Viorica Enache’s scientific contributions

Fetească Neagră is a notable red grape variety indigenous to Romania. It is primarily grown in regions like Moldova and Muntenia. Fetească Neagră thrives in regions with a continental climate, benefiting from hot summers and cool winters. The current study aims at identifying climate factor modifications during 2019-2023, influencing the selected vine variety. Heat and temperature values, Rainfall regimes and specific vine index (Oenoclimate aptitude index, Huglin heliotermic index, night cooling index) were monitored. Current study results, show important changes of the main indices that define grape and wine quality due to possible global warming phenomena and Bujoru vineyard microclimate modifications. Overall, while global warming presents significant challenges, it also offers opportunities for innovation in viticulture. Fetească Neagră can be used as a bioclimatic indicator due to its sensitivity to climate factor variations. Viticulture strategies are being adapted whit the goal of finding new ways that maintain the regions characteristic Fetească Neagră wine organoleptic profile amidst current climate changes.

Climatic conditions of the study years reveal a dry climate, both atmospheric and pedological through the large number of days with maximum temperatures > 30°C, of 69 days in 2020 and 37 days in 2021, compared to the multi-year average of 40 ,7 days, maintaining the same trend. These conditions left their mark on the phenolic and technological ripening of black grapes as raw material for winemaking. The red wines were made by applying a technological scheme, previously verified, and the resulting wines present a potential of intense color and aromas, realized through coloring intensity, high anthocyanins and polyphenols. Maturation of red wines in barriques insignificantly decreases the coloration, and the coloring intensity decreases by only 4-11%. This technology has proven to be reliable for obtaining quality red wines.

The research was carried out at Research and Development Station for Viticulture and Vinification Bujoru, Romania during 2020-2021. The main objective of the research is to evaluate the technological potential of three wine varieties and two vine clones for wine grapes under climate risk conditions. ‘Bujoru’, ‘Blasius’, ‘Negru Aromat’ varieties and ‘Muscat Ottonel 49 Bj’ and ‘Şarbă 25/45’vine clones were analysed. Technological indicators were calculated based on the mechanical components of the grapes. The values of these indices complete the qualitative characteristics of the wine varieties. Due to the climatic risk, the varieties analysed did not reach their biological potential in any of the two years when this research has been carried.

The determination of metals in different type of wines is of high importance for the nutritional, as well as toxic effects of these elements. The main purpose of this research is to determine the concentration of Cu, Fe, Mn, Cd, Zn and Pb in wine. The analyzed samples were wine samples obtained under micro-vinification conditions and from grapevine cultivars for the white wines (Feteasca Alba, Feteasca Regala, Babeasca Gri, Sarba) and for the red wines (Merlot, Feteasca Neagra, Cabernet Sauvignon). The highest concentrations were obtained in the cultivars of grapevine for the red wines (49.86 ± 1.32 μg/L Pb) recorded by the Feteasca Neagra cultivar and (0.23 ± 0.01 μg/L Cd) for the Merlot cultivar. In the case of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, the highest concentrations were recorded by the vines for white wines (532.48 ± 13.79 μg/L Cu, 1845.23 ± 32.58 μg/L Zn, 1654.98 ± 26.68 μg/L Fe, 221.32 ± 17.49 μg/L Mn) in comparison to the cultivars of vines for red wines. The conclusions obtained from the analysis of heavy metals in wines through ICP-MS are as follows: grapevine cultivars for red wine recorded the highest concentrations of Cd and Pb and the grapevine cultivars for white wines recorded the highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. Wine samples do not have a metal ion concentration higher than the maximum concentration allowed by law.The storage temperature does not affect the concentration of heavy metals, dry wine has a higher concentration of heavy metals in its composition.

Climatic conditions from areas where vine is cultivated or intended to be cultivated are essential and important to be acknowledged especially in the context of climatic changes that have taken place during the last 50 years. In this regard, prevention solutions are recommended to be implemented as well as solutions that decrease the damages caused by climatic changes or other stress factors. Among these solutions we mention the reorientation of vine areas, planting shelter-belts in areas and regions exposed to high intensity winds, reconsidering the structure of viticultural varieties or selecting the cultivated vine varieties.

The purpose of this study is to know better the concentration of chemical elements in the soil from Dealu Bujorului vineyard. The determination of the ten elements from the soil samples was performed using ICP-MS. The results showed diverse patterns of cadmium, lead, uranium, mercury, arsenic, strontium, cobalt, copper, nickel and chromium, all the elemental content studied were under the maximum limit admitted, except for copper (average 356.03 mg/kg while M.L.A. = 20 mg/kg).

The aim of this research was to determine ecoclimatic conditions and also to determine the phenolic maturity of Fetească neagră and Merlot from Dealu Bujorului vineyard in the conditions of the 2016 year of culture. Under the ecoclimatic conditions of 2016, the grapes entered in the ripening process prematurely, and full maturity was achieved very early. The results showed the suitability of ecoclimatic conditions and the proper growth and development of the tested varieties for obtaining wines with superior's quality. The variation of the phenolic characteristic represents a strong marker for wines geographical traceability.

The aim of this research was to determine ecoclimatic conditions and also to determine the phenolic maturity of Fetească neagră and Merlot from Dealu Bujorului vineyard in the conditions of the 2016 year of culture. Under the ecoclimatic conditions of 2016, the grapes entered in the ripening process prematurely, and full maturity was achieved very early. The results showed the suitability of ecoclimatic conditions and the proper growth and development of the tested varieties for obtaining wines with superior's quality. The variation of the phenolic characteristic represents a strong marker for wines geographical traceability.

Daily consumption, wine contributes to the requirements of essential elements, such as Ca, Fe, Mn, Mo, Co, Cr, K, Ni, Se and Zn for humans. However, the presence of significant amount of heavy metal in wine may harm the health of consumers. The present work is aimed at establishing the heavy metal content in red wines from Dealu Bujorului vineyard using ICP-MS method for the determination of metals content. In this study 3 red wines obtained from ‘Băbească neagră’, ‘Negru Aromat’ and ‘Burgund Mare’ cultivars were investigated. The wine samples were obtained from micro-wine production under conditions of 2014, 2015, 2016 from Dealu Bujorului vineyard. The determination of 13 elements was performed with ICP-MS. The high level of Ca (64.81-62.49 mg/L), Mg (132.61-101.44 mg/L) and Fe were observed in the wine samples analysed. Heavy metals like As, Cd, U, Hg and Pb was found below acceptable limits. Concentration of Na (1 mg/L), Cu (1 mg/L), As (0.2 mg/L), Cd (0.01 mg/L), Zn (5 mg/L) and Pb (0.15 mg/L) metals in analysed wine samples were under Maximum Permissible Limits (MPL), respectively as published by the Organization of Vine and Wine. Calcium and magnesium were the most abundant elements in all investigated wine samples. Concentration of Na (1 mg/L), Cu (1 mg/L), As (0.2 mg/L), Cd (0.01 mg/L), Zn (5 mg/L) and Pb (0.15 mg/L) in analysed wine samples were under Maximum Permissible Limits (MPL), respectively as published by the Organization of Vine and Wine.