Assessment of the Crop Forcing Technique and Irrigation Strategy on the Ripening of Tempranillo Grapes in a Semiarid Climate

Background and Aims. High temperatures during grape ripening have a negative effect on the winemaking characteristics of musts. The crop forcing technique delays ripening to a period when temperatures are lower. The objective of this study is to provide information to winemakers and grape growers on how the delay in ripening caused by crop forcing can affect berry performance. Methods and Results. This study of 3 growing seasons (2017–2019) analyzes the effect of this technique in a vineyard of the Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo in Extremadura, together with two irrigation strategies. The grapevines were forced 4 and 22 days after anthesis (F1 and F2, respectively), compared to a treatment without crop forcing techniques (NF). Each treatment was subjected to two irrigation strategies: to cover the water needs of the plants (C) and deficit irrigation during preveraison (RI). Crop forcing delayed the harvest between 32 and 56 days on average in relation to NF. Crop forcing and irrigation strategy modified berry composition at harvest: C-F1 and C-F2 had higher total polyphenol and anthocyanin concentrations, total acidity, malic acid content, and lower pH relative to C-NF; RI-NF increased total anthocyanin concentration and pH and decreased titratable acidity value. Conclusions. Crop forcing is able to delay grape ripening to lower temperature periods. This is a promising technique for restoring the coupling between phenolic and technological ripeness. The combination of both crop forcing and deficit irrigation strategy maintains the berry quality while improving water use efficiency. Significance of the Study. The present work shows how the “crop-forcing” technique is effective in modifying the relationship between different parameters that determine the characteristics of berries throughout ripening as a raw material for winemaking, compared to vines with traditional winter pruning, under different irrigation strategies.To the memory of Jordi Marsal