Influencing grape and wine pH
Strong vine canopies can lead to excessive nitrogen and potassium uptake, which increases grape and wine pH.
Similarly, too much uptake of these nutrients, as a result of good water availability, will also spoil wine quality through increasing pH. The pH of the juice/must affects the taste, sugar/acid balance and stability of wines. It is determined by the balance of the major anions (malate and tartrate) and presence or absence of major cations (mainly potassium). Harvest timing and management also effects wine pH. The pH can increase by as much as 0.2 units between harvest and delivery.
High pH values can alter the color of anthocyanin solutions – responsible for red wine color - by changing the structure of the anthocyanin molecule. A high pH must, results in wines that have a flat taste and red wines with a brownish color. Generally, a pH above 3.6 is undesirable as it can have a negative effect on a range of wine quality characteristics.
Crop Nutrition and Grape and Wine pH
Nitrogen
High nitrogen increases the pH of the must and wine, increasing the malate concentration in grape juice. Too much available nitrogen on the other hand can create strong canopy growth, increasing shading and wine pH.
Potassium
There is a strong relationship between potassium and grape and wine pH. Too much potassium results in a high wine pH and a poorer quality wine.
Recommended Yara fertilisers for grapevines
How nutrient management affects wine grape
Influencing grapevine yield
High grapevine yields are obtained on the most freely drained soils where water is not limiting. Vines will grow across a wide range of soil pHs, but extremes will render many nutrients unavailable and thereby restrict yield.
Increasing grape berry set and weight
Nitrogen and phosphorus are significant in increasing wine grape berry set and weight.
Improving grape quality
The aim of any grower is a high yielding, top quality wine grape that satisfies the wine-maker. Both yield and quality are strongly influenced by nutrition.
Influencing grape and wine pH
Strong vine canopies can lead to excessive nitrogen and potassium uptake, which increases grape and wine pH.
Grape nutrient deficiencies
Identify and diagnose if your grapes are suffering from nutrient deficiencies and learn more about the symptoms and causes and how to control or correct the deficiency
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