Aknowledgment and management of vocational units in Chianti Rufina

Abstract

In Tuscany region the Rufina is a district of Chianti D.O.C.G. positioned in Val di Sieve, 20 km north east from Florence. During the three years period (2002-2004) a study for a viticultural zoning has been carried in order to characterize the productions. By a pedological survey it was possible to characterize Rufina territory in 13 Landscape Units in which the choice of the vineyards was made. The variety mainly used for the study was the autochthonous Sangiovese with 29 vineyards; also some vineyards of Merlot have been characterised in order to assess its suitability to the studied area. Climate study has been realised using the historical data that have been processed by the main climatic indexes to characterize the different environment in relation to grape grown. For each of the 36 vineyards maturation dynamics were assessed in the pre-harvest period and, at harvest, data about quality and production have been collected; moreover microvinifications for each vineyard were made and the obtained wines have been chemically and sensorial analyzed. Data processing showed al lot of differences that made possible to identify and classify the territory of Chianti Rufina in 11 Vocational Units. Publications of a Manual of good practices, allowed to give technical advices, from planting agronomical management of vineyard, of identified Units with the aim to optimize productive activities depending on the oenological target set.

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type : Article

Authors

TONINATO Luca (1) CRICCO Jacopo (1) SCIENZA Attilio (2)

(1) Ager Sc – Via Tucidide, 56 – 20134 Milano, Italy
(2) Università di Milano – Dipartimento di Produzione Vegetale, Via Celoria,2 – 20133 Milano, Italy

Contact the author

Keywords

Zoning, Rufina, Sangiovese, Vocational unit

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

Effect of regulated deficit irrigation regime on amino acids content of Monastrell (Vitis vinifera L.) grapes

Irrigation is an important practice to influence vine quality, especially in Mediterranean regions, characterized by hot summers and severe droughts during the growing season. This study focused on deficit irrigation regime influence on amino acids composition of Monastrell grapevines under semiarid conditions (Albacete, Southeastern of Spain). In 2019, two treatments were applied: non-irrigation (NI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), watered at 30% of the estimated crop evapotranspiration from fruit set to onset of veraison. Grape amino acids content was analyzed by HPLC. Berries from non-irrigated vines showed higher concentration of several amino acids, such as tryptophan (73%), arginine (70%), lysine (36%), isoleucine (27%), and leucine (21%), compared to RDI grapes. Arginine is, together with ammonium ion, the principal nitrogen source for yeasts during the alcoholic fermentation; while isoleucine, tryptophan, and leucine are precursors of fermentative volatile compounds, key compounds for wine quality. Moreover, NI treatment increased in a 14% the total amino acids content in grapes compared to RDI treatment. The reported effects might be because yield was 70% higher in RDI vines than in the NI ones and, therefore, the sink demand was increased in the irrigated vines. In addition, NI vines suffered more severe water stress and it is known that the amino acids synthesis and accumulation can be influenced by the plant response to stress. According to the results, the irrigation regime showed effect on amino acids concentration in Monastrell grapes under semiarid conditions. Grapes from non-irrigated vines showed a higher content of several amino acids relevant to the fermentative process and to the wine aroma compounds formation. It is demonstrated that the final content of nitrogen-related components in grapes is influenced by the irrigation regime. The convenience of the irrigation strategy to suggest will depend on the desired wine style and the target yield levels.

Organic recycled mulches in sustainable viticulture: assessment of spontaneous plants communities and weed coverage

In recent years, developing more efficient and sustainable viticulture management has been essential due to the impact of climate change in semiarid regions. For this reason, the use of recycled organic mulching (ROM) in the vineyard has become an interesting strategy to cope with water stress, isolated soil from extreme temperatures and improving soil humidity, control the presence of weeds and therefore reduce the inputs of herbicides and improve soil fertility. This work aimed to analyse the effect of three different organic mulches [straw (S), grape pruning debris (GPD) and spent mushroom compost (SMC)] and two traditional soil management techniques [herbicide (H) and interrow (IN)] on weed coverage and the spontaneous plant communities’ presence. Data sampling was collected throughout the vine vegetative cycle of 2021 in La Rioja, Spain. The different soil management techniques had a clear effect on weed coverage and his development during the vine vegetative cycle. SMC and H were the treatments with the highest and the lowest coverage percentage, respectively. IN had a delayed weed emergence at the beginning of the vine vegetative cycle, but finally it reached maximum values nearby SMC. GPD and S had similar effects on weed emergence, reaching 25-30% of the maximum coverage values. A total of 29 herbaceous species were identified during the vegetative cycle, some of them very isolated and occasional. Principal component analysis (PCAs) showed a good association between spontaneous species and treatments, furthermore, specific species-treatment associations were found. Moreover, three clear groups of herbaceous communities were identified by cluster analysis. This study provides interesting information about the effect of different alternative soil management on herbaceous plant coverage and weed species communities which could contribute to making more sustainable viticulture.

PRECISE AND SUSTAINABLE OENOLOGY THROUGH THE OPTIMIZED USE OF AD- JUVANTS: A BENTONITE-APPLIED MODEL OF STUDY TO EXPLOIT

As wine resilience is the result of different variables, including the wine pH and the concentration of wine components, a detailed knowledge of the relationships between the adjuvant to attain stability and the oenological medium is fundamental for process optimization and to increase wine durability till the time of consumption.

AGEING BOTTLED WINES SUBMERGED IN SEA: DOES IT IMPACT WINE COMPOSITION?

Aging wines is a common practice in oenology, which in recent years has undergone some innovations. Currently, we are witnessing the practice of aging bottled wine in depth, immersed in the sea or in reservoirs, for variable periods of time, but so far, little is known about the impact of aging in depth on the physicochemical properties, of wines.
The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of this practice on the physicochemical characteristics, in particular to verify changes in the volatile composition of wines bottled and subsequently immersed in depth. A red wine from Cabernet Sauvignon was bottled and a set of bottles were submerged from July to February (2020), another set of bottles were submerged from February to September (2020) and another set was kept in the wine cellar. Bottles from each set were analyzed (in triplicate) in July 2021.

Uvalino wine: chemical and sensory profile

The evaluation of different chemical compounds present in Uvalino wines was correlated with sensory analysis. The analysis showed a high content of polyphenolic compounds responsible for the organoleptic properties of wine, including color, astringency and bitterness.