Deficit Irrigation and Crop Size Adjustment Strategies for Improving the Concentration of Aromatic Compounds in White Grapes in British Columbia Climates

In white wines, the wine aroma plays a major role in determining wine quality and economic value. In many grape varieties cultivated in BC, the aroma makeup is built in the vineyard where key aromatics accumulate in the grapes. Irrigation and crop size adjustments are two main strategies that growers have adopted to manage fruit ripening and composition. Both strategies have been largely used as a tool to improve the composition of red grapes but very limited information is available on the impact of these strategies on the accumulation of terpenes in white grapes.
This project aims to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation and crop size adjustment strategies on the concentration of aromatics in white grapes and wines. The goal is to develop an irrigation and crop size adjustment strategy that maximizes the level of aromatics produced in white grapes cultivated in BC while minimizing water demands.

Faculty Supervisor:

Simone Castellarin

Student:

Yevgen Kovalenko

Partner:

BC Wine Grape Council

Discipline:

Food science

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of British Columbia