Assessing the effects of climatic characteristics on trans-resveratrol amounts of red wines: A case study in Türkiye

Objective: Polyphenolic compounds are secondary metabolites synthesized by plants as part of their defense mechanisms and are known for their bioactive benefits to human health. Among them, trans-resveratrol (t-RES) is remarkable for its strong biological activity and high presence in red wines. This study investigates the effects of climatic factors on t-RES accumulation and evaluates the potential of Turkish viticultural regions for quality red wine production.Material and Methods: Red wines were produced from ‘Boğazkere’ and ‘Öküzgözü’ grapes grown in vineyards located in the Aegean, Eastern Anatolia, and Southeastern Anatolia. T-RES concentrations were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), while climate parameters were obtained from regional meteorological stations.Results: Analyses showed that geographic location significantly affected t-RES content, with the lowest value observed in wines from ‘Boğazkere’ grapes grown in İzmir and the highest in wines from ‘Öküzgözü’ grapes cultivated in Elazığ (1.481 and 3.349 mg/L). Effective Heat Summation (EHS) values ranged between 2380.6 and 2940.4 day-degree, while Branas Heliothermal Index values varied from 4.24 to 5.46.Conclusion: Climatic conditions strongly influence t-RES accumulation, highlighting the potential of specific Turkish regions for producing high-quality red wines.