The impact of Merlot grapes harvesting time on berry composition
Abstract
The study took place between 2020 and 2022 during the wine harvest season with the aim to analyze and compare the physical and chemical characteristics of Merlot grapes from three vineyards in the western of Romania region: Miniș, Recaș and Buziaș. Twenty five vines were randomly selected at each site with comparable vineyard management techniques to collect samples. The experimental layout was randomly assigned, with three treatments and three replications for each individual test. The research investigated three phases of berry growth, each marked by unique biochemical alterations. Four hundred berries were chosen at random from clusters on every vine in every replication. Different sampling dates were used to collect grapes for basic analyses, which involved berry weight, seed and skin weight, soluble solids, total acidity, tannins and pH. The findings showed changes in the physico-chemical characteristics of the berries from veraison and before harvest. This development was marked by a rise in the amount of soluble solids, skin and berry weight and pH, which was associated with a reduction in seed weight and total acidity. These results emphasize the importance of the harvest time in determining the content and quality of Merlot grapes, depending on where the vineyard is located and how it is managed. This highlights the need for further research to clarify the factors that lead to the presence of quality compounds in grapes.
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