Looking for a more efficient genotypes in water use. A key for a sustainable viticulture

The yeast residue left over after wine-making, known as wine yeast lees, is a source of various compounds that are of interest for wine and food industry. In winemaking, yeast-derived glycocompounds and proteins represent an example of circular economy approach since they have been proven to reduce the need for bentonite and animal-based fining agents. This leads to a reduced environmental impact in the stabilization and fining processes in winemaking. (de Iseppi et al., 2020, 2021).

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) is the main driver of alcoholic fermentation however, in wine, non-Saccharomyces species can have a powerful effect on aroma and flavor formation. This study aimed to compare untargeted volatile compound profiles from SPME-GC×GC-TOF-MS of Sauvignon blanc and Shiraz wine inoculated with six different non-Saccharomyces yeasts followed by SC. Torulaspora delbrueckii (TD), Lachancea thermotolerans (LT), Pichia kluyveri (PK) and Metschnikowia pulcherrima (MP) were commercial starter strains, while Candida zemplinina (CZ) and Kazachstania aerobia (KA), were isolated from wine grape environments. Each fermentation produced a distinct chemical profile that was unique for both grape musts. The SC-monoculture and CZ-SC sequential fermentations were the most distinctly different in the Sauvignon blanc while the LT-SC sequential fermentations were the most different from the control in the Shiraz fermentations.

Drought caused by climate change has a dramatic incidence on the vineyard. Despite employing specific rootstocks tolerant to drought like 110 Richter, the vineyard continues to experience various losses, revealing the importance of the scion cultivar in the adaptation to drought stress. In this regard, Merlot, a widely cultivated grapevine, exhibited reduced drought tolerance compared to less cultivated varieties like Callet, a local cultivar originating from the Balearic Islands that demonstrated greater resilience to drought. Therefore, understanding the drought stress response in both cultivars and the cross-talk between scion and rootstock is key to unveiling possible differences that could affect to the adaptation to drought in vineyard.

Botrytis bunch rot occurrence is one of the most important limitations for the wine industry in humid environments. A positive correlation between grapevine growth and susceptibility to fungal pathogens has been found. In theory the effect of grapevine vegetative growth on bunch rot expression results from direct effects (cluster architecture, nitrogen status among others) and indirect ones (via microclimate). However, a reduction in bunch rot incidence can be achieved in some circumstances without major vine growth reduction. The present study was aimed to test the general hypothesis that bunch rot susceptibility is affected by vine vigor, but other factors associated with grapevine vegetative expression could be even more relevant.

In 2004, at its general assembly, the oiv adopted the transfer of its scientific and technical heritage from the office to the international organisation of vine and wine. Unesco defines heritage as “our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.”