Strategies For Establishing The Optimum Time To Harvest Grapes For White Wines - Vinea Apoldia Maior Winery USAMV Cluj-Napoca

The paper aims to determine the optimal harvest time for five grape varieties used in white wine production, under specific climatic conditions. Five grape varieties used in white wine production - Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Gris, Italian Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Traminer Roz - at the Apoldia Maior Winery, located in Apoldu de Sus, Sibiu County, were studied. The research includes observations on the evolution of production yield and quality in 2024. The optimal harvest time was established by taking samples on August 20th, 23rd, 26th, and 29th. The harvest quantity was based on: the average weight of a grape (g); the mass of 100 berries (g). Harvest quality was assessed using the refractometric method to determine sugar content (g/L) and the titrimetric method to determine total acidity (g/L H2SO4). The quality of the harvest expressed by the sugar content and total acidity was influenced by the climatic conditions of the year (solar insolation and temperatures above the usual limits; the sum of annual precipitation was within normal limits, but insufficient during the period of intensive growth of shoots and grapes; relative humidity was below the optimal level).