Using open source software in viticultural research

AIM: Stalks are empirically known to bring many benefits to the wine such as alcoholic reduction, color protection or improvement of the tannic intensity. Not much used on Swiss grape varieties, the aim of this study was to identify the relevance of using this type of winemaking in the case of Gamay and Gamaret red grape varieties.

Sono stati presi in considerazione alcuni dati agrometeorologici dell’Oltrepò Pavese (temperature e piovosità degli ultimi 80 anni) e gli studi delle curve di maturazione condotti in zona sul Pinot nero da spumante negli anni (1988-1991, 1999-2000, 2006-2008), si nota che l’aumento progressivo negli anni delle temperature attive (indice di Winkler) ha determinato un anticipo dell’invaiatura, definita dal parametro “punto di incrocio” (intersezione delle funzioni di zuccheri ed acidità nel tempo), con conseguente anticipo della data di vendemmia di circa 12-15 gg.

Bud death due to cold damage is a recurrent and major economic issue with Vitis vinifera L. in the Northeastern U.S. winegrowing regions. Primary buds – and sometimes secondary and tertiary buds – are often damaged by fluctuating temperatures in the winter and early spring. To maintain balanced vegetative and reproductive growth of a vine, pruning practices need to be adjusted to account for bud damage. Conventional bud damage assessment requires growers to sample canes/spurs, cut nodes with a razor blade, and then visually assess bud damage. This process is laborious and becomes a major barrier for damage-compensated pruning decision-making, leading to too few live buds per vine and the associated excessive vigor and low yield that result. The overarching goal of this study was to develop an active thermographic system for non-destructive detection of bud damage in the vineyard.

Expression of sensory attributes that reflect the varietal and geographical origin of wines (aka terroir) is central to perceived wine quality and reputation of wine producing regions.

AIM: Combined investigation of the influence of berry maturity, maceration time and wine maturation on the changes in polyphenols and sensory characteristics of Pinot noir and Cabernet-Sauvignon.