Terroir 2006 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2006 9 Contributions to the definition of terroir (Terroir 2006) 9 Sardinia terroir and Cannonau: a zoning approach to discover an ancient tradition

Sardinia terroir and Cannonau: a zoning approach to discover an ancient tradition

Abstract

Cannonau variety is historically grown in a large Sardinia area (Jerzu district) and the vineyards are planted both in the plane and in the sloped hills reaching also 650 m of altitude a.s.l. Thus, in order to discover how climate, soil diversity and growing traditions could account for differences in grape and wine quality, this trial was carried out. Within the area of investigation, eight zones were isolated based on soil characteristics (drainage, depth and texture), altitude and climate. Processing climate data, an important differentiation in temperature and thermal range, was discovered between the vineyards sited in the plane and those located up in the hills. Moreover the plan zones are characterised by a heterogeneity in the distribution of the rainfalls. During 2004 and 2005 grapes were collected from veraison to harvest, and the technological maturity was investigated. An advance in the sugar accumulation and titratable acidity degradation was revealed by comparing the plane with the slopes, and this fact was even more evident with the higher vineyards. A first discrimination emerged between plane and high vineyards: the higher the altitude, the higher the anthocyanin content. The yields (higher in the plan) also contribute to partly explain these results. Opposite to these findings, in 2004 the grapes collected in the plane revealed to be much richer in aroma compounds. This fact is probably to be linked with the particular conformation of the valley that result in an increase of the thermal range at the lower altitudes. The sensory evaluation of the wines obtained processing the grapes collected in the different zones, revealed that a zone fingerprint was maintained. Starting on 2005, measurement of soil humidity was performed, and a relationship with grape quality was ascertained.

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2006

Type: Article

Authors

Diego TOMASI (1), Antonio CALÒ (1), Paolo SIVILOTTI (1), Clelia TORE (2), Francesca FANTOLA (2),
Orazio LOCCI (2), Elena GODDI (2), Ignazio CAREDDA (2), Serafino URRU (2), Paolo SCHIRRU (2),
Anna SCANO (2), Onofrio GRAVIANO (3), Paolo CARDU (3), Aldo BUIANI (4) and Daniela BORSA (5)

(1) CRA-Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura, Viale XXVIII Aprile 26, I-31015 Conegliano (TV), Italy
(2) ERSAT Sardegna, Cagliari (CA), Italy
(3) Consorzio Interprovinciale per la Frutticoltura, Cagliari (CA), Italy
(4) Cantina Antichi Poderi di Jerzu, Jerzu (NU), Italy
(5) CRA-Istituto Sperimentale per l’Enologia, Asti, Italy

Contact the author

Keywords

Cannonau, zoning, climate, aroma, anthocyanins

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2006

Citation

Related articles…

Swiss terroirs studies

A multidisciplinary approach aiming at studying the grape-growing areas also referred as “Terroir” was initiated a few years ago in Switzerland.

Budburst delay and berry ripening after vegetal oil application in Austria

Occurrence of freezing temperatures in early spring when grapevine shoots are developing is termed late frost in viticulture. Young green tissues are very sensible to temperatures below zero and damages often lead to important yield and quality losses such as the case in Europe in 2017. An indirect method to avoid late frost damage in vineyards consist in delaying the budburst. Previous research reported similar effects by applying vegetal oil on dormant buds. Here, we tested the application of rapeseed vegetal oil during late winter to delay the budburst on two V.vinifera cultivars of interest in Austria, Grüner Veltliner (GV) and Zweigelt (ZW).

The evaluation of tannin activity in south african red wines

Astringency is an important red wine quality attribute, which can be measured both chemically and sensorially. The use of tannin activity shows potential as a valuable chemical measurement in understanding red wine mouthfeel properties such as astringency and bitterness, which is also affected by tannin structural factors, in addition to matrix effects. Tannin activity is defined as the enthalpy of interaction between tannins and a hydrophobic surface. Studies involving tannin activity have been performed since the early 2010’s, but chemosensory studies used to evaluate how structure-activity relationships change across multiple, consecutive vintages are limited. The aim of this study is to investigate how tannin activity may be linked to red wine mouthfeel, and how all these variables may change according to wine age.

Exploring the dynamic between yeast mannoproteins structure and wine stability

Mannoproteins are macromolecules found on the surface of yeast cells, composed of hyperbranched polysaccharide negatively charged chains by mannosyl-phosphate groups, fixed to a protein core. during the alcoholic fermentation and aging on lees, these mannoproteins are released from the yeast cell wall and become the main yeast-sourced polysaccharide in wine. due to their techno-functional properties, commercial preparations of mannoproteins can be used as additives to better assure tartaric and protein stability.

Cooling the berries, protecting the vines: techniques for managing grapevines during periods of extreme heat

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2025, Alena Wilson (University of Torino, Alba, Torino, Italy) speaks about techniques for managing grapevines during periods of extreme heat. This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on OENO One.