Chilean Wine Industry Research Articles

Evaluating hydrogen production from grape pomace gasification: Unveiling the potential for Chile’s wine industry and its solid waste recovery as energy source

This study presents the characteristics of fluidized bed gasification of grape pomace, which is a residual biomass from the Chilean wine industry, by means of sensitivity analysis in the Aspen Plus process simulator. The model was used to evaluate the hydrogen generation potential and identify optimal conditions to improve hydrogen production. The effects of gasification temperature on syngas composition, syngas exergy and gasification efficiency were examined. Sensitivity analysis revealed that gasification temperatures above 800 °C result in the highest hydrogen yield. In addition, a mapping analysis of vineyards in Chile indicates a regional hydrogen production potential of 17,109.26 tons per year by pomace gasification. The results are accompanied by an economic and environmental assessment based on the model results, ensuring a holistic evaluation of the proposed approach.

Sustainability in Family and Nonfamily Businesses in the Wine Industry

The implementation of environmentally sustainable initiatives within organizations is a shared research topic across both sustainability and family business research. Using a case study approach, this paper provides an in-depth exploration of the presence, role, and strategic nature of environmentally sustainable processes within the Chilean wine industry. Our interview process resulted in 21 interviews between July and November of 2014. Our findings suggest that the recognized tendency of family firms to both engage in and benefit from sustainability practices may not only be owed to their desire to preserve family socio-emotional wealth, but also the unique ability to better incorporate, apply, and effectively benefit from such investments. These findings extend previous work in this area by recognizing additional processes necessary for the development of proactive sustainability practices which are not considered using the motivation-based schema common in extant work. Our findings are analyzed and discussed as they relate to both family business and sustainability research and serve as a bridge between these two related research domains.

PSXIV-6 País grape marc (Vitis vinifera, País) inclusion in concentrate diets reduces ammonia nitrogen but not methane production in an in vitro batch culture

Abstract País Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is an ancestral variety used in Chilean wine industry. It has a higher content of proanthocyanidins than commercial varieties such as Carmenère or Pinot Noir, resulting in País grape marc (PGM) with high contents of condensed tannins. As such, PGM inclusion in ruminant diets would have the potential to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions and decrease urinary N excretion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of substitution of mixed hay (MH) with PGM in a high concentrate diet [65% dry matter (DM)] on in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), ruminal fermentation parameters, gas and CH4 production. Treatments were: T1 (Control) = 20% MH, 15% corn silage, 65% concentrate; T2 = 10% MH, 10% PGM, 15% corn silage, 65% concentrate; T3 = 20% PGM, 15% corn silage, 65% concentrate. The study was a randomized complete design with 3 treatment and 3 replicates, incubated for 24 h at 39º C. Data were compared by Tukey test and polynomial contrasts. There was a linear reduction in NH3-N (P = 0.001) as dietary PGM increased. Inclusion of PGM reduced NH3-N by 50% when added at 10% DM, and 71.7% at 20% DM. However, there also was 4% reduction in IVDMD (P ≤ 0.001) and gas production (P = 0.012) in the 20% GM diet. There were no treatment effects (P ≥ 0.05) on CH4 production or yield. Fermentation efficiency determined by the partition factor increased linearly (P = 0.013) as PGM inclusion increased, suggesting that it increases organic matter to be degraded. Based on this study it could be concluded that PGM is an alternative source of fiber for ruminants on concentrate diets, as it can result in improved rumen fermentation efficiency and a substantial reduction in ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration (NH3-N).

The Use of Digital Social Networks and Engagement in Chilean Wine Industry

Recently, companies and consumers of the wine industry have changed their manner of two-way communication, with the rise of technology that introduces social networks and urges the spread of content. In this study, we identified the use and importance of engagement in social networks such as Facebook (2008 to 2018), Instagram (2012 to 2018) and Twitter (2010 to 2018) since the creation of their official accounts for the main Chilean wineries. The methods used involve qualitative and quantitative approaches that integrate the opinion of a panel of experts to estimate a social media engagement indicator through a descriptive statistical analysis and network analysis, from data originated of 70,856 publications. The results show the upward evolution of engagement, calculated through the interactions seen from users of social networks of the wineries, with users of networks of these wineries leaning towards Facebook in the first place, then Instagram, and Twitter. The contribution of this research lies in the generation of empirical evidence that allows the wine industry in a developing country to enhance its competitive advantage through the correct use of its social networks, the management of its engagement, and the diffusion of new marketing strategies.

Measuring efficiency in the Chilean wine industry: a robust DEA approach

ABSTRACT The Chilean wine industry has been quite innovative in terms of winemaking and trading. Yet, to survive in this competitive industry, wine managers should be aware of the relevance of monitoring their performance. In this paper, we assess how the five wineries listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange of Chile are efficient while using their critical resources for making profits. Particularly, we apply data envelopment analysis (DEA) to benchmark and rank these wineries’ technical efficiency based on four inputs and one output. We use data gathered from consolidated financial statements that are prepared using estimates, judgements, and assumptions. To account for some level of ex-post adjustments in data, we evaluate these wineries’ relative efficiency using a robust DEA model, which deals with ambiguous, imprecise, and uncertain input-output parameters. We analyse several levels of variability suitable for this data source, and we evaluate how changing the conservatism level affects technical efficiency and the rankings of the wineries. We also conduct a comparison between the five Chilean wineries and nine others from the New World. As the main conclusion, we found that Chilean wineries keep their efficiency level when including international firms in the analysis.

Terroir and typicity of Carignan from Maule Valley (Chile): the resurgence of a minority variety

Carignan is one of those minor cultivars that have had a major resurgence in the Chilean wine industry, and its production is sold at a price well above the national average. This variety, together with other autochthonous grapevine varieties, makes up a unique heritage in Chilean winemaking, which has given a new identity to the country on the world wine scene. Chilean viticulture is based on the production of the most recognized grapevine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. However, this has caused a massive loss of minority and autochthonous grapevine varieties in certain wine growing regions. Thus, this review summarizes the effects of terroir of the Maule Valley on the typicity of Carignan. Carignan grapevines growing in the sites closer to the Pacific Ocean, such as Truquilemu and Ciénaga de Name, present a high concentration of several amino acids and volatile compounds in grapes and wines, while Carignan grapevines growing in the sites further east, towards the Andes Mountains, provide grapes and wines with a high alcohol and phenolic concentration. Therefore, Maule Valley provides unique edaphoclimatic conditions that allow differences in the composition and style of the Carignan wines.

Effects of bub nodal position along the cane on bud fertility, yield component and bunch structure in ‘Carménère’ grapevines

Carmenere is an important grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) variety from the Chilean wine industry, which has a low fertility in their basal buds, affecting negatively yield. Due to this, the aim of this work was to characterize and evaluate technological maturity, percentage of bud break, practical bud fertility, yield components, bunch structure and yield index by practical fertility reached in each nodal position in buds along Carmenere canes. Bud break reached an average of 79.9% along the cane, with extreme values from 57.3% to 98.7%. Bud fertility reached an average of 1.3 bunch per bud, with extreme values from 0.9 to 1.7. According to this, ‘Carmenere’ showed a low fertility in basal buds. Weight of bunch varied from 108.0 to 214.7 g. Number and weight of berries was higher in the buds from distal nodal positions. Bunch structure parameters, such as stalk length, number and length of primary wings, and yield index by practical fertility was also higher in the bud from distal nodal positions. Moreover, large size berries represent 50% of berries and 80% of weight of berries. Due to this, ‘Carmenere’ productivity is limited by small size berries. These findings are important to determine the viticultural managements that should be performed in ‘Carmenere’ vineyards.

Assembling Fairtrade: Practices of progress and conventionalization in the Chilean wine industry

The global Fairtrade system is multiple, heterogeneous and dynamic. The processes that underlie its contextual formations are key, and this paper analyses these through bringing together assemblage thinking and social practices to discuss Fairtrade in the Chilean wine industry. Local-level contestations and appropriation highlight the different forms Fairtrade takes at the micro-scale, which maintain a contextual heterogeneity without challenging the overall coherence of the Fairtrade economy. Power relations are uneven and the important role of local and international ‘assemblage converters’ in catalysing and curtailing possibilities for Fairtrade practices is highlighted. These operate within and across scales, interacting, and varyingly integrated, with other similarly multi-scalar assemblages to support or disrupt particular stabilized compositions. Fairtrade emerges as simultaneously globally coherent and locally fragmented, a system in constant motion between alternative and conventional relations and practices. To challenge creeping conventionalization, the paper concludes that maintaining space for unpredictability and creativity is critical to Fairtrade’s future through making space for enhancing opportunities and for alternatives to take flight.

Xylem structure and function in three grapevine varieties

Xylem vessels are responsible for conducting water, in a metastable state, to the transpiring leaves. As tension increases, hydraulic failure may occur. At any given tension, the resistance of the xylem vessels to cavitation depends on their morphology, of which vessels diameter has been pointed out as relevant. Grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) are often cultivated in Mediterranean climates and mostly under controlled water déficit conditions. Besides, a high variability in the stomatal sensitivity exists in different varieties. 'Cabernet Sauvignon' (CS) is recognized as isohydric, 'Syrah' (S) as anisohydric, and no clear information exist for 'Carménère' (C), an important grapevine variety for the Chilean wine industry. In the present study, xylem morpho-anatomical traits from stems in CS, S, and C, growing in a single vineyard, were analyzed, inferring their specific theoretical hydraulic conductivity. Also, the maximal hydraulic conductivity and vulnerability to cavitation, the latter expressed as the xylem water potential reducing a 50% loss in hydraulic conductivity (PLC50) were assessed in stems collected from the field. Higher vessels diameter was found in S and C, followed by CS, in general ranging from 21 to 120 Lim, resulting in an expected proportional theoretical hydraulic conductivity of nearly 40 to 43 kg s-1 m-1 MPa-1 in C and S, and merely 23 kg s-1 m-1 MPa-1 in C. This values were similar -but not proportionally- to maximal actual hydraulic conductivity measured in stems with median values, in average, of 28, 17, and 13 kg s-1 m-1 MPa-1 in S, C, and CS, respectively. Even though wider xylem vessels have been correlated with higher xylem vulnerability to cavitation, PLC50 was significantly higher in S (-2.3 MPa) compared to C (-1.1 MPa), and even though xylem vessels diameter were similar between S and C, C was as vulnerable as CS. We found no such tradeoff between hydraulic efficiency and vulnerability.

Characterization of grape phenolic compounds of 'Carignan' grapevines grafted onto 'País' rootstock from Maule Valley (Chile): Implications of climate and soil conditions

Certain grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties overseen for decades by the Chilean wine industry have emerged as the 'Carignan'. 'País' has not had this resurgence and its production is sold for a price below the national average, negatively affecting the economy of small producers of the Maule Valley (Chile). The aim was to study the grape phenolic composition of 'Carignan' grapevines grafted onto 'País' rootstock according to climate and soil conditions. Sites were located in Valdivia (Val), Loncomilla (Lon), Melozal (Mel), and Huerta de Maule (Hdm) situated in Maule Valley. Phenolic compounds in grapes were analyzed by HPLC. The results showed that soil and climate conditions affected the accumulation of soluble solids, weight of 100 berries and most of the anthocyanins, flavonols and flavanols. Total anthocyanins content in grapes varied from 1393.05 to 1856.03 mg kg-1 (Val and Mel sites, respectively), while total flavonols content ranged from 124.17 to 218.93 mg kg-1 (Val and Lon, respectively). Total flavanols concentration varied from 86.85 to 158.13 mg kg-1 (Lon and Val), while total content of hydroxycinnamic acids varied from 23.91 to 34.84 mg kg-1 (Mel and Hdm). Location conditioned grape flavonoid composition of 'Carignan' grapevines grafted onto 'País'. The use of an ancient variety as a rootstock ('País') on a variety with a great oenological potential ('Carignan'), could be a viticultural tool to improve the income of the small wine-growers of the Maule Valley, without affecting phenolic composition in grapes.

Carignan phenolic composition in wines from ten sites of the Maule Valley (Chile): Location and rootstock implications

Abstract In recent years, Carignan grapevines in the Maule Valley have been rediscovered by viticulturist and winemakers, producing very interesting wines and well recognized worldwide. Phenolic compounds are responsible for the sensory attributes of wines, such as colour, bitterness and flavour. Their composition depends of several factors such as variety, soil attributes, climate conditions, viticultural practices, oenological procedures, among others. The aim was to study wine phenolic composition from Carignan grapevines ungrafted and grafted with Pais, growing in ten sites of the Maule Valley (Chile). Phenolic compounds were analysed by HPLC-DAD. The results showed that water holding capacity and soil depth affected weight of 100 berries and consequently wine phenolic composition. Besides, climatic conditions affected alcoholic degree more than phenolic compounds in wines. Rootstock barely affected phenolic content. These findings are of importance for the Chilean wine industry in relation to the viticultural management and the characterization of the phenolic composition of wines made from the variety, regarding location and rootstock, within the Maule Valley.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Seismic Mitigation Measures for Wine Barrel Stacks

This study conducts a cost-benefit analysis of alternative seismic risk mitigation methods for wine barrel stacks. The Chilean wine industry is presented as an illustrative case study in which performance metrics, such as the expected annual loss (EAL) and benefit-cost ratios, are computed for wineries at different locations. By computing seismic risk within a consistent framework, this study shows the value of cost-benefit simulations for defining the best mitigation strategies and allocating economic resources. Likewise, this approach helps communicate information to decision makers because it is presented in a simple and transparent way, even if they are not familiar with formal risk studies. For three-level wine barrel stacks, it was observed that the Cradle Extender® (MS1) prevents a large number of barrel collapses and provides the highest benefit-cost ratio. On the other hand, for six-level wine barrel stacks, the prestressed cable (MS2) is more effective than MS1 as it prevents the barrel stack from overturning. No significant loss reduction is apparent in four- and five-level wine barrel stacks with the use of mitigation strategies; indeed, the mitigation strategies could generate greater losses and, therefore, other alternatives must be proposed.

Comunicaciones y confianza: ¿información o identidad? El caso del sector vitivinícola chileno hacia el mercado chino

This article seeks to contribute to the theoretical-practical discussion on the role of corporate communications in building trust in global commerce. For this purpose, the case study of the Chilean wine industry and its communication towards the Chinese market is used, and it is analyzed from two central aspects of literature: knowledge and identity. Through the creation of a matrix based on semiotics and elaborated by the authors, six corporate websites of the industry are examined in exploratory form. From this case study, elements that contribute to the theoretical discussion are provided, for the case of the trust and communication relationship, as well as to the methodological discussion with the construction of a preliminary matrix that relieves the attributes of the concept of trust. It is concluded that there are cognitive elements in the construction of trust between organizations, but it is also about a moral and identity discourse and that there is little representation of the listener, which weakens this last aspect.

Comparative proteome analysis of Brettanomyces bruxellensis under hydroxycinnamic acid growth

Background: Brettanomyces bruxellensis is an important spoilage yeast in the winemaking process. The capacity of this yeast to generate an undesired off-flavor constitutes a significant loss in the Chilean wine industry. Results: The proteomic profile of B. bruxellensis in the presence of p -coumaric acid was determined by 2D gel electrophoresis, gel image analysis and differential spot selection. A set of 41 proteins showed a differential accumulation of ± 2 and a p -value ≤ 0.0001. The homology sequence analysis was performed using the databases available. Differential proteins belonged to the categories of ‘energy production and conversion' and ‘amino acid transport and metabolism'. Conclusions: The proteomic profile of B. bruxellensis cultivated in the presence of p -coumaric acid in synthetic wine, agrees with the hypothesis of metabolic flux regulation, allowing a better conditioning to an adverse environment. This study involved the translational level of B. bruxellensis in the production of ethylphenols and corroborated that this yeast presented an advantage in these stress conditions. Thus, this work will allow an understanding of the regulation and processes involved in the production of ethyl-derivate compounds by B. bruxellensis . Furthermore, it allows the development of newer and better techniques for spoilage yeast control.

Market opportunity recognition in the Chilean wine industry: traditional versus relational marketing approaches

ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to examine how wine firms implement their marketing strategies based on the recognition of market opportunities by their Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). Firstly, we describe the marketing activities in 69 traditional Chilean wine firms. Then, in-depth interviews with CEOs of two wineries are analysed using cognitive maps to uncover the cognitive processes responsible for recognizing and executing market activities. Our findings indicate that there is a similar set of strategic resources across the wineries, but the CEOs’ different perceptions of the usefulness of these resources in the implementation of marketing strategies have led them to select diverse strategies to increasing both the price per bottle and wine sales. This paper makes two contributions. Firstly, we compare the benefit of implementing traditional and relational marketing strategies in the Chilean wine industry. Secondly, we show that the CEOs’ perception of feedback processes among the available resources affects the recognition of market opportunities and the marketing strategy in wine firms.

A new balanced scorecard approximation to enhance performance management systems of Chilean wineries

ABSTRACTThe Chilean wine industry faces a growing challenge in terms of the increasing global competition, along with other difficult challenges such as exchange rate fluctuations, higher labor and energy costs and climate change. In light of this, the present paper proposes a new approach to increase competitiveness of Chilean wineries based on findings of the current performance management systems practice in the industry. The methodology encompasses a thorough survey of the industry's management systems, with special emphasis on the balanced scorecard (BSC) and its derivatives. The study finds, upon examining the results, that the ISO 9001 norm and the national code of sustainability of the Chilean wine industry are the two most commonly used and that only 14% of the companies have designed a BSC of some type, offering a unique opportunity to introduce this novel approach focusing on performance and sustainability, incorporating the spatial and temporal dimensions of the industry today.

Analysis of energetic performance of vine biomass residues as an alternative fuel for Chilean wine industry

The chip pruning of five different vine-producing wines was physically characterized, and its energetic value was analyzed (calorific value and ashes content principally). The material with a better energy performance was established. TCO2 emissions of this wood biomass were compared with the pine pellet, which is the most currently used solid biofuel in this industry. In both cases, the material obtaining process was studied, along with the fuel production and transport required measured in TCO2 emitted per tons.This process was done in order to replace the pellets used in the boilers of the vineyards for the chip pruning of the studied vines. The use of chips as solid biofuel inside the vineyard produces a lower TCO2 emissions than the use of pellets (0.01 and 0.484 TCO2, respectively) because less energy is needed for its production and transportation. This resulted in a decrease in the carbon footprint of the analyzed vineyard. The cost of using this chip instead of the pellets inside the vineyard was also calculated, with an annual savings in vineyard fuel requirements of US$ 23,142 from not purchasing pellets while the annual savings of using ashes instead of industrial fertilizer (CaO) is US$ 450.

Consumer Brand Loyalty in the Chilean Wine Industry

Worldwide, the wine industry has become tremendously competitive, with new world wine countries, such as Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa becoming relevant players. Consumers are increasingly offered a broad range of wine brands in supermarkets, restaurants, and wine stores. Consequently, wine marketing managers are required to develop strategies for building consumer brand loyalty for their own wines. This study attempts to investigate this issue and tests a model of antecedents of wine brand loyalty with 300 consumers from Chile, a new world wine producer. Results are analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM). Our results indicate that wine brand satisfaction has the strongest relationship with wine brand loyalty. Additionally, wine experience is positively related to brand trust and brand satisfaction.

The Chilean wine industry: new international strategies for 2020

Subject area – International marketing, strategic marketing, international strategy, strategic decision making. Study level/applicability – MBA and masters (international business, marketing, international marketing). Case overview – The Chilean wine industry has undergone numerous and profound transformations over the past 30 years. This transformation has allowed a new generation of talented viticulturists and winemakers to capitalize on Chile's viticultural paradise and to produce World Class Wines. Chile exports 70 per cent of its wine production; making it the world's most globalized wine industry. Despite these undeniable successes, Chilean wines face very high levels of competition in the different world markets and its average prices are substantially lower than those of its competitors. As a consequence, the industry's present profitability levels are low, and there is an urgent need to elevate the premium positioning and average prices to achieve a sustainable return in the long term. The Chilean wine industry is preparing a new strategic plan and international marketing strategy for 2020 aiming guidelines for a vigorous course of international development and defines the industry's vision, mission, positioning, strategic objectives, opportunities and plans of action with a new strategic marketing perspective. The aim of the case is to develop this new strategic plan and international marketing strategy for the Chilean wine industry. Expected learning outcomes – Students should be able to make a clear competitive analysis with the information provided in the case. Students should also develop positioning maps, SWOT analysis, vision, mission, benchmarking analysis, segmentation, targeting and positioning strategies for international markets. The issues of country of origin effect and country image are relevant as well for analysis and positioning of Chilean wines in international markets . Supplementary materials – Teaching notes.

The Chilean wine industry: new international strategies for 2020

The Chilean wine industry: new international strategies for 2020