Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Viticultural practices: past, present and future

Viticultural practices: past, present and future

Abstract

Practices in viticulture have greatly evolved in the last five decades. There were three objectives: improvement in the quality of the products, reduction in the production costs through mechanization, and protection of the environment. In terms of soil management, the combination of different techniques such as soil tillage, chemical weeding and cover-cropping, allowed to reach these three objectives in most cases. Insuring an adequate nitrogen supply to the grapevine was proved to play a key role, since nitrogen deficiency could impair the wine quality. The role of integrated water supply was pointed out, since moderate water restriction was favourable for the wine quality. In terms of vine training, a special interest was given to the winter pruning, keeping in mind the respect for the sap flows and trying to limit the expansion of the wood diseases, since the entirely mechanical pruning was rather inconclusive. Thresholds of leaf/fruit ratios were established and the canopy management during the summer such as leaf removal and shoot tipping were adapted accordingly. The objective was also to minimise the risk of diseases. The control of the yield has become one of the main concerns in viticulture. Although cluster thinning before maturation used to be unimaginable, it is today a common practice in all the vineyards concerned about wine quality and vine longevity. The concept of sustainability will go on influencing the evolution of the practices in viticulture.

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

François MURISIER, Vivian ZUFFEREY, Jean-Laurent SPRING

Station de recherche Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW, CH-1260 Nyon

Contact the author

Keywords

soil and water management, vine management, yield, quality

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

The impacts of frozen material-other-than-grapes (MOG) on aroma compounds of red wine varieties

An undesirable note called “floral taint” has been observed in red wines by winemakers in the Niagara region caused by large volumes of frozen leaves and petioles [materials-other-than-grapes (MOG)] introduced during mechanical harvest and subsequent winemaking late in the season. The volatiles, which we hypothesized are responsible, are primarily terpenes, norisoprenoids, and specific esters in frozen leaves and petioles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the volatile compounds which may cause the floral taint problem and explore how much of them (thresholds) may lead to the problem. Also, the glycosidic precursors of some of these compounds were analyzed to see the changes happening during frost events.

Aromatic profile of six different clones of Chardonnay grape berries in Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Aromas are one of the key points in food analysis since they are related to character, quality and consequently consumer acceptance. It is not different in the winery industry, where the aromatic profile is a combination of viticultural and oenological practices. Based on the development of more aromatic clones and on the potential to produce sparkling wines at Caldas, in the southern region of Minas Gerais (Brazil) (21°55´S and 46°23´W, altitude 1,100m), the aim of this work was the determination of volatile compounds in six different clones of Chardonnay grape berries to better understand which compounds add bouquet to the wine, and additionally comprehend the impacts of the edaphoclimatic and annual conditions on the improvement of grape-growing and winemaking practices.

Improving stilbenes in vitis Labrusca L. Grapes through methyl jasmonate applications

Grapes (Vitis sp.) are considered a major source of phenolic compounds such as flavonols, anthocyanins and stilbenes. Studies related to the beneficial effects of these compounds on health have encouraged research aimed at increasing their concentration in fruits. On this behalf, several plant growth regulators such as jasmonic acid and its volatile ester, methyl-jasmonate (MeJa), have demonstrated promising results in many fruits. However, Brazilian subtropical climate might interfere on treatment response. The present study aims to evaluate the application of MeJa in the pre-harvest period in Concord and Isabel Precoce grapes (Vitis labrusca L.).

Service crop effects on grapevine water and nitrogen status and yield under Mediterranean climate

Service crops in vineyard can provide multiple ecosystem services but they can also lead to competition with the grapevine for soil resources in the Mediterranean region due to potential severe droughts (Garcia et al., 2018). One of the levers of action to manage this competition is the choice of species adapted in terms of growth dynamics and water and nutrients’ needs. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of temporary service crops on grapevine water and nitrogen status and grapevine yield and yield components in a Mediterranean vineyard.

Impact of deficit irrigation strategies on terpene concentration in Gewürztraminer grapes

Deficit irrigation is a viticultural practice often applied to improve the phenolic composition of red grapes and wines. However, the impact of this practice on grape terpenes – key aromatics for several grapes and wines – remains largely unknown. This study investigated the impact of deficit irrigation strategies on free and glycosylated terpenes in Gewürztraminer grapes. In a field study conducted in Oliver, BC, in 2016, 2017, and 2018, deficit irrigation regimes were applied to Gewürztraminer vines at different developmental stages (pre-veraison = Early Deficit, ED; post-veraison = Late Deficit, LD; throughout the season = Prolonged Deficit, PD). A well-irrigated control (CN) treatment was also established.