Herbicides are commonly applied under vines to minimize the competition by weeds. As concerns about using fewer chemical inputs have developed, alternative methods to herbicides for undervine weed control are increasingly being adopted. These trials were carried out in New Zealand on Sauvignon blanc, Pinot noir, and Merlot from 2012/13-2015/16.
In the context of climate change and the complex terrain of the Western Cape, increased resolution of climate data is crucial for effective adaptive strategies. Reliable climate data can be costly, and currently requires intensive data validation; hence the study aimed to find an alternative resource to quantify the climate over the spatial extent of the Western Cape, for possible semi-real time applications.
São Joaquim (28º17’38 “S and 49º55’55” O) is a viticultural region located on the Santa Catarina Plateau, south region of Brazil, which is known for vineyards that produce fine wines from grapes cultivated at altitude (> 900 m). It is amongst the coldest (annual average of 13.42 ºC, 1832.36 hours of solar radiation and 1680.23 mm of precipitation) and the highest (715 – 1638 m) Brazilian’s viticultural regions, with hilly relief (43% of slopes between 20 – 45% of declivity, with no preferred direction).
Winegrape production is largely controlled by climate conditions. Identifying how climate conditions impact on vine allows for identifying the suitability of a specific variety for a given region. Given the relevance of the Malbec wine production in Argentina, this study is devoted to derive a Unique Combined Index (UCI) for assessing the suitability of Malbec grape production (MGP) in Argentina.
Over the past ten years, climate studies at local scale have been developed in winegrowing areas to improve terroir characterization. In this project, such a study was undertaken in the mountain vineyard of Irouleguy in cooperation with the local cooperative cellar. A network of 31 temperature sensors has been set up inside the region at the beginning of the 2016 vintage.
Genotype x Environment x Practices interactions exert a tight tuning on wine profile. To maintain the typicality of wine produced in traditional regions becomes a critical challenge in the context of rapid climate changes. While some practices may reduce adverse effects of abiotic stresses on the vine (e.g. the use of watering to maintain photosynthesis), the impacts of high temperature stresses on berry development are more difficult to manage.
Monastrell is the most extended variety in the South east of Spain. One of our strategies for improving its wines consists in selecting intraspecific hybrids arising from crosses between Monastrell and other high quality varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, looking for those well adapted to our conditions, with a high polyphenol content and a high phenolic extractability, in order to produce highly colored wines.
Autochthonous varieties, called ‘criollas’, are highly cultivated in South America. For instance, in Peru or Chile they are used for making Pisco. In Argentina, they represent 33% of the grapevine cultivated area.
CSIRO rootstock breeding aims to provide industry with enhanced material to meet challenges associated with the Australian environment, future climate scenarios (high temperatures, limited water supply and drought) and soil-borne pests (phylloxera and root knot nematodes). In this study, analysis of results from three long term field trials with Shiraz grafted on genotypes from a single family involving Vitis cineria, V. champini, V. riparia and V. rupestris has shown that vine performance and fruit composition can be linked to simple traits, measured on field grown ungrafted seedlings or as ungrafted or grafted nursery grown plants.
The ascomycota fungus Guignardia bidwellii, responsible for the black rot disease of grapevine is causing increasing damages in Hungary especially in organic vineyards without chemical disease management.
Tolerance to fungi has been the subject of recent programs in France since the 1970s(A. Bouquet, INRA Montpellier). The objective of these programs, initiated from Muscadinia rotundifolia and based on 5 to 6 backcrosses with different Vitis vinifera varieties, was to approach the profile of V. vinifera to be combined with a strong resistance to powdery and downy mildews from Muscadinia
Botrytis cinerea causes one of the most serious diseases in grapevines namely Botrytis Bunch Rot (BBR). A classification of different grapevine cultivars (cvs.) according to their susceptibility to B. cinerea is an essential management indicator in Integrated Pest Management. Although such classifications are available, they are based mostly on professional experience rather than experimental results.
Six multi-year, replicated field experiments were conducted to investigate the potential of under-vine cover crops to replace herbicide use in vigorous vinifera vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
Red grapes contain significant amounts of phenolic compounds, known to contribute to wine quality and to provide important health benefits. Berry skin phenolics can be elicited by plant hormones. The aim of this work was to increase the content of anthocyanins and trans-resveratrol in five red varieties cultured in Argentina: Malbec (M), Bonarda (B), Syrah (S), Cabernet Sauvignon (CS), and Pinot Noir (PN), in two different growing regions: Santa Rosa (SR) and Valle de Uco (VU), by applying a post-veraison hormonal treatment with abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA).
Assessing and mapping the spatial variability of vine water status within vineyards constitute a major challenge. An effective sampling system, capable of providing a large amount of accurate observations, is needed to define accurate irrigation decision-making.
The effect of fruit zone leaf removal and harvest maturity level was studied in a commercial Cabernet-Sauvignon vineyard in the Maule Valley (Chile) during three growing seasons from 2013/2014 to 2015/2016.
The impact of different canopy systems and viticultural management practices on fruit exposure have been widely investigated, and the potential impact of microclimate on fruit composition is well recognised.
In the last years, consumers are increasingly demanding for healthy foods. Table grapes are considered an important source of bioactive compounds and therefore their availability in the market should last as long as possible while preserving the phenolic quality.