Kimmeridgian age in Chablis: a geological argument for the social building of a terroir

It is well-known that there is a relationship between the “terroir” and the characteristics of grapes and quality of wines. However, adequate grape variety and other cultural factors should be also taken into account

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and its derived products, in terms of cultivated area and economic volume, constitute the most relevant fruit crop in the world (7.5 million cultivated hectares). In the current context of climate change, the wine sector faces unprecedented challenges to satisfy a growing demand for wines of greater quality through sustainable viticulture. Global warming threatens quality wine production in Mediterranean wine regions in particular. The increase in heatwaves and drought episodes accelerate the vine phenology and alter the ripening and composition of grapes and wine. Extreme abiotic stress episodes compromise grape production and plant survival, intensifying the pressure on the use of limited resources like water. Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormone in the ripening of certain fruits and in plant response to abiotic stress.

Les travaux menés, dans le cadre du programme départemental pour la connaissance et la valorisation des terroirs viticoles, sur l’aire A.O.C. Coteaux du Languedoc / Pic Saint-Loup ont permis d’appliquer à l’échelle d’une Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (13 communes), une méthodologie d’étude axée sur les aspects sol/climat/topographie qui concourent à l’identification des terroirs naturels, facteurs de typicité des vins.

Grapevine Vitis vinifera L. is a leader perennial crops for the Republic of Georgia, the South Caucasus. This is a region where the first wine making practice was initiated 8.000 years ago (McGovern et al. 2017) and a spot of grape domestication. The country of Georgia holds 525 local and more than 60 breeding varieties – they are preserved in 9 field collections inside the country.The list of recommended wine cultivars contains 34 names, including 27 old autochthonous varieties and covering 94% of the country’s vineyards.

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).