Complementarity of measurements of electric resistivity of soils and ΔC13 of must in studies and valorization of wine terroirs

Un’ Area di Viticultura Americana, detta AVA, è una regione vinicola delimitata ed è dis­tinguibile da caratteristiche geografiche i cui confini sono stati definiti da regolamenti. Il sistema AVA rappresenta un ‘accettazione del concetto di terroir (terreno), come dimostra­no gli studi che confermano il carattere regionale dei vini AVA e dalla sviluppo di sub­denominazioni più relazionate al terreno.

From a fertility standpoint, the vine has to extract from the soil mineral substances necessary for its existence. However, the amount of certain available nutrients does not always correspond to a proportional increase in quality.

The use of cover crops in vineyards has been encouraged by positive effects on wine grape yield and sensory attributes, and improved soil function. This study examined the efficacy of three alleyway and three undervine cover crop treatments in an organic vineyard in the semiarid Okanagan Valley, Canada in 2021.

In a collective marketing strategy, the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) can be used as a quality indicator. To highlight terroir specificities, it is useful to know how the wines are positioned on the local, national or international market from a sensory point of view. This is especially true for a comparison of varietal wines (e.g. Sauvignon blanc). We focus on the case of two closed Loire Valley PDO (France): Quincy and Reuilly. Three distinct tastings were organized. Firstly, at the local level comparing the 2 PDO (11 and 9 wines, 17 professional assessors); secondly at a regional level adding 3 closed PDO: Menetou-Salon, Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé (3 wines per PDO, 16 assessors) and thirdly at an international level comparing these 5 PDO with Sauvignon Blanc wines coming from South Africa, New Zealand and Chile (1 to 3 wines per PDO, 19 assessors). All the wines were from the 2019 vintage and were considered to have a traditional elaboration process without contact with oak. A sensory descriptive analysis was performed using an aroma wheel allowing to combine a Check-All-That-Apply methodology, often used in sensory benchmarking, with a hierarchical structuration of the attributes. The aim is to facilitate data acquisition in a professional context without common training, to consider the hierarchical relationships among the attributes during the data analysis and to be able to characterize wines with a large range of sensorial variability. We use univariate, multivariate and clustering analyses. Similarities and differences between Quincy and Reuilly PDO wines and other Sauvignon blanc wines were identified. Specific attributes can distinguish the two PDO and different proximities exist with other local PDO, while clear differences were observed compared to international wines. Our study contributes to propose and discuss a method to do a wine sensory benchmarking highlighting sensory specificities linked to origin.

Le terroir viticole, qui est la base de la délimitation des aires d’Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, est une notion complexe dans laquelle sont en interaction la vigne, les facteurs naturels tels que le sol, le climat, ainsi que le facteur humain à travers les pratiques des viticulteurs. Le terroir conditionne la composition des raisins et ainsi la qualité et la typicité des vins qui en sont issus.