Imagine Chateau Budweiser in 2016! They have 65,000 acres in the middle of Nebraska. The clone is PN-1568 genetically modified. The wine is produced with yeast genetically modified in order to give a Strawberry and Cherry flavors even if the grapes are not ripped.
Here is a press release published on “Decanter”
“Italian researchers are close to completing the first map of the genetic identity of Pinot Noir.
Scientists at the San Michele all'Adige institute in Trentino, together with Myriad Genetics in the US, are the first in the world to have decoded the genome of a vine variety.
They hope the research will allow the development of vines better adapted to difficult climatic conditions and more resistant to pests, thereby reducing the use of pesticides.
Project director Riccardo Velasco told decanter.com, 'Wine has been such an important part of human culture for more than 3,000 years, but wine biodiversity has barely been explored. Now that we have the wine genome in hand, exploration can proceed scientifically and rapidly.'
The genome is the sum of all the genetic information contained in a cell, organized into chromosomes which in turn contain the DNA that carries hereditary information.
The grape vine has 19 chromosomes containing around 500m nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. It is the complete sequence of these nucleotides, the code for the vine's genetic information, that the researchers have determined.
In addition to the ongoing human genome project, genomes have previously been determined for relatively simple bacteria, mammals such as dogs, mice and rats, and plant species such as rice. This is the first time the genome for a fruiting plant has been determined.
San Michele intends to make the genome freely available to the international scientific community.”
My comment:
This is a good step in the science of Ampelography. However, it can lead to serious question that wine lovers should consider.
As you have read, the San Michele all'Adige institute is hoping doing some genetic modification in order to adapt this varietal to different climate situation and also pest control. The main argument used that creating a resistance from the plant to any kind of pest will reduce the chemical exposition (treatment). I strongly believe this is a wrong argument.
Cooper Mountain is an Organic vineyard. We deal every year with mildew, Botrytis, etc… and we are okay. The vineyard disease appears in specific conditions mainly related to the weather. Also, the conditions can dramatically change in accordance to the vineyard practice. With a careful management and a good weather, these diseases can be controlled. Making a genetic modification will reduce the quality of vineyard management, allows numerous businesses to produce in mass quantity the Pinot Noir therefore removing all charms and mystery of growing grapes.
Also, there is an ethical issue. Paying $40.00 a bottle of wine who taste wonderful but made with transgenic grapes can raise some questions. It is certain that everybody wish to have the most beautiful wine in the world but where is the story? Where is the notion of vintage? In fact, where is the notion of terroir?
Imagine Chateau Budweiser in 2016! They have 65,000 acres in the middle of Nebraska. The clone is PN-1568 genetically modified. The wine is produced with yeast genetically modified in order to give a Strawberry and Cherry flavors even if the grapes are not ripped.
In conclusion, the consumer should be very careful of what is going to happen on the next 30 years. They will have to decide what is acceptable or not! A choice will have to be made.