Minerality has been the most popular and yet controversial wine descriptor of the last fifteen years. Nowadays, minerality can be defined as a complex multidimensional and multimodal concept including aroma, taste and trigeminal sensation. Main descriptors associated with this concept remind gunflint, shellfish or struck match associated with slight reductive notes while underlining the molecular contribution of sulphur compounds. Since the amount of oxygen present in the wine can alter sulphur compounds composition, we hypothesized that perceived minerality can be modified by using stoppers with different oxygen permeability. To test this hypothesis, a sensory study combining experts’ minerality assessments and sensory description by a trained panel was conducted. Volatile sulphur compounds and basic oenological parameters were also quantified. Six white wines couples from different vintages were selected in this study. Each one was bottle aged with two types of closures with different oxygen permeabilities. Experts minerality ratings showed a gradient structure of perceived minerality across the samples. Descriptive results from experts and trained panellists confirmed the correlation between minerality and reductive notes and an opposition to ageing bouquet. Perceived minerality was more associated with samples using low permeability stoppers confirming our main hypothesis. In addition, four volatile thiols as well as free and total SO2 were found to be positive predictors of perceived minerality.
Terpenoids, especially monoterpenes and C13-norisoprenoids, constitute the aromatic backbone of many grape varieties. One such variety, known for the complexity of its aroma, is Riesling, which has historically been grown on sites facing increasing frequencies of drought stress. Water deficit has long been known to enhance terpenoid synthesis in grapevines, as in other species. Drought stress, however, also limits grapevine vigour, leading to changes in canopy porosity and microclimate, which might bias results of experiments designed to test effects of water deficit. To disentangle the relationship between drought stress, sun exposure, and grapevine terpenoid synthesis, we collected data from several experiments on Riesling grapevines conducted from 2021 to 2024 in a cool-moderate maritime climate (Geisenheim, Germany; four years) and a dry continental climate (Prosser, WA, USA; one year), combining aroma analyses, δ13C measurements, water balance models and water potential measurements. To separate the effects of light and/or temperature from those of water deficit, most experiments used leaf removal in the bunch zone to ensure comparable microclimatic conditions across irrigation treatments. During the growing season, particularly during the lag phase, drought stress stimulated monoterpene and, to a lesser extent, norisoprenoid accumulation in grapes and wine. The impact of drought stress on monoterpene and norisoprenoid composition was comparable to that of full leaf removal in the bunch zone. Drought stress reduced the effects of leaf removal, especially in years with a hot early ripening phase. These results increase our understanding of how “terroir” factors and cultural practices interact to shape grape and wine aromatic composition.
Vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand, maintain dense canopies and rely heavily on drip irrigation to produce aromatic white wines in the rain-shadowed valleys. Although irrigation water is available from groundwater, its level is slowly but steadily decreasing, indicating the need to improve irrigation efficiency and soil water management to sustain viticulture. In this study, we measured grapevine water uptake depth across seven representative soil types in the region and related them to soil properties and soil management to inform more sustainable practices. Soil texture explained most of the observed variability among the seven study sites. Isotopic analysis of water (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) and Bayesian mixing models (MixSIAR) showed soil-dependent differences in water uptake depth. Analysis of berry carbon isotopes (δ¹³C) indicated that, despite site-specific differences in soil type and soil management, grapevines experienced low water stress across all sites. Together, these results demonstrate that grapevine water uptake depth reflects soil physical properties, with implications for soil type-specific water management and irrigation strategies.
Moscatel de Setúbal is a Portuguese fortified wine with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO Setúbal), made from the Moscatel de Setúbal (Muscat of Alexandria) grape cultivar through fermentation interrupted by fortification, followed by an extended maceration with skins and seeds (approximately six months) and traditional ageing in used oak barrels. Despite its recognized quality, it remains under-researched. This study characterized 27 vintages, assessing physicochemical composition, chromatic characteristics, namely CIELab parameters, and phenolic profile. The results demonstrated the paramount role of ageing in shaping colour and phenolic composition, distinguishing younger from older wines. Older vintages exhibited greater colour intensity (absorbance at 420 nm) and colorimetric difference (ΔE*), as well as higher tanning capacity and flavanol content, whereas younger wines showed lower colour intensity, higher brightness, and predominance of the proanthocyanidins polymeric fraction. A strong correlation between colour and glucose plus fructose content was observed. By elucidating the effects of ageing, this work provides new insights into the quality determinants of this iconic fortified wine, with potential relevance for other wine styles.
Anti-hail nets are used worldwide as a physical barrier to protect grapevines from hail damage. Beyond this protective role, they also modify the vineyard microclimate. These effects are relevant in warm and arid wine-growing regions, where vineyards are frequently exposed to both hailstorms and heat stress. However, the effects of anti-hail nets on yield, growth and berry quality have been scarcely studied. This study evaluated, in San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina, over three growing seasons (2018–2019, 2019–2020, 2020–2021), the combined effects of two anti-hail net colours (Black and Pearl) and two installation systems (Grembiule and Modified) on vegetative growth, yield components, and berry composition of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Malbec. Each variable was measured on one or more seasons. Results showed that under both installation systems, the Black net increased vegetative growth. Both the Black net and the Grembiule system improved yield components, with the Black–Grembiule combination increasing yield by 16 % compared with the Pearl–Grembiule treatment. At harvest, berries from vines grown under the Black net had higher titratable acidity and lower pH, whereas those from the Pearl net showed higher berry sugar. Tannin and anthocyanin concentrations were higher in berries from vines grown under the Grembiule system. In regions prone to hail events, selecting both net colour and installation system according to environmental conditions to optimise vine growth, yield, and fruit quality provides an additional tool to buffer the negative effects of climate change at the vineyard scale.
