Abstract
Terroir is about the link between wine and its origin. It has long been understood by sensory evaluation that the taste of wine from a given variety can be related to its origins. Specific organoleptic characteristics of wine are influenced by environmental factors such as soil and climate. By deconstructing the effect of measurable soil and climate parameters on grape and wine aroma compounds, the terroir effect on wine typicity can be better understood. Climate influences on vine development and grape ripening are mainly associated with temperature, radiation and rainfall, while soil influences are primarily associated with water availability and nitrogen supply. Significant advances have been made over recent years in understanding wine aromas and their molecular basis and influences of climate and soil on a wide range of molecules responsible for wine aroma expression. This article aims to review these recent research advances to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of how terroir influences wine typicity. The effect of terroir on wine quality and typicity is sometimes considered intangible and difficult to explain on a scientific basis. By combining agronomic, analytical and sensory approaches, however, this review shows that the terroir effect is mediated by measurable factors that can easily be monitored in the vineyard. Assessment of the results compiled by this review allows the suggestion that terroir expression at specific sites might be maximized by choosing appropriate plant material in relation to soil and climate, by acting on manageable parameters like vine water and nitrogen status, or by implementing canopy management to modify microclimate in the bunch zone.
Highlights
Analytical and sensory approaches, this review shows that the terroir effect is mediated by measurable factors that can be monitored in the vineyard
The winegrower is of importance in shaping this so-called terroir effect by choosing plant material and vineyard management practices adapted to local soil and climate conditions and the winemaker needs to translate berry composition into optimum wine quality by the use of appropriate winemaking techniques
The terroir effect can be assessed through the measurement of air temperatures, radiation, rainfall, soil water holding capacity and vine nitrogen status
Summary
The quality and style of wine are influenced by the place where the vines grow (Jackson and Lombard, 1993). It is acknowledged that particular local soil and climate conditions have a major influence on wine sensory attributes (Seguin, 1988; van Leeuwen et al, 2004). The winegrower is of importance in shaping this so-called terroir effect by choosing plant material and vineyard management practices adapted to local soil and climate conditions (van Leeuwen and Seguin, 2006) and the winemaker needs to translate berry composition into optimum wine quality by the use of appropriate winemaking techniques. Vine water status influences shoot development (Pellegrino et al, 2005), yield (Matthews and Anderson, 1989), grape ripening (van Leeuwen et al, 2009) and fruit composition (Matthews and Anderson, 1988). The terroir effect can be assessed through the measurement of air temperatures, radiation, rainfall, soil water holding capacity and vine nitrogen status. Major parameters determining terroir expression can be quantified and even spatialized at vineyard scale (van Leeuwen et al, 2018; de Rességuier et al, 2020)
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