Terroir 2014 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 The impact of vine nitrogen status on aroma potential expression in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc

The impact of vine nitrogen status on aroma potential expression in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sauvignon blanc

Abstract

In interaction with climate and genetic or human factors, the soil is a major component of the viticulture terroir. The mineral composition of the soil influences vine performance and wine sensory attributes. Among the elements that vines take from the soil, nitrogen is the one that has the strongest impact on vine physiology, vigor and grape composition. In addition to its major effect on primary metabolites in berries, nitrogen plays also a decisive role in the secondary metabolism, especially in the production of key compounds for berries quality, like volatile thiols, methoxypyrazines and glutathione (GSH). 

To study the effect of nitrogen on these target metabolites, an experiment on Sauvignon blanc vines was performed in Bordeaux and Sancerre areas (France). Four nitrogen treatments were applied: control, soil application of 50kg N/ha, soil application of 100kg N/ha and foliar application of 15kg N/ha. Secondary metabolites were measured in grape berries and in wines produced through small scale vinifications. 

Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen and N-tester measurements showed a significant difference in vine nitrogen status among the four treatments. The analysis of volatile compounds showed an increase in the content of 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol precursors (P-3SH) and GSH in berries from vines with high N status. Similar effect of nitrogen was observed on the concentration of 3SH and GSH in wine. 

This study will allow better management of vine nitrogen status in vineyards allowing a quantitative and qualitative control of grape berries.

DOI:

Publication date: August 18, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2014

Type: Article

Authors

Pierre Helwi (1), (3), Sabine Guillaumie (1), Cécile Thibon (2), Philippe Darriet (2), Cornelis van Leeuwen (1), (3) 

(1) Univ. Bordeaux, ISVV, UMR 1287 EGFV, INRA, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon France 
(2) Univ. Bordeaux, ISVV, Unité de recherche OEnologie EA4577, USC1366, INRA, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon France 
(3) Bordeaux Sciences Agro, ISVV, UMR 1287 EGFV, INRA, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon France 

Contact the author

Keywords

terroir, nitrogen, Sauvignon blanc, berry, wine, volatile thiols, methoxypyrazines, glutathione

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2014

Citation

Related articles…

Investigating the Ancient Egyptian wines: The wine jars database

In Ancient Egypt, wine was a luxury product consumed mainly by the upper classes and the royal family and offered to gods in daily religious rituals in the temples. Since the Predynastic (4000-3100 BC) period, wine jars were placed in tombs as funerary offerings. From the Old Kingdom (2680-2160 BC) to the Greco-Roman (332 BC-395 AD) period, viticulture and winemaking scenes were depicted on the private tombs’ walls. During the New Kingdom (1539-1075 BC), wine jars were inscribed to indicate: vintage year, product, quality, provenance, property and winemaker’s name and title.

Response of red grape varieties irrigated during the summer to water availability at the end of winter in four Spanish wine-growing regions: berry phenolic composition

Water availability is the most limiting factor for vineyard productivity under Mediterranean conditions. Due to the effects caused by the current climate change, wine-growing regions may face serious soil moisture conservation problems, due to the lower water retention capacity of the soil and higher soil irradiation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil recharge irrigation in pre-sprouting and summer irrigation every week (30 % ETo) from the pea size state until the end of ripening (RP) compared to exclusively summer irrigation every week (R) in the same way that RP, on berry phenolic composition at harvest.

Diagnosis of soil quality and evaluation of the impact of viticultural practices on soil biodiversity in a Southwestern France vineyard

The soil plays a pivotal role in the agroecological transition processes, due to its numerous implications in production support, water regulation, air and nutrient supply, and its function of reservoir for the major part of planet biodiversity. Therefore, soil quality and adequate soil management are key levers for an ecologically and economically sustainable viticulture. Gascogn’Innov (2017-2022) is an Operational Group funded by the European Innovation Partnership for Agriculture. As such, it gathered winegrowers from the south-west of France (Gascony), scientists, advisors and technicians, around a project focused on the biological functioning of viticultural soil and the design of better-adapted technical paths for soil protection.

Reconocimiento geoedafológico para la zonificación vitivinícola de la D.O. Montilla-Moriles

En la región vitivinícola con D.O. Montilla-Moriles (Córdoba) la variabilidad geologico-petrográfica de los terrenos es grande (ROLDÁN GARCÍA y DIVAR RODRÍGUEZ, 1988 a; roldán garcía et al.

Analysis of climatic changes in different areas of Abruzzo region (Central Italy): implications for grape growing

The dynamic evolution of some bioclimatic indices largely used to define the vocation of areas to grape growing was assessed over 43 years (1965-2007) in four sites of the Abruzzo Region (Central Italy).