The influence of climate on the grapevine phenology and content of sugar and total acids in the must

White wines are commonly stabilised by removing the heat unstable proteins through adsorption by bentonite, an effective but inefficient wine processing step. Alternative absorbents are thus sought and zirconium dioxide (zirconia) is recognised as a promising candidate.

Climate change is a major challenge in wine production. The IPCC (2014) projected that by the end of the 21st century average temperatures will increase by 1-3.7°C. Consequently, harvest dates could advance by approximately 30 days. A general observed trend is the increase in berry sugar content and decrease in organic acids, posing challenges for winegrowers. Variability among cultivars is a precious resource to adapt viticulture to a changing environment.

Un programme de recherche concernant les facteurs naturels et humains des terroirs viticoles a été développé dans le vignoble A.O.C. de l’Anjou, sur une surface d’environ 30.000 Ha

In this work “ethanol as an internal standard” method was used for the SPME GC-MS quantification of volatile congeners in wines. Our aim was to develop a fast and simple method of wine analysis without additional procedures, reagents etc. A row of standard solutions containing some frequently found congeners in wine was prepared gravimetrically. Suggested method was compared with traditional internal standard method.

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly present challenge, whether due to an increase in the level of perception and demand from consumers and stakeholders or the rise of events linked to climate change, which directly impacts agricultural-based sectors such as the vine and wine industry.