Promotion-Evaluation-Exploitation of Greek vine varieties – HELLENOINOS

• Post by: enologyadm
• 4 March 2019
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Co-ordinator : Kotseridis Georgios

HELLENOINOS project focusses on the assessment of the genetic resources of the vines in Greece and with the creation of the appropriate knowledge required for immediate and long-term development of the vine and wine sector. The cooperation among the different companies and institutions will ensure the rescue and documentation of the national collection of grape varieties focusing on the genetic diversity of the native varieties which comprise the National Catalogue. This is of strategic importance for the Greek wine sector. 250 native varieties will be selected and studied within the framework of this proposal creating thus an improved reference collection. These varieties will be genetically identified and screened for the presence of viruses in order to constitute the reference material for the evaluation of the clones in the future since this procedure is required by the relevant legislation.

The main aim of this proposal is the development of innovative products and methods for rendering Greek wines more competitive through a holistic approach (“from the cell to the glass”) which will be achieved with:

– The upgrade of the ampelographic collection of the Vine Institut of Athens through the recording of the genetic diversity and the virus screening of the plants.

– The primary and secondary metabolomic characterization of the grapes of the selected five emblematic varieties.

– The evaluation of the enological potential of the 25 grape varieties and their existing clones and assessment of their organoleptic profile.

– The assessment of the adaptation to environmental conditions and viticultural practices of these five varieties and the functional characterization of the genes which control their response to the abiotic stress under the typical semiarid conditions of the Greek Viticulure

Five emblematic Greek varieties (Moshofilero, Agiorgitiko, Asirtiko, Xinomavro and Roditis) will be analyzed in depth and the metabolites which determine the sensory character of the grapes and of the respective wines will be specified. Isolation, fractionation methods will be applied in order to identify the impact odorants. The strength of this proposal is that the study of the varietal and organoleptic profile will be related with their genetic, transcriptional and metabolomic background.

Partners

• Laboratory of Oenology and Alcoholic Beverages – Agricultural University of Athens
• Laboratory of Pharmacology – Aristote University of Thessaloniki
• Laboratory of Viticulture – Aristote University of Thessaloniki
• Laboratory of Molecular Biology – Agricultural University of Athens
• Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of natural products – National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• Benakeion Phytopathological Institute
• Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants and Vine
• Bakasietas viticulture nurseries
• Vivlia Chora Estate
• Pavlidis Estate