Terroir 2010 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Tools for terroir classification for the grape variety Kékfrankos

Tools for terroir classification for the grape variety Kékfrankos

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out in order to evaluate the ecophysiology, yield and quality characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Kékfrankos (syn. Limberger) at Eger-Nagyeged hill (steep slope) and at Eger-Kőlyuktető (flat) vineyard sites located in the Eger wine region, Hungary. The aim of this paper was to analyse the effect of ‘vintage’ and ‘terroir’ on the seasonal changes of Kékfrankos ecophysiology and its possible relationship with yield and wine composition. Grapevine physiological responses (midday- and pre-dawn water potential, pressure–volume analysis and gas-exchange), yield and wine composition of each vineyard were studied. Lower grapevine water supply was detected at Eger-Nagyeged hill in each season due to its steep slope and soil characteristics. Stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and photosynthetic production per unit leaf area were affected by water availability. Lower yield in Eger-Nagyeged hill was partly associated with decreased photosynthetic production of the canopy. Improved wine quality of Eger-Nagyeged hill was due to moderate water stress which induced higher concentration of anthocyanins and phenolics in the berries. There was a close relationship between environmental conditions, Kékfrankos gas exchange, water relations, yield and wine composition. Water deficit plays an important role in creating a terroir effect, resulting in decreased yield, better sun exposure of leaves and clusters and thus higher concentration of phenolics and anthocyanins. Although quality is mainly influenced by vintage differences, vineyard characteristics are able to buffer unfavourable vintage effects even within a small wine region. Stomatal conductance, pre-dawn water potential and climatic data may be reliable parameters for terroir classification, although variety–terroir interactions must always be considered.
Data of Geographycal Information System (GIS) performed in this study may serve as part of the data base, that we are engaged in the Eger wine district in Hungary.

DOI:

Publication date: November 22, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2010

Type: Article

Authors

B. Bálo (1), Z. Szilágyi (1), E. Szücs (1), M. Marschall (2), Z. Simon (2) and Zs. Zsófi (1)

(1) Research Institute of Károly Róbert College for Viticulture and Enology, Eger, 3301 Eger Kőlyuktető PO Box 83, Hungary
(2) Department of Plant Physiology, Eszterházy Károly College, Eger, 3300 Eger Leányka Street 6, Hungary

Contact the author

Keywords

Climate, grapevine, photosynthesis, terroir, water relations, water deficit, wine composition, yield

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2010

Citation

Related articles…

RED WINE AGING WITHOUT SO₂: WHAT IMPACT ON MICROBIAL COMMUNITY?

Nowadays, the use of food preservatives is controversial, SO2 being no exception. Microbial communities have been particularly studied during the prefermentary and fermentation stages in a context of without added SO2. However, microbial risks associated with SO2 reduction or absence, particularly during the wine aging process, have so far been little studied. The microbiological control of wine aging is a key issue for winemakers wishing to produce wines without added SO2. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of different wine aging strategies according to the addition or not of SO2 on the microbiological population levels and diversity.

EFFECT OF FERMENTATION TEMPERATURE GRADIENT AND SKIN CONTACT ON ESTER AND THIOL PRODUCTION AND TROPICAL FRUIT PERCEPTION IN CHARDONNAY WINES

Wines with tropical fruit aromas have become increasingly more available1,2. With increased availability of different wine styles, it has become important to understand the compounds that cause the fruity aromas in wine. Previous work using micro fermentations showed that fermentation temperature gradients and time on skins resulted in an increase in thiol and ester compounds post fermentation and these compounds are known to cause tropical fruit aroma in wines³. This work aimed to scale up these fermentations/operations to determine if the desired aromas could still be achieved and if there is a perceivable difference in tropical fruit aromas, liking, and emotional response in the wines at the consumer level.

Effects of stress memory on grapevine resilience in response to recurrent drought and recovery events 

Plants have evolved different strategies to cope with environmental stresses and, although still debated, it was observed that they can remember past stress occurrence.
Anatomical and physiological adjustments have been observed in different grapevine cultivars after repeated drought exposure, however epigenetic, transcriptional and biochemical changes associated with drought-primed ecological memory have been poorly studied.
This work was conceived to test whether exposure to recurring events of mild drought could prime vines to endure severe drought stress. Particularly, we investigated whether the expected improved stress tolerance of Vitis vinifera cv Nebbiolo plants subjected over years to moderate and long-lasting water stress events (WS-primed) depended on molecular memory phenomena or on resetting of stress-induced signals.

The tolerance of grapevine rootstocks to water deficit is related to root morphology and xylem anatomy traits 

Climate change is altering water balances, thereby compromising water availability for crops. In grapevine, the strategic selection of genotypes more tolerant to soil water deficit can improve the resilience of the vineyard under this scenario. Previous studies demonstrated that root anatomical and morphological traits determine vine performance under water deficit conditions. Therefore, 13 ungrafted rootstock genotypes, 6 commercial (420 A, 41 B, Evex 13-5, Fercal, 140 Ru y 110 R), and 7 from new breeding programs (RG2, RG3, RG4, RG7, RG8, RG9 and RM2) were evaluated in pots during 2021 and 2022.

Growth in global table grape production and consumption is fueled by the introduction of new seedless varieties

Table grape consumption worldwide has experienced a remarkable growth in the first two decades of the 21st century, becoming the third most consumed fresh fruit in some countries, after bananas and apples. This increase has been attributed to several reasons, including the availability of seedless grapes, which has been a key factor in the increase in consumption.