The Influence Of Vintage And Vine Age On Grape And Wine Quality Of The Romanian Black Variety Feteasca Neagră

Vine age is believed to correlate with grape and wine quality. In this study two vine age categories were investigated - Fetească neagră young vines (8 years) and old vines (58 years) - at the Tohani Vineyard in the Dealu Mare region, over three consecutive vintages. Physico-chemical analyses were determined using standardized laboratory methods. Considering vintage as an independent factor, the 2017 vintage exhibits significantly higher values for grape sugar content (249.83 g/L), wine alcohol content (14.9% v/v), and total dry extract (38.19 g/L). Grape total acidity, wine total acidity, and non-sugar dry extract remained relatively constant across the 2015-2017 vintages. The interaction between vine age and vintage revealed that older vines show significantly higher values for grape sugar concentration, wine alcohol content, total dry extract, and non-sugar dry extract in 2015 and 2016, but not in 2017. When analyzing vine age as an isolated factor, older vines consistently exhibit higher grape sugar concentrations (245.44 g/L), alcohol content (14.63% v/v), and both total (37.51 g/L) and non-sugar dry extract (33.92 g/L) values. Vine age did not influence the total acidity. In conclusion, older vines demonstrate a higher potential for producing superior quality grapes and wines, although this potential is partially influenced by vintage variation.