Climate is one of the main factors that significantly impacts the terroir of vineyards by directly affecting vine growth, yield, and berry composition, which, in turn, are key to the quality characteristics of the wines produced. Climate change poses new challenges, especially in insular regions where changing grapevine varieties is limited due to Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) rules. Cultivating vines at higher altitudes may prove to be a potential solution. This study aimed to investigate the phenolic potential of the skins and seeds of cv. ‘Fokiano’, cultivated at two different altitudes, namely, 200 m and 800 m, on the Greek island of Ikaria, during 2019–2021. The results showed that grapes from 200 m exhibited higher values for weight, length, and width, while those from 800 m exhibited higher berry water content and higher skin-to-grape ratios. In addition, higher values of anthocyanins, enhancing the grapes’ color and phenolic composition, were recorded in grapes harvested at 800 m. It is, therefore, evident that higher altitudes can help grapes exhibit higher anthocyanin content and titratable acidity. Consequently, the choice of an altitude can counteract the phenomenon of early ripening caused by climate change. Adaptation strategies based on the present study’s observations may constitute viable long-term recommendations for vineyard establishment, especially in insular regions where it is not possible to move geographically to northern latitudes.

The aim of the study was to be determine the effects of conventional and organic soil and vine nutrition management on the growth, physiology and grape quality of vines of cv. ‘Robola’ in Kefalonia island, Greece. The overall aim was to understand and evaluate the combined effects of these different viticultural practices on soil quality (fertility) and on the physiological parameters of the vine as well as on grape quality, in terms of production sustainability and environmental biodiversity. The physiological parameters that were assessed and determined were leaf assimilation rate, leaf stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration and chlorophyll content. Additionally, grape and berry mechanical properties were also evaluated. The results of all the combinations of the two soil treatments with the three different nutrition methods (organic and two conventional), showed no statistically significant difference regarding the grape and berry mechanical properties. Moreover, the viticultural practice with reduced tillage and the application of slow-release fertilizer appears to show higher concentration of total soluble solids and higher pH and titratable acidity. Finally, the viticultural practice with the usual tillage (milling) and the application of fertilization with stems exhibited the highest values in the physiological parameters that were studied.

One of the key challenges of sustainable viticulture under climate change is the insufficient chilling necessary for dormancy release, leading to uneven budbreak and reduced productivity. This study examined the effect of four formulations: Dormex® (hydrogen cyanamide), Theocopper, Erger (and Active Erger), and garlic extract on budbreak in two early-maturity, seedless table grape varieties: ‘Prime Seedless’ and ‘Ralli Seedless’. The research aimed to promote earlier budbreak, control apical dominance, and advance grape ripening. In addition to evaluating the chemical composition and concentration of each treatment, the study also examined the importance of application timing. Field measurements were taken from the grapevine shoots during four stages (one per application), across three consecutive years. The data revealed that both the year and timing of application significantly influenced budbreak and the intensity of acrotony. Different formulations had varying effects on breaking dormancy and modifying growth patterns. Regulating bud dormancy is viticulturally important, as it promotes uniform budbreak, consistent flowering, and earlier, more reliable yields. Effective dormancy management improves grape quality, reduces losses due to irregular budbreak, and mitigates apical dominance, contributing to balanced vegetative growth. This is especially crucial in regions with mild winters, where traditional chilling requirements may not be met. The study supports the strategic use of chemical agents to adapt grapevine cultivation to changing climatic conditions.

This study aimed at assessing the phenolic potential of indigenous Greek red grapevine cultivar Fokiano under different cultivation systems and altitudes, during the cultivation season 2019-2020, which could explore different approaches yielding better results in the same viticultural area, as is Ikaria Island. The samples of the present study were collected from productive (commercial) vineyards in the island of Ikaria, in the region of the North Aegean Sea. Samples of grapes were collected from 7 different vineyards at the northern part of Ikaria with different characteristics: (i) difference in the altitude of the vineyards and (ii) difference in the cultivation system (conventional or organic). The vineyards in question are located at an altitude of 200 m, 400 m, 600 m and 800 m. The samples were collected during the dates of harvest, which were determined according to the technological maturation of the grapes in combination with the biodynamic calendar. In all samples, the mechanical analyses of the grapes and berries took place and the characters of the must as well as the qualitative characters of the berries (must, skins, seeds) were studied. Total soluble solids of the must were calculated using a refractometer, the active acidity (pH) using a pH meter and the total acidity using a sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH). The mechanical analyses that were performed involved the weight of thirty (30) berries, the weight of the grape and the length and width of the berries and the grapes of each sample. The content of grape's skin in total anthocyanins, total phenolics, condensed tannins, total ortho-diphenols, total flavonoids, total flavanols, total flavonols and flavones and their antioxidant capacity with the use of FRAP and DPPH methods were determined using a spectrophotometer. The most important acids found in grapes were identified using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The measurements in the grape seeds were made on the same compounds as the skins, except for total anthocyanins. The results of the present study showed that the altitude does not seem to have a significant effect on most of the qualitative and quantitative characters of the cultivar in Ikaria, however, in future studies, other factors that affect the qualitative characters of the grapes need to be taken into consideration and further evaluated. The microclimate of the highest altitude (800 m) had a positive effect regarding total phenolics, anthocyanins, tannins, flavonols, o-diphenol content and the antioxidant capacity of the skins according to FRAP method, but with opposite results in the case of the seeds. At the same time, it should be noted that no accurate conclusion can be drawn regarding the cultivation system (conventional or organic), since between the two pairs of conventional and organic vineyards (samples from conventional and organic vineyards at an altitude of 200 m - samples from conventional and organic vineyard at an altitude of 600 m), the measurements exhibit a variation in their results. The antioxidant capacity that was determined in the samples of Fokiano is also remarkable, when also compared with other indigenous red grapevine cultivars. In view of climate change, the exploitation of indigenous varieties under different soil and climatic conditions or even in the same viticultural region, like the one of the current experiment (different cultivation system, different altitude in the island of Ikaria) could unlock and highlight the full potential of such local varieties, depending on the final style of the wine produced.