Application of organic carbon status indicators on vineyard soils: the case study of DOC Piave (Veneto region, Italy)

The yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima is a microorganism of great biotechnological interest, both for improving winemaking processes and for other applications outside the wine supply chain.

Global warming is responsible for a lack of organic acid in grape berries, leading to wines with higher pH and lower titrable acidity. The chemical, microbiological and organoleptic equilibriums are impacted by this change of organic acid concentration. It is common practice to acidify the wine in order to prevent these imbalances that can lead to wine defects and early spoilage. Tartaric acid (TA) is most commonly used by winemaker for wine acidification purposes. Fumaric acid (FA), which is authorized by the OIV in its member states for the inhibition of malolactic fermentation, could also be used as a potential acidification candidate since it has a better acidifying power than tartaric acid.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as defined by the European Commission, is a strategic framework through which companies integrate social, environmental, and economic sustainability into their operations (European Commission, 2001).

Remote sensing technology captures spectral data beyond the visible range, making it useful for monitoring plant stress. Vis-NIR (Visible-Near Infrared) spectroscopy (400-1000 nm) is commonly used to indirectly assess plant status during drought. One example is the widespread use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) that is strongly linked to green biomass. However, a knowledge gap exists regarding the applicability of this method to all the drought conditions and if it is a direct correlation to the water status of the plant.

Nitrogen (N) uptake by grapevine roots in forms like nitrate, ammonium, urea, or amino acids influences vegetative and generative growth, impacting grape quality and wine sensory profile. The study examined nitrogen’s influence on phenolic compounds in leaves, berries, and wine across different scales — hydroponics, soil culture, and vineyard trials. Nitrogen forms altered metabolite patterns in leaves and wine significantly, affecting aroma and flavor. Key nitrogen assimilation enzymes (NR, NiR, GS) in grapevine rootstocks responded to nitrogen forms and timing. Hydroponically grown rootstocks fertilized with various forms showed differences in enzyme expression and activity, suggesting rootstocks can assimilate amino acid glutamine (Gln).