Confirmation of Candidature - Candidate : Ursula Kennedy Nash

Increasing growing season temperatures have resulted in vintage compression and reduction in wine grape quality (Jones et al., 2005; Webb et al., 2008). Projected temperature increases are also expected to impact grape composition and wine styles (Schultz and Jones, 2010) with cooler wine growing regions becoming suited to ripening a wider range of varieties (Webb et al., 2008) but warmer regions becoming more limited in the varieties suited for quality production (Cabré and Nuñez, 2020). Predictions state that by 2050 the global area of land suitable for wine grape production may decrease by up to 73% (Hannah et al., 2013). 

This research aims to identify readily applicable strategies to address the problem of climate change driven vintage compression. The major question being investigated in this research is can wine grape growers manage vintage compression using pruning methods and/or plant growth regulators in their existing vineyards without the need to take drastic measures such as changing varieties or relocating vineyards? This research will investigate the effectiveness of selected viticultural techniques to decelerate grapevine developmental progress and to assess the impacts of these techniques on final berry composition, yield and final sensory quality of wines produced.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 0746 311088.