Grant: Engage Grants Program

The Canadian wine industry employs more than 31,000 people in Canada, welcomes more than 3 million tourists each year, and generates close to $6.8 billion in revenue. British Columbia (BC) is one of the two major viticultural regions of Canada. The winery Church and State Wines (CSW) is located in Okanagan Valley and is oriented to the production of premium wines. The Church and State Wines winery manages approximately120 acres of vineyards, all of which are irrigated on a daily basis. Okanagan Valley vineyards require frequent irrigation since limited rainfall during the growing season is not sufficient to sustain optimal grape production at a large-scale. Deficit irrigation strategies - based on reduced irrigation for keeping the vine at a constant moderate stress level - have proven to increase grape and wine quality in red-wine varieties. It is commonly accepted that white grape varieties needs more water; however, the impact of deficit irrigation strategies on grape and wine quality is largely unknown. Terpene compounds are accumulated in the grape berry of several white varieties and determine the aroma of wine. Recent studies indicate that severe water deficit can promote the expression of terpene biosynthesis genes in the grape. Dr. Castellarin and CSW will collaborate in implementing three irrigation regimes in a CSW Viognier vineyard. Dr. Castellarin will investigate the impact of these regimes on the ripening process of grapes and the level of accumulation of terpenes in grapes. Dr. Castellarin group will perform physiological measurements in the vineyard (leaf water potential and leaf gas exchanges) and metabolite analyses in the laboratory (total sugars, organic acids, abscisic acid, and terpenes). This project will identify how irrigation can be managed to promote fruit ripening, optimize the accumulation of terpenes in grapes and, indeed, improve wine quality. This information will benefit the BC grape and wine industry that might adopt new strategies for improving grape and wine quality in the vineyard and reducing the irrigation water usage.