Integration of the AOC and terroir concepts by future professionals of the international wine sector

Drought and heat waves deriving from climate change have been affecting grapevine plants and altering wine characteristics in the past years, and effects are expected to get worst. Innovative approaches to address this problem have been undertaken in several varieties, that consist in exploring intravarietal variability to identify genotypes that are tolerant to abiotic stress. Such is the case of the variety Arinto, where an experimental population of 165 clones installed according to a resolvable row-column design with 6 replicates, was scanned for several parameters, including surface leaf temperature (SLT). Linear mixed models were fitted to the data of the traits evaluated, and the empirical best linear unbiased predictors (EBLUPs) of genotypic effects for each trait were obtained as well as the coefficient of genotypic variation (CVG) and broad sense heritability.

Approaching the notion of terroir wines at the level of consumption poses a problem due to the absence of a regulatory definition of the term terroir, which is not taken up either at Community level or at national level (the Consumer Code in particular does not define not the land). However, whatever definition is adopted for the terroir, we can retain at the consumer level an identification of the terroir through the different geographical mentions appearing on the labels or on the shelves of the wine shelf.

Wine grapes breeding has been concentrating a lot of efforts within the grape research community over the last decade. The quick phenotyping of genotype quality traits including aroma composition remains challenging. Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS), a technology first available in 2008 and developing rapidly, could be particularly valuable for this usage. The aims of this study were i) to use SIFT-MS, to analyze the whole volatilome from different grape varieties, ii) to assess the ability of this technology to discriminate varieties according to their grape aroma composition, and iii) to study the stability of SIFT-MS signal over maturation to define a sampling strategy.

Mediterranean viticulture is increasingly exposed to more frequent extreme conditions such as heat waves. These extreme events co-occur with low soil water content, high air vapor pressure deficit and high solar radiant energy fluxes and result in leaf and berry sunburn, lower yield, and berry quality, which is a major constraint for the sustainability of the sector. Grape growers must find ways to proper and effectively manage heat waves and extreme canopy and berry temperatures. Irrigation to keep soil moisture levels and enable adequate plant turgor, and convective and evaporative cooling emerged as a key tool to overcome this major challenge. The effects of irrigation on soil and plant water status are easily quantifiable but the impact of irrigation on soil and canopy temperature and on heat convection from soil to cluster zone remain less characterized. Therefore, a more detailed quantification of vineyard heat fluxes is highly relevant to better understand and implement strategies to limit the effects of extreme weather events on grapevine leaf and berry physiology and vineyards performance. Low-cost sensor technologies emerge as an opportunity to improve monitoring and support decision making in viticulture. However, validation of low-cost sensors is mandatory for practical applicability. A two-year study was carried in a vineyard in Alentejo, south of Portugal, using low-cost thermal cameras (FLIR One, 80×60 pixels and FLIR C5, 160×120 pixels, 8-14 µm, FLIR systems, USA) and pocket thermohygrometers (Extech RHT30, EXTECH instruments, USA) to monitor grapevine and soil temperatures. Preliminary results show that low-cost cameras can detect severe water stress and support the evaluation of vertical canopy temperature variability, providing information on soil surface temperature. All these thermal parameters can be relevant for soil and crop management and be used in decision support systems.

The use of barrels is a practice that improves the quality of wines. The porous structure of wood favors the accumulation of microorganisms that can deteriorate the quality of wines so that barrel cleaning and sanitizing treatments are essential. The burning of sulphur discs has been the most common practice in winemaking because ots biocide effect. Nevertheless, its effectiveness is still insufficient and it is harmful for human health.