A three-year experiment comprising severe leaf removal (LR) was carried out on Tempranillo grapes in
Logroño, North-central Spain. For the LR treatment, six basal leaves, along with the basal lateral shoots,
were removed two weeks after fruit set. Berry total soluble solids (TSS) were examined when the colour
began to appear. Grapes from both the LR and control (C) vines were analysed at the same TSS level
(≈ 22°Brix). LR advanced the onset of anthocyanin synthesis slightly but significantly. Yield components
were not affected by LR and no symptoms of sunburn were observed. Both treatments showed similar
juice pH and titratable acidity, although tartaric acid increased with LR while malic acid decreased with
it. In spite of failing to increase the final anthocyanin concentration of the grape juice, LR enhanced the
colour and body of the wine. These results indicate that a relatively early LR could be a viable way to
improve the quality of grapes and wine under the climatic conditions of the Rioja wine region.
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