VITOUR – The European World Heritage Vineyards

Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is a volatile sulfur compound with a complex role in wine aroma, contributing both desirable and undesirable sensory characteristics depending on its concentration (1).

Grapevine is subject to multiple stresses, either biotic or abiotic, frequently in combination. These stresses may negatively impact the health status of plants and reduce yields. For biotic stress, grapevine is affected by numerous pest and diseases such as downy and powdery mildews, grey mold, black rot, grapevine fanleaf virus and trunk diseases (namely GTDs). The interaction between grapevine and pathogens is relatively complex and linked to various pathogenicity factors including cell-wall-degrading enzymes (especially CAZymes) and phytotoxic secondary metabolites, growth regulators, effectors proteins, and fungal viruses.

Climate change is having a significant impact on the wine industry through more regular drought conditions, fires, and heat events, leading to crop loss. Furthermore, these events can reduce overall quality of the fruit, even when crop yields are not impacted. Anthocyanins are considered one of the most important classes of compounds for red wine production and are known to be sensitive to vine water status and heat events.

This work was aimed at setting up a methodology to define and map the «Unités Terroir de Reconnaissance» (UTR), combining environmental information stored in a Soil Information System with experimental data coming from benchmark vineyards of Sangiovese vine.

Grapevine (vitis spp.) Is one of the major and most economically important fruit crops worldwide. Unlike other cropping systems, viticulture has ancient historical connections with the development of human culture and with the socio-cultural background of grape-growing areas. The vitis genus is characterised by high levels of genetic diversity, as result of natural genetic mutations, which are common in grapevines and further assisted by ongoing vegetative propagation.