A GIS Analysis of New Zealand Terroir

Light-struck taste is a defect prevalent in white wines bottled in clear glass light-exposed for a considerable amount of time leading to a loss of color and appearance of sulfur-like odors. The reaction involves riboflavin (RF), a highly photosensitive compound that undergoes to intermolecular photoreduction by the uptake of two electron equivalents from an external donor, the methionine. The reaction includes different steps forming methional which is extremely unstable and decomposes to methane thiol and acrolein. The reaction of two molecules of methane thiol yields dimethyl disulfide. Methane thiol is highly volatile, has a low perception threshold (2 to 10 µg/L in wine) and confers aroma-like rotten eggs or cabbage.

Notre objectif est d’étudier de façon précise les relations entre la physiologie de la vigne et le sol, en prenant en compte l’effet millésime. Nous avons plus précisément étudier la précocité de débourrement de la vigne (stade D) en fonction de la texture du sol et plus particulièrement de la teneur en éléments grossiers.

Started in 1994, this project intends to explain quality of grapes and wines using data of soil, climate and vineyard that are currently used in field trials.

Rootstocks play a key role in the grapevine’s adaptation to the increasing soil water scarcity related to climate change. A pot experiment carried out in 2022 aimed at assessing the physiological responses of seven ungrafted rootstocks to a progressive soil water deficit and a subsequent recovery to field capacity.

The global wine market is polarising over brands versus origin. Provenance is emerging as a marketing megatrend in many fast moving consumer goods. Origin has always been important in wine but does that mean consumers understand, or care about terroir?