Synthesis of the contribution of the Giesco (group of international experts of vitivinicultural systems for cooperation) to the study of terroirs

Nowadays, winemaking is dealing with great challenges, notably climate change, disease resistance and low pesticide inputs, desire for more sustainable agricultural productions and permanent changing of consumer preference.

Valpolicella is an Italian wine producing region, famous for the production of high-quality red wines. A distinctive characteristic of this region is the extensive use of post-harvest withering.

Just over 150 years ago, phylloxera, daktulosphaera vitifoliae, was introduced to europe, and particularly france, from north america via imports of american vitis plants. This aphid, with its complex biology and life cycle, has spread rapidly to most vineyards, causing rapid and lethal decline of v. Vinifera vines due to the primary and secondary damage it causes to the roots. In response to this pest, and given the economic importance of the french wine sector, professional representatives organised into ‘agricultural societies’, scientists and public authorities rallied together to identify the exact causes, seek solutions and try to stem the serious socio-economic crisis that ensued.

The European geographical indication (GI) Brandy Italiano is exclusively reserved to brandy obtained in Italy from the distillation of wine from grapes grown and vinified in the national territory [1].

Vine pruning residues constitute a significant fraction of vitivinicultural waste; in fact, depending on the variety and training system, they can reach 1-5 tons/ha/year.