Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2020 9 History and innovation of terroir 9 Recent advancements in understanding the terroir effect on aromas in grapes and wines

Recent advancements in understanding the terroir effect on aromas in grapes and wines

Abstract

OENO One – Special issue

Terroir is about the link between wine and its origin. It has long been understood by sensory evaluation that the taste of wine from a given variety can be related to its origins. Specific organoleptic characteristics of wine are influenced by environmental factors such as soil and climate. By deconstructing the effect of measurable soil and climate parameters on grape and wine aroma compounds, the terroir effect on wine typicity can be better understood. Climate influences on vine development and grape ripening are mainly associated with temperature, radiation and rainfall, while soil influences are primarily associated with water availability and nitrogen supply. Significant advances have been made over recent years in understanding wine aromas and their molecular basis and influences of climate and soil on a wide range of molecules responsible for wine aroma expression. This article aims to review these recent research advances to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of how terroir influences wine typicity. The effect of terroir on wine quality and typicity is sometimes considered intangible and difficult to explain on a scientific basis. By combining agronomic, analytical and sensory approaches, however, this review shows that the terroir effect is mediated by measurable factors that can easily be monitored in the vineyard. Assessment of the results compiled by this review allows the suggestion that terroir expression at specific sites might be maximized by choosing appropriate plant material in relation to soil and climate, by acting on manageable parameters like vine water and nitrogen status, or by implementing canopy management to modify microclimate in the bunch zone.

DOI:

Publication date: March 19, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type: Video

Authors

Cornelis van Leeuwen1*, Jean-Christophe Barbe2, Philippe Darriet2, Olivier Geffroy3, Eric Gomès1, Sabine Guillaumie1, Pierre Helwi4, Justine Laboyrie2, Georgia Lytra2, Nicolas Le Menn2, Stéphanie Marchand2, Magali Picard2,5, Alexandre Pons2,6, Armin Schüttler2,7 and Cécile Thibon2

1EGFV, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, Inrae, ISVV, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon, France
2Unité de Recherche OEnologie, EA 4577, USC 1366 INRA, ISVV, Université de Bordeaux, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon France
3PPGV, Université de Toulouse, INP-PURPAN, 75 voie du TOEC, F-31076 Toulouse Cedex 3, France
4Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, TAMU, Lubbock 79403, Texas, United States
5Demptos Research Center, CESAMO, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, Univ. Bordeaux, 351 Cours de la Libération, F-33405 Talence, France
6Tonnellerie Seguin-Moreau, ZI Merpins, 16103 Cognac
7Hochschule Geisenheim Unversity, Von-Lade-Strasse 1, 65366 Geisenheim, Germany

Contact the author

Keywords

Terroir soil climate temperature radiation water balance nitrogenvine wine aroma typicity

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

Data deluge: Opportunities, challenges, and lessons of big data in a multidisciplinary project

Grapevine powdery mildew resistance is a key target for grape breeders and grape growers worldwide. The driver of the USDA-NIFA-SCRI VitisGen3 project is completing the pipeline from germplasm identification to QTL to candidate gene characterization to new cultivars to vineyards to consumers. This is a common thread across such projects internationally. We will discuss how our objectives and approaches leverage big data to advance this initiative, starting with genomics and computer vision phenotyping for gene discovery and genetic improvement. To manage and maintain resistances for long-term sustainability, growers will be trained through our nation-wide extension and outreach plan.

Effect of row direction in the upper part of the hillside vineyard of Somló, Hungary

Hillside vineyards have a great potential to produce world class wines. The unique microclimate lead to the production of rich, flavory wines.

Generation of functional chitosan derivatives to better understanding the antiseptic effect on Brettanomyces bruxellensis in wine

The addition of fungal chitosan in wine is allowed since 2009 to release some spoilage microorganisms such as Brettanomyces bruxellensis (OIV/OENO 338A/2009; EC 53/2011). This yeast is able to produce volatil phenols and is responsible of organoleptic deviations compromising quality and typicality of red wines [1]. Despite the fact that fungal chitosan is highly renewable, no toxic and non-allergenic, its use remains marginal because this treatment is relatively recent (compare to sulphites treatment) and information are contradictory between different studies described in literature. For all these reasons,

Meso-scale geostatistical analysis: a method for improving experimental design

The growing region of Barolo DOCG certified wines is topographically complex. The region is famous for this complexity and for the associated terroir driven Nebbiolo grapes and wines derived distinctly from this varietal. Although it is recognized that the Barolo area is unusual topographically and it is assumed that this unusual topography lends to the inherit terroir, the specifics of this relationship are less well defined.

Contribution of grape seeds to evolution of acetaldehyde, pigments and tannins reactive towards salivary proteins of red wine over time

This study investigated the impact of the gsk/gse ratio on the evolution of acetaldehyde and of major phenolic compounds of aglianico wine in wine like solution and real wine. Four model solutions and the correspondant control wines were prepared. The natural weight ratio between grape skins and seeds was determined on the real grapes, and a control wine was obtained from those.