Background and Aims: Under a surge of interest in the dual use of land, very scant information is still available about physiological and agronomical adaptations of the grapevine grown under agrivoltaics (AV) panels and their compatibility with light energy capture. Methods and Results: A setup of permanently horizontal AV panels mounted from veraison until harvest over Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) and Malvasia di Candia aromatica (MC) row sections was compared with an open‐field (OF) row section of the same cultivars. Uninterrupted diurnal and seasonal whole‐canopy gas exchange measurements were taken from August 9 to September 29. In contrast, total light interception, leaf gas exchange and water status, cluster temperature, and photochemical quantum yield of photosystem II (φPSII) readings were concentrated on August 13–14. Vegetative growth, yield components, ripening dynamics, grape and wine composition, and volatile and bound aromas were performed. Based on diurnal and seasonal direct and diffuse light measurements, panels cut incoming light by about 47%. In contrast, the reduction of the whole‐canopy net carbon exchange rate (NCER) and transpiration (T) was only 7%–9%. Canopy water use efficiency (WUE) was not significantly affected, although, in CS, WUE lowered when panels cast maximum shade over the central part of the day. With yield components not being affected, under AV, harvest was delayed by 17 and 12 days versus OF in CS and MC, respectively. However, while technological maturity was comparable in MC under OF and AV, the latter had lower monoterpenes and fermentative esters, which might hint at less floral and fruity notes. The rainy late season compromised grape maturity on the CS–AV vines, and the final wines were lighter in color and body. Conclusions: Under the specific panel’s configuration, the whole‐canopy gas exchange was minimally affected in front of a 47% light depletion. Panels caused a consistent ripening delay that was detrimental to free‐volatile wine components in MC. In contrast, it worsened grape and wine quality in CS primarily due to unfavorable late‐season weather.

Background and Aims: Climate change poses increasing issues to the rapid and successful establishment of new vineyards. In this study, conducted over two consecutive seasons on potted vines, we evaluated the effects of a synthetic potassium polyacrylate hydrogel (WS‐SH) and an organic‐based hydrogel (WS‐OH), both applied at transplanting, on vine water status, productivity, and fruit and wine composition, under progressive water deficit. These treatments were compared with a water‐stressed control (WS‐C) and a fully irrigated reference (WW‐C). Methods and Results: In both years, WS‐SH and WS‐OH treatments delayed the decline in predawn water potential by several days and improved leaf gas exchange under limited irrigation. This led to increased leaf area and overall vine vigor. By the end of the second year, WS‐OH had greater root system development compared to all other water‐stressed treatments (+17% than WS‐C), while WS‐SH favored dry matter allocation toward aboveground organs (+17.6%). As a result, both WS‐SH and WS‐OH vines maintained yields comparable to WW‐C, whereas WS‐C showed a 33% yield reduction. Due to higher crop loads, WS‐SH and WS‐OH vines had lower leaf‐to‐fruit ratios than WS‐C (−0.116 m ² /kg and −0.147 m ² /kg, respectively), resulting in reduced grape sugar content (−1.8 and −1.6°Brix, respectively), anthocyanins (−48% and −51%, respectively), and phenolics (−21% and −23%, respectively). Wines produced at the end of the second season reflected this composition, showing significantly lower alcohol content (−1.11% v/v and −1.05% v/v, respectively), phenolic levels, and chromatic traits. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that hydrogels applied at transplanting can enhance vine tolerance to water stress and increase yield in the first productive season, in exchange for a reduction in sugar and anthocyanin contents in grapes. Significance of the Study: Hydrogels could represent valuable tools to increase vineyard tolerance to summer stresses after transplanting. No substantial differences were observed between the effects of the synthetic and organic hydrogels, highlighting the potential of organic formulations as a sustainable and effective strategy to improve vineyard resilience to summer drought conditions. These results should be confirmed under operational conditions through field experiments.

The growing global demand for high-quality wines with distinctive territorial identities has sparked interest in biotechnological innovations, such as the use of non-Saccharomyces yeasts. This study evaluated the impact of a newly isolated strain of Torulaspora delbrueckii (LC 2-1) in combination with a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (BW333) on the oenological and sensory profiles of wines from two iconic Apulian cultivars: Verdeca white wines and Nero di Troia rosé wines. Using pilot-scale vinification, three strategies were compared: pure S. cerevisiae fermentation (BW333), co-inoculation (TOR-COI), and sequential inoculation (TOR-SEQ). Fermentation kinetics revealed that TOR-SEQ led to a more gradual sugar consumption, particularly in Verdeca, while maintaining low volatile acidity. Comprehensive GC×GC-MS analysis identified significant shifts in the wine volatilome; the TOR-SEQ strategy nearly doubled total ethyl esters and quadrupled acetate esters in Verdeca wines. In Nero di Troia rosé wines, sequential fermentation triggered a steep increase in grape-derived terpenes and norisoprenoids, such as citronellol and damascenone. Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA) sensory analysis corroborated these chemical findings, with TOR-SEQ wines receiving significantly higher scores for fruity (orange, cherry) descriptors. Hierarchical clustered correlation heatmaps revealed that fermentation-derived esters collectively drove the aromatic profile of Verdeca wines, while a synergistic matrix of aliphatic esters and free monoterpenes dictated the red-berry character of Nero di Troia rosé wines, corroborating the chemical basis of the sensory differences observed. These results suggest that the metabolic impact of T. delbrueckii is highly cultivar-dependent but consistently enhances aromatic complexity. Consequently, the use of T. delbrueckii LC 2-1 via sequential inoculation represents a powerful technological tool to differentiate Apulian wines and meet modern market preferences for sophisticated, fruit-forward profiles.

The increasing demand for low-alcohol wine products calls for effective vineyard strategies to reduce grape sugar concentration, while climate change is exacerbating sugar accumulation through warmer growing conditions. In this context, severe shoot trimming applied at specific phenological stages may represent a promising approach to induce sustained source limitation. A field experiment was conducted in 2025 on Vitis vinifera L. cv. Ortrugo to evaluate severe shoot trimming performed at the onset of berry softening. Vine growth, yield components, grape composition, and seasonal total soluble solids (TSSs) were monitored. Vine carbon reserves and shoot fruitfulness were assessed to evaluate carry-over effects. Experimental wines were produced to determine alcohol and fermentative aroma. Severe trimming markedly reduced leaf area and vine balance, leading to a sustained reduction in sugar accumulation. At harvest, grape TSSs decreased by 4.1 °Brix (17.6 vs. 21.7 °Brix) and the final wine alcohol concentration was lower by 3.4% (v/v). Yield was unaffected and no substantial negative effects on wine fermentative aroma were observed, while titratable acidity slightly increased. Even if trimming reduced winter starch concentration in roots, no reduction in shoot fruitfulness was observed in the subsequent spring. Severe trimming successfully reduced grape sugar and wine ethanol without compromising yield, aroma, or vine performance, supporting its potential for low-alcohol wine production and reduced-impact dealcoholization.