Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Vine performance benchmarking of indigenous Cypriot grape varieties Xynisteri and Maratheftiko

Vine performance benchmarking of indigenous Cypriot grape varieties Xynisteri and Maratheftiko

Abstract

OENO One – Special issue

 Aim: The aims of this study were to (1) formulate a baseline understanding of the performance of the indigenous Cypriot white grape Xynisteri and the red grape Maratheftiko (Vitis vinifera L.), and (2) compare these varieties to Shiraz and Sauvignon blanc grown in a Cypriot vineyard.
Materials and results: The investigation involved multiple dry grown vineyards from the Krasochoria region of Lemesos, Cyprus, during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages. Vine performance measurements, including midday stem water potential, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, stomata density, vine phenology and vegetative and reproductive measurements, were taken at flowering, veraison and pre-harvest. Xynisteri had the greatest stomatal density, more shoots, more leaves, heavier bunches, greater yield, higher leaf water potential at harvest, and a stomatal conductance equal to Maratheftiko, but greater than that of both Shiraz and Sauvignon blanc. Maratheftiko had the longest shoots, largest shoot diameter and the greatest chlorophyll content out of all four varieties.

Conclusions:

This study identified the ability of the indigenous Cypriot grape varieties, Xynisteri and Maratheftiko, to better tolerate hot and dry conditions when compared to more commonly cultivated varieties grown in the same environmental conditions.
Significance and impact of the study: The changing climate of wine growing regions worldwide is placing great pressure on the resources for sustainable viticulture. Many vineyards in hot climate zones base their businesses on European grape varieties traditionally grown in regions with abundant water resources. It is therefore necessary for the global wine industry to investigate grape varieties that are indigenous to hot climates. The eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus is one such place, with more than 10 indigenous grape varieties that grow well in a hot climate without irrigation. Consumer studies have demonstrated that wines made from these Cypriot varieties are equally, if not more, acceptable than wines made from more traditional European grapes; therefore, the potential for their use in other hot wine growing regions is promising.

DOI:

Publication date: March 25, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type : Video

Authors

Alexander W. Copper1 , Christodoulos Karaolis2 , Stefanos Koundouras2 , Savvas Savvides3 , Susan E. P. Bastian1 , Trent E. Johnson1 and Cassandra Collins1

1 School of Agriculture Food and Wine, Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide. PMB 1, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia.
2 School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
3 Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture Rural development and Environment, P.O. Box 22016, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus.

Contact the author

Keywords

Climate change, vine performance, adaptation, stomata density, water potential, chlorophyll content

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

Drought responses in Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc grapevine cultivars: Mechanistic insights and varietal contrasts

This study explored the responses of Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc grapevine cultivars to water deficit across four years, uncovering their shared patterns and distinctive coping mechanisms. The research was conducted in a commercial vineyard located in Isla de Maipo, Chile. Various characterization approaches were employed including plant water potentials (), gas exchange measurements, shoot vulnerability curves, productivity assessments, and leaf cell water relations. Linear mixed models and sensitivity analyses were performed using various statistical methods to evaluate cultivar responses to water deficit. As the water deficit progressed, both cultivars displayed a parallel reduction in stomatal conductance, leaf turgor, and increased shoot embolism.

Effects of different antioxidant strategies on the phenolic evolution during the course of a white winemaking process

This work aimed to evaluate the evolution of phenolic compounds during white winemaking process up to bottling and 12 months storage, together with the influence of different antioxidant strategies

Vine environment interaction as a method for land viticultural evaluation. An experience in Friuli Venezia Giulia (N-E of Italy)

For a long time environment was known as one of the most important factors to characterize the quality of wines but at the same time it appears very difficult to distinguish inside the “terroir” the role of the single factor. These remarks partially explain why methods for viticultural evaluation are often quite different (Amerine et al., 1944; Antoniazzi et al., 1986; Asselin et al., 1987; Astruc et al., 1980; Bonfils, 1977; Boselli, 1991; Colugnati, 1990; Costantinescu, 1967; Costantini et al., 1987; Dutt et al., 1981; Falcetti et al., 1992; Fregoni et al., 1992; Hidalgo, 1980; Intrieri et al., 1988; Laville, 1990; Morlat et al., 1991; Scienza et al., 1990; Shubert et al., 1987; Turri et al., 1991).

Methodology of climate modelling using land surface temperature downscaling: case study case of Gironde (France)

Aim: Climate modelling in viticulture introduced new challenges such as high spatio-temporal monitoring and the use of dependable time series and robustness modelling methods. Land surface temperature (LST) is widely used and particularly MODIS thermal satellite images due to their high temporal resolution (four images per day).

The wine country, between landscape and promoting tool. The example of Chinon and Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil vineyards (France)

When talking about wine, terroirs are never too far. The National Institute of Apellation d’Origine (INAO) defines it as a system inside of which interact a group of human factors, an agricultural production and a physical environment.