Elementi in traccia e ultratraccia nell’uva: possibili applicazioni ai fini della tracciabilità geografica

Previous research on the fruity character of red wines highlighted the role of esters. Literature provides evidence that, besides these esters, other compounds that are not necessarily volatiles may have an important impact on the overall aroma of wine, contributing to a modulation of its global aromatic expression. The goal of this work was to assess the olfactory consequences of a mixture between esters and proanthocyanidic tannins, through sensory and physico-chemical approaches.
Sensory analysis of numerous aromatic reconstitutions, including triangular tests, detection thresholds, and sensory profiles, were conducted in order to evaluate the sensory impact of tannins on red wine esters perception.

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.

Terroir encompasses environmental (climate, geology, soil and topography), genetic (cultivar and clone) and human factors (oenological and viticultural practices). Climate change brings about shifts in the suitability of a region for the growth of specific grapevine cultivars. This study focused on climatic and fruit parameters (berry size, weight, pH, total acidity (TA) and phenolics) to characterise the terroir effect in Vitis vinifera L. cultivars Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards in the Cape South Coast region (Walker Bay and Elgin).

Climate change has had a global impact on grape production, and as a result, developing table grape varieties that can withstand climate-related threats has become a significant goal. However, it is equally important to ensure that these new grape varieties meet the preferences of consumers. To achieve this goal, a procedure has been developed that combines sensory analysis with spectroscopic data collected in the NIR region. Each sample was analyzed using both traditional analytical techniques and non-destructive NIR spectroscopy.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations with plant roots and can help plants acquire nutrients from the soil in exchange for photosynthetic carbon. Commercial bioinoculants containing AMF are widely available and represent a potential opportunity to reduce the dependence of grapevines on agrochemicals. However, which commercially available AMF species colonize vine roots and affect vine growth remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the AMF species from commercial bioinoculants that colonize grapevine roots using high-throughput sequencing, and to evaluate the performance of five commercial bioinoculants and their effects on own-rooted Cabernet sauvignon.