Registration for the PIWI Summit on April 8, 2024
World of flavors at PIWIs
SENSORIK Aroma profiles of wines made from PIWI grape varieties as a marketing aid and means of increasing acceptance.
Text and illustrations: Angus Price, Prof. Dr. Gergely Szolnoki and M.Sc. Barbara Richter, Geisenheim University
Source: the german wine industry 21/2023
Wine, a symbol of sophistication, has always reflected the rich heritage of a cultural landscape dating back thousands of years and the specific environment of its origin. However, wine producers, like many other industries, face a variety of modern challenges, ranging from climate changes to evolving consumer preferences. At the center of this dynamic development are grape varieties that define the sensory properties and quality of wines. The wine-growing country of Germany is currently experiencing an increased willingness to plant PIWI grape varieties on the part of winegrowers.
This article delves deeper into the driving factors for growing PIWI grape varieties, highlights the variety-specific aromatic expressions, and examines the crucial role of aroma wheels in overcoming the communication gap between producers and consumers. By linking research with sensory science, this article aims to highlight the potential of PIWI grapes and their upcoming importance in the German wine industry.
Mondial des Vins Extremes 2023
The PriMo 2022 wine, made from Solaris grapes in Forni di Sotto at an altitude of 865 meters, has won the gold medal in the International Extreme Wine Competition dedicated to wines made from grapes from soils that have at least one constant exhibit structural difficulty in terms of elevation, hillside location, terraced or tiered vineyard systems and viticulture on small islands.
Souvignier gris: fruity or Burgundian?
VARIETY CHARACTERISTICS AND ADJUSTMENTS IN THE CELLAR
Author Wolfgang Renner
According to multiple applications in 2023, there are 66 hectares of the Souvignier gris grape variety in Austria. This proves to be a versatile representative of the group
of fungus-resistant grape varieties (PIWI). Current grafting figures suggest a further increase in area. Several years of experience in
Cultivation and expansion from Styria shows the characteristics of this variety.
The Piwi grape variety Souvignier gris (pronounced Suvinje grie) was bred in 1983 by Norbert Becker (1937 – 2012) at the State Viticulture Institute in Freiburg im Breisgau (D). Originally, the parentage Cabernet Sauvignon x Bronner was assumed. However, a genome analysis disproved this assumption. Souvignier gris is actually a cross between Seyval Blanc x Zähringer.
Conclusion:
In any case, Souvignier gris is an interesting newcomer. The German breed from the Freiburg im Breisgau Wine Institute is enjoying increasing popularity in most Austrian wine-growing regions. Depending on the ripeness of the berries and the way the grapes and must are processed, this grape variety can produce many different variants - from simple quality wine to excellent quality sparkling wine.
Previous experiences also show that Souvignier gris is able to represent the terroir of an area or a location well.
PIWI appointments – always with you on your smartphone!
We are happy to announce that the PIWI International calendar can now be subscribed to directly on your smartphone! Don't miss any more events, meetings or important appointments and stay up to date.
The calendar contains important events, competitions and meetings related to PIWI. Whether you're a member or just curious, the calendar is a quick and easy way to keep track of all relevant dates.
Subscribe to the calendar using the link below:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/mitglieder%40piwi-international.org/public/basic.ics
This way you can ensure that you don't miss any events and are always well informed.
We look forward to welcoming you to the upcoming events and exploring the fascinating world of PIWI wines together!
Your PIWI International team
Competition: New / innovative grape varieties
Largest PIWI competition in the German-speaking region!
Graz, July 2023
In the fifth year, the Austrian PIWI wine competition "New / innovative grape varieties" again brought an increase in the number of participating companies and registered wines. The top-class international jury was able to evaluate PIWI wines from all the important wine-growing federal states.
Newly approved PIWI varieties in the wine regions of Europe
In the Official Journal of the EU C 222 of June 26, 2023, a new (PIWI) variety was approved for the PDO "Champagne". The Voltis variety has been added to the existing seven main varieties. The maximum permitted grape yield is 15.5 t/ha.
A notice on the creation of the new German PGI "Großräschener See" was published in the Official Journal of the EU C 222 on 26/06/2023. The cultivated varieties are the PIWI varieties Solaris, Cabernet blanc, Johanniter and Pinotin. The PGI is located in Brandenburg on the Großräschener See, near the border with Saxony. The maximum yield is set at 90 hl/ha.
In the Official Journal of the EU C 230 of June 30, 2023, the approval of new varieties (PIWI) for the PGI "Pays d'Hérault" (near Montpellier) was granted. A total of 17 new PIWI varieties were added and 18 old varieties that are no longer used were removed. The newly approved PIWI varieties are Artaban N, Bronner B, Cabernet blanc B, Cabernet Cortis N, Floreal B, Johanniter B, Monarch N, Muscaris B, Pinotin N, Prior N, Saphira B, Sauvignac B, Solaris B, Soreli B, Souvigner gris B, Vidoc N and Voltis B. (N=Noir, B= Blanc)
Jiří Sedlo, July 18, 2023
PIWI grape variety Calardis Musqué receives plant variety protection
The white grape variety cultivated at the Julius Kühn Institute with pleasant exotic fruit aromas is resistant to several pathogens.
(Siebeldingen) Vine breeding takes time. This also and especially applies to the new grape variety Calardis Musqué. It was crossed in 1964 at the Geilweilerhof in Siebeldingen from Bacchus and Seyval Blanc. 59 years later, the development of vine breeding at the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), the Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants, has now been awarded plant variety protection.
Calardis Musqué is one of the so-called PIWI (fungus-resistant grape varieties). In addition to moderate resistance to powdery mildew, downy mildew and botrytis, it also has a high resistance to black rot. These properties mean that significantly fewer pesticides have to be applied during cultivation - an important step towards more sustainable viticulture and also essential for organic cultivation.
copyright Julius Kühn Institute
Spotlight on PIWI varieties by Edy Geiger
Since 2021, when many winegrowers were only able to keep fungal diseases under control with great difficulty, interest in PIWI vines has risen sharply. Especially because of the prospect of financial aid for new plants. PIWI pioneer Edy Geiger presents what he sees as the most promising varieties.
Source: Swiss magazine Obst + Wein April 2023
PIWI Pedia by Arnold Becker
PIWI-Sorten von A bis Z, in 3 Teilen
Pilzwiderstandsfähige Rebsorten (Piwis) erfahren derzeit ein gesteigertes Interesse: Forschungen werden intensiviert, Vereinigungen zu diesem Thema gegründet und Pfropfreben mancher Sorten sind in Deutschland auf 3 Jahre hin ausverkauft. Gleichzeitig will die Zusammensetzung des Rebsortenportfolios innerhalb eines Betriebs gut über legt sein. Arno Becker vom DLR Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück möchte mit der Erstellung einer „Piwi-Pedia“ Hilfestellung geben.
Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, vorhandenes Wissen zusammenzuführen, fortzuschreiben und einen möglichst umfassenden Überblick zu vermitteln. Schließlich werden immer wieder Erkenntnisse über Versuchsserien veröffentlicht, die zwar Teile des Themas darstellen, aber es naturgemäß nicht in der Gesamtheit abbilden können.
Zudem hat der Komplex pilzwiderstandsfähige Rebsorten eine hohe Dynamik, so dass es der Fachliteratur oft schwerfällt, Schritt zu halten.
Bei Züchterangaben werden zudem überwiegend die positiven Attribute in den Vordergrund gestellt.
Quelle: Das deutsche Weinmagazin 14.1.2023 1/2 bis 4
New Funugs-Resistant Grapevine Vitis and V. vinifera L. x M.
New Fungus Resistant Grapevine Vitis other V.vinifera L × M rotundifolia Derivative Hybrids Display a Drought-Independent Response in thiol precursor levels
Luciana Wilhelm de Almeida, Laurent Torregrosa, Gabriel Dournes, Anne Pellegrino, Hernan Ojeda, and Aurelie Roland*
The use of new disease-resistant grapevine varieties is a long-term but promising solution to reduce chemical inputs in viticulture. However, little is known about water deficit effects on these varieties, notably regarding berry composition. This study is aimed at characterizing the primary metabolites and thiol precursors levels of 6 fungi-resistant varieties and Syrah. Vines were grown under field conditions and under different water supply levels, and harvested at the phloem unloading arrest. A great variability among varieties regarding the levels of thiol precursors was observed, with the highest concentration, of 539 μg/kg, being observed in the 3176-N, a hybrid displaying red fruits. Water deficit negatively and equally impacted the accumulation of sugars, organic acids, and thiol precursors per berry and per plant, with minor effects on their concentration. The observed losses of metabolites per cultivation area suggest that water deficits can lead to significant economic losses for the produce.
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