Terroir 2010 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2010 9 Historic and future climate variability and climate change: effects on vocation, stress and new vine areas (T2010) 9 Effect of vine nitrogen status on grape and wine quality: Terroir study in the Vaud vineyard (Switzerland)

Effect of vine nitrogen status on grape and wine quality: Terroir study in the Vaud vineyard (Switzerland)

Abstract

This study was conducted on soil-climate-plant relations (terroir) and their impact on grape composition and wine quality in the canton of Vaud by Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW. An assessment of the vine nitrogen status on different terroirs was made by means of chlorophyll index, leaf nitrogen content and yeast assimilable nitrogen. Vine nitrogen status was observed to be highly related to soil type. Vines on the soil type “bottom moraines” showed lower vigour, smaller berries and a lower nitrogen status. Sensory analysis discriminated wines from different soil types. Vine nitrogen status through yeast assimilable nitrogen turned out to be strongly correlated with wine positive sensory descriptors and negatively correlated to wine astringency. In our study, the main environmental factors influencing vine development and wine quality was the soil type via its effect on vine nitrogen level. Our results confirm the role on nitrogen supply in grape and wine quality and underline nitrogen as a key factor in understanding the terroir effect.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: December 3, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2010

Type: Article

Authors

J-S Reynard, V. Zufferey, F. Murisier

Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil ACW, CH-1260 NYON, Switzerland

Contact the author

Keywords

Soil component of terroir, vine nitrogen status, ecophysiology, grape and wine quality

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2010

Citation

Related articles…

Characterising the chemical typicality of regional Cabernet Sauvignon wines

Aim: To define the uniqueness of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon wines by evaluation of the chemical composition (volatile aroma and non-volatile constituents) that may drive regional typicity, and to correlate this with comprehensive sensory analysis data to identify the most important compounds driving relevant sensory attributes.

Read More

Phloem anatomy traits predict maximum sugar accumulation rates

Heat and water stress can accelerate berry sugar accumulation and lead to excessive sugar-to-acid ratios at harvest, producing bland, overly-alcoholic wines. Selecting grapevines for slower sugar accumulation could help maintain wine quality under future, hotter conditions, but these efforts have been stymied by our limited understanding of the traits determining sugar accumulation rates. Here, we measured traits characterizing the structure and anatomy of the sugar transport system – the phloem – in 16 winegrape cultivars and tested for relationships with sugar accumulation rates and cultivar climate classifications.

Read More

Phenotyping bud break and trafficking of dormant buds from grafted vine

In grapevine, phenology from bud break to berry maturation, depends on temperature and water availability. Increases in average temperatures accelerates initiation of bud break, exposing newly formed shoots to detrimental environmental stresses. It is therefore essential to identify genotypes that could delay phenology in order to adapt to the environment. The use of different rootstocks has been applied to change scion’s characteristics, to adapt and resist to abiotic and biotic stresses[1].

Read More

Evaluation of field inoculation of Kocuria rhizophila and Streptomyces violaceoruber as biostimulants under water availability conditions in grapevines

Agricultural productivity must promote management systems that incorporate sustainability principles, and viticulture is no exception.

Read More

Soil survey and chemical parameters evaluation in viticultural zoning

The most recent methodological developments in soil survey and land evaluation, that can be taken as reference in the viticultural field, go over usage of the GIS and database. These informatic tools, which begin to be widely utilised, consent to realise evaluations at different geographic scale and with different data quality and quantity in entrance.

Read More