The Soil Component of Terroir

Most of the rootstocks used in viticulture today are partly resistant against grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch) and host phylloxera on the root system without conspicuous negative impacts on fruit production).

Global grape production amounts to approximately 70 million tons per year, with Europe contributing 61% of the world’s wine output, primarily from Italy, France, and Spain.

Grapevine is one of the most-frequently phytosanitary treated crop systems. Consequently, restrictions have been applied by the European Commission on the number of pesticide treatments and the maximum quantity of copper fungicides allowed per year. Moreover, there is a need and an increasing demand for more ecological-sustainable agricultural products.
Seaweeds are currently used as fertilizers in viticulture, as they have been proven to be beneficial in several ways related to growth and nutrition.

The diversity of potential sources of damage to the terroir of an appellation (physical, aesthetic, ecological damage, damage to the image, to collective representation or even, in a broad concept which will not be retained here, to the geographical name identifying the terroir) is accompanied by a fragmentation of the legal sources allowing its protection.

Anthocyanins are responsible for the red wine color and their ability to condense with tannins is considered as a contributor in astringency reduction. However, recent studies showed the possibility of anthocyanins to influence directly the in-mouth perception of wines.