stability and wine aroma profile. Valuable results have been obtained by hanseniaspora spp. concerning the release of polysaccharides and the production of acetic esters, mainly during fermentation.