The influence of tertiary and quaternary deposits on the viticultural potential of the terroirs to be found in Geneva, Switzerland

The composition of wine is largely determined by the composition of pre-fermentation juice, which is influenced by extraction of grape components. Different grape harvesting and processing conditions could affect the extraction of grape components into juice. Among these grape components, pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are of great concern for white wine maker as they are the main cause of haze formation in finished white wine. If not removed before bottling, these PR proteins may progress into haze through the formation of complex with phenolics under certain conditions. Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) and chitinases are the main constituents of PR proteins found in protein haze.

The study was performed in the summer of 2007, the point of confluence of a rather atypical vintage year in the area with abnormally low temperatures after a very humid spring

Il a été souvent démontré (Seguin, 1970), que les meilleurs terroirs sont ceux qui présentent pendant la période de maturation du raisin, une régulation et une limitation de l’alimentation hydrique de la vigne. Si on s’intéresse aux facteurs influençant ce régime hydrique, on constate le rôle prépondérant du taux d’éléments grossiers non poreux qui limitent la réserve utile du sol en diminuant le taux de terre fine. De plus, ces éléments grossiers jouent également un rôle au niveau du pédo-climat thermique car leur conductivité thermique et leur chaleur spécifique sont plus élevées que celles de la terre fine. Ainsi le sol se réchauffera et se refroidira plus rapidement (Saini et McLean, 1967), (Gras, 1994).

Global warming is one of the biggest environmental, social and economic threats in several viticultural regions. In the Douro Valley, changes are expected in the coming years, namely an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation. These changes are likely to have consequences for the production and quality of wine.
The aim of this study was to explore the effects of different soil characteristics combined with several deficit irrigation strategies, managed throughout ETc references and predawn leaf water potentials thresholds, on physiology, yield, and qualitative attributes on the Touriga Nacional variety under years of mild to severe water and heat stress.
The studies were conducted over seven years (2015 to 2021) in two plots of a commercial vineyard located at Quinta do Ataíde (Symington Family Estates) planted in 2011 and 2014 at 170 meters elevation, growing under three water regimes: non-irrigated (NI) and two deficit irrigation strategies (30% and 60% ETc) assessed weekly by Ψpd. The site has an annual rainfall below 500 mm, with high atmospheric demand. Climate data was collected from a weather station, located on site. Berry ripening was followed weekly for fruit analysis. At harvest, yield, vigour and pruning weight per vine were determined from 90 vines by treatment. Each season at veraison the NDVI Index was accessed by a drone. The soils physic-chemistry in the experimental blocs were analysed and grouped by SWHC. Delta C-13 analyses were also performed per treatment in two years.Irrigation had a positive effect on yield per vine, mostly due to an increase in berry and cluster weight, and fertility index through the years. A significant increase in sugar content, colour and phenols was observed with deficit irrigation in some years, but vine vigour related to soil characteristics had by far the greatest impact on quality.

Catechins, a subclass of flavonoids widely found in plants and plant-based foods and beverages such as wine and tea, not only exhibit significant antioxidant properties [1], as extensively documented in the literature, but can also inhibit amyloid protein aggregation [2], a key process implicated in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s.