Evolution of the sensory profile of Grenache wine across climatic zones and ripening stages over two consecutive vintages

Abstract

Climate change alters grape ripening and can produce sensory profiles ranging from green notes to overripeness. This study investigated Grenache grapes from the POCTEFA region over two consecutive vintages (2024–2025), evaluating the influence of three climatic zones and two ripening stages on wine sensory identity. Three climatic areas were identified by k-means clustering of historical bioclimatic indices, and 28 vineyards in Spain and France were selected. Grapes were harvested at 21.0 °Brix and again 10–14 days later, then subjected to standardised microvinification. Sensory space was characterised by Sorting Task, multidimensional scaling, agglomerative hierarchical clustering and correspondence analysis. Selected wines were subsequently assessed by descriptive analysis and gas chromatography–olfactometry. Climatic zone strongly shaped the sensory profile at the early ripening stage: wines from cooler areas showed more vegetal notes, potentially related to phenolic immaturity. As ripening progressed, however, sensory profiles converged across climatic zones. These findings provide useful information for optimising harvest timing and developing strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on wine typicity.

References

1. Ferrero-del-Teso, S., Arias, I., Escudero, A., Ferreira, V., Fernández-Zurbano, P., – Sáenz-Navajas, M.-P. (2020). Effect of grape maturity on wine sensory and chemical features: The case of Moristel wines. LWT, 118, 108848.
2. Buñuel Escudero, M. Evolution of the Sensory Profile of Grenache Wine across Climatic Zones and Ripening Stages over Two Consecutive Vintages. Recording of the presentation delivered at Enoforum Spain 2026, Zaragoza, 20–21 May 2026. Available soon on Infowine Premium: https://vinidea.it/es/brand/infowine/

Acknowledgements

This work is part of project EFA102/01 CLIMAROMA, 65% co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain–France–Andorra Programme (POCTEFA 2021–2027). The LAAE acknowledges support from the Government of Aragón (T29) and the European Social Fund. María Buñuel-Escudero acknowledges a predoctoral grant from the Government of Aragón. Mónica Bueno acknowledges Ramón y Cajal grant RYC2024-051239-I, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ESF+.