Valuation of traditional grapevine varieties grown in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula through their phenotypic, molecular and grape composition characterization.

Abstract

The massive use of a small number of varieties for winemaking in recent decades led to the production of very similar wines, despite the fact that the 'terroir' determines in some cases the typicity of these wines. In recent years, environmental conditions, consumer tastes and preferences, and a highly globalized market are changing the situation in the wine world, with the search for wines with more particular characters, valuing more and more specific attributes. The minority varieties, much better adapted to local conditions and with a small vineyard area, can represent a good alternative to those more widely spread varieties. Its recovery can be both an important conservation measure and an increase in the added value of the wine offer. This thesis aims to achieve a better understanding of the varieties present in the EVEGA Germplasm Bank, focusing on their characterization: molecular, agronomic, phenological, aromatic and phenolic. This seeks to increase the oenological diversity of the region linked to the recovery of varieties highly adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the area and therefore that can help mitigate the effects of climate change, the incidence of diseases, the quality of its wines, in addition to incorporating Zamarrica, Albilla do Avia, Xafardán and Ratiño in the register of commercial varieties. With a deep characterization we also intend to identify those characters that have a greater potential as chemotaxonomic markers.