Can the use of rootstocks enhance terroir?

In recent years, developing more efficient and sustainable viticulture management has been essential due to the impact of climate change in semiarid regions. For this reason, the use of recycled organic mulching (ROM) in the vineyard has become an interesting strategy to cope with water stress, isolated soil from extreme temperatures and improving soil humidity, control the presence of weeds and therefore reduce the inputs of herbicides and improve soil fertility. This work aimed to analyse the effect of three different organic mulches [straw (S), grape pruning debris (GPD) and spent mushroom compost (SMC)] and two traditional soil management techniques [herbicide (H) and interrow (IN)] on weed coverage and the spontaneous plant communities’ presence. Data sampling was collected throughout the vine vegetative cycle of 2021 in La Rioja, Spain. The different soil management techniques had a clear effect on weed coverage and his development during the vine vegetative cycle. SMC and H were the treatments with the highest and the lowest coverage percentage, respectively. IN had a delayed weed emergence at the beginning of the vine vegetative cycle, but finally it reached maximum values nearby SMC. GPD and S had similar effects on weed emergence, reaching 25-30% of the maximum coverage values. A total of 29 herbaceous species were identified during the vegetative cycle, some of them very isolated and occasional. Principal component analysis (PCAs) showed a good association between spontaneous species and treatments, furthermore, specific species-treatment associations were found. Moreover, three clear groups of herbaceous communities were identified by cluster analysis. This study provides interesting information about the effect of different alternative soil management on herbaceous plant coverage and weed species communities which could contribute to making more sustainable viticulture.

Vitis vinifera ‘Nebbiolo’ cultivar is a 3’-subsituted anthocyanin prevalent wine variety. It is grown in North-West Italy for the production of high quality ageing wines. In the present work berry skin anthocyanin amounts and profiles of the clones CVT 308, CVT 423 and CVT 142 were studied in 2004 and in 2005 in four environmentally different locations of North-West Italy: Donnas (steep mountain area), Monforte (hilly area, with a pH of 8.1), Vezza (hilly area, with a pH of 8.2) and Lessona (plain area, with a pH of 4.8).

Climate change has led to increased extreme weather events, such as severe droughts and intense rainfall, with regions like Alentejo and Algarve in Portugal, being particularly affected.

Prior to winemaking, organic or mineral nitrogen compound concentrations are usually measured in the vineyard and in grape musts. These indicators facilitate vine cultivation decisions, usually through yield or vigor. During vinification, yeast and bacteria metabolize nitrogen compounds in the musts in order to generate biomass. After fermentation, the microorganisms rerelease a part of this nitrogen as soluble compounds into the wines. Another part remains bound in the lees and can be lost during racking. The must’s natural nitrogen quantities, additional supplements during fermentation, and lees contact management enhance the release of nitrogen compounds to the wines. During ageing these nitrogen compounds – primarily the amino acids – are implicated in the generation of odorous compounds such as heterocycles(1).

L’objectif de l’étude était de connaître le rôle du climat sur les aspects phénologiques du cépage « Moscato bianco » dans les différentes zones de production du vin Moscato d’Asti aocg en Piemonte (Italie) et ses effets sur l’époque de vendange. La représentation cartographique ( échelle 1 :25000) de exposition, altitude, climat, index