Selection of the Cariñena variety in the D.O. Carignan
Description of the cooperation project:
Nowadays, the grape variety is fundamental in the identity of the wines and, therefore, it becomes a strategic commercial tool for the wine industry, which tries to preserve all the varietal traits to give each wine personality. This has led to the recovery of autochthonous varieties that had been relegated due to their low yield or their cultivation difficulties. Such is the case of the Cariñena or Mazuela variety, cultivated in 8 Autonomous Communities and in high demand for the production of blends, mainly due to the particular characteristics it provides to the wine: less oxidation due to its high alcohol content (13.5°), color intense and very high acidity (7.2 g/l).
Given this need raised by the wine market, to increase the production of the Cariñena grape variety, given its idiosyncrasy and since the problem of its production lies in its susceptibility to the plague of powdery mildew, this project aims at the genetic improvement of this variety using the Clonal Selection technique. With this technique we will be able to obtain autochthonous clones of oenological quality, and tolerant to powdery mildew. Therefore, the general objective is to select clones of the Cariñena variety adapted to the growing conditions of the D.O. Cariñena from native material surveys that allow the production of wines of high oenological quality and tolerant to powdery mildew.
Results obtained to date:
None. The project is in the initial phase since the provisional concession resolution was dated 07/03/2015
