Agronomical characterization of minority grapevine cultivars from Asturias (Spain)

Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L. ) was an important crop in the past in Asturias (Northwestern Spain), but the phylloxera and later the boom of the mining industry almost led to its extinction in the last century. Currently, the grape growers are rescuing the old cultivars present in the region from ancient times, but the long period of abandon has originated a lack of information about their characteristics. Four red (‘Albarin Negro’, ‘Carrasquin’, ‘Verdejo Negro’ and ‘Mencia’) and two white (‘Albarin Blanco’ and ‘Godello’) minority grapevine cultivars from Asturias (Spain) were studied for phenology, fertility, vigor, production and berry quality parameters for two consecutive years. Great differences between cultivars were found: ‘Verdejo Negro’ and ‘Albarin Blanco’ had an early budburst both years, ‘Carrasquin’ was the latest harvested, and ‘Albarin Negro’ presented the highest total fertility. ‘Mencia’ had the greatest bunch weight, and, together with ‘Verdejo Negro’, the lowest total acidity and highest pH. Shikimic acid was a varietal marker, its content being higher in ‘Carrasquin’, ‘Verdejo Negro’ and ‘Albarin Blanco’. Significant differences between years in the measured parameters were also found. Agronomical evaluation is the first step to recover these minority cultivars from extinction and to provide to grape growers a deeper knowledge about the characteristics of each cultivar, allowing enriching and diversifying the wine market with different products.