Current fruit-zone management recommendation in the eastern US aims for 1-2 basal shoot leaf layers after fruit set to limit fungal disease and sunburn incidence, and prevent extreme heating of grapes. The goal of this work was to assess if fruit-zone leaf removal to an uncommonly greater extent, and/or at an earlier phenological stage, would favorably alter yield components or fruit composition in three popularly grown, red-fruited, Bordeaux varieties – Cabernet franc, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pre-bloom leaf removal to various extents reduced crop yield by 41-78% when compared to no leaf removal across seasons and varieties. Pre-bloom leaf removal implementation in consecutive seasons tended to further reduce crop yield components compared to implementation in the first year. Pre-bloom leaf removal tended to reduce cluster compactness and bunch rot incidence when compared to post-fruit set and no leaf removal. Basal leaf removal to the greatest extents inconsistently reduced soluble solids and titratable acidity across varieties and seasons. Pre-bloom and post-fruit set leaf removal to the greatest extent consistently increased total grape phenolics and anthocyanins compared to no leaf removal in Cabernet Sauvignon, but inconsistently increased total grape phenolics compared to no leaf removal in Cabernet franc and Petit Verdot. Basal leaf removal to the greatest extents tended to increase the synthesis and degradation of carotenoids more consistently than no leaf removal, and this was particularly true for zeaxanthin. Petit Verdot and Cabernet franc wine color and aroma were inconsistently distinguishable between leaf removal treatments, and color intensity was rated higher in wines made with fruit from pre-bloom leaf removal compared to modest post fruit-set leaf removal plots. Waiting until after fruit set to remove fruit-zone leaves maintained crop yield and offered comparable improvements in fruit composition to pre-bloom leaf removal. Pre-bloom leaf removal of no more than four leaves is recommended to limit crop yield reduction, and modestly improve fruit composition. This work showed that fruit-zone leaf removal does not need to be conservative in the eastern US, particularly because the climate does not appear to be detrimental to fruit composition, and open fruit-zones reduce grape fungal disease incidence. / Ph. D.

Se ha estudiado el efecto del volumen de la barrica, el tostado y origen de la madera de roble y la tonelería sobre los parámetros cromáticos, aromáticos, sensoriales y nutricionales de vinos de Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon y Petit Verdot elaborados en la D.O. Jumilla. Los resultados han mostrado que los parámetros de la barrica afectan más a los aromas del vino y su caracterización sensorial que a los parámetros cromáticos y nutricionales. Los vinos de Monastrell envejecidos en barricas de menores volúmenes y mayor nivel de tostado presentan una mayor concentración de compuestos aromáticos, aunque son menos preferidos sensorialmente. Para la crianza de los vinos de Cabernet Sauvignon, la preferencia sensorial se ha correspondido con vinos envejecidos en barricas de volúmenes pequeños, de roble americano y tostado M+, donde aparecen mayores concentraciones de compuestos aromáticos, no aportando la tonelería diferencias muy grandes. Resultados similares se han encontrado en los vinos de Petit Verdot / The effect of barrel volume, toast level, oak wood origin and cooperage on chromatic, aromatic, sensory and healthy properties of Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot wines has been studied. The results have shown that Monastrell wines aged in the smallest barrels and with the highest toast level showed the highest aromatic compound concentrations although they were sensorially less preferred. The use of small American oak barrels, with M+ toast level for Cabernet Sauvignon ageing showed wines with the higher volatile compound concentrations and the better sensory properties. Similar results were observed in Petit Verdot wines. Chromatic properties and antioxidant capacity of the wines did hardly show any correlation with the different factors studied.