Breeding Innovative Grape Varieties for Switzerland Johannes Rösti, Jean-Laurent Spring

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER Agroscope

Breeding innovative grape varieties for Switzerland Johannes Rösti, Jean-Laurent Spring

September 8 th 2017

www.agroscope.ch I good food, healthy environment

New grape varieties allow for reduced pesticide use and improved wine quality

1. Clonal selection of ancient and traditional European varieties ( Vitis vinifera ) ‰ Improved agronomical traits (growth, nutrition, yield) ‰ Diversity of colour, aroma and taste ‰ Decrease sensibility to grey rot (Botrytis cinerea)

2. Breeding of new European varieties ( Vitis vinifera ) ‰ Improved agronomical traits (growth, nutrition, yield) ‰ Diversity of colour, aroma and taste ‰ Resistance to grey rot (Botrytis cinerea)

3. Breeding of hybrid/interspecific varieties ‰ Resistance to grey rot (Botrytis cinerea) ‰ Resistance to powdery and downy mildew

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 2 Johannes Rösti

1 Clonal selection of ancient and traditional European varieties ( Vitis vinifera )

1. Safekeeping and selection of natural intravarietal biodiversity since 1923

2. Safekeeping of over 1800 biotypes of 24 ancient and traditional Swiss varieties

3. Up to now 48 certified clones

4. Focus on: - improved agronomical traits (growth, nutrition, yield) - diversity of colour, aroma and taste - decrease sensibility to grey rot ( Botrytis cinerea )

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 3 Johannes Rösti

Four different breeding programs at Agroscope since 1965

Métis V. vinifera Métis V. vinifera Hybrids Hybrids

1st generation 2nd generation 1st generation 2nd generation

1965 1995 1996 2009

Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to grey rot grey rot grey rot, powdery grey rot, powdery (Botrytis cinerea ) (Botrytis cinerea ) and downy mildew and downy mildew

Improved phenolics Improved adaption to Increased number of and aroma soil and climate resistance genes Gamaret, Garanoir, Merello, Nerolo, Divico First varieties Diolinoir, Galotta, Cabernello, IRAC 2060 after 2020 Mara, Carminoir, Cornarello, (to be named) Doral, Charmont Gamarello Accomplished Industry transfer Registration phase Breeding under way

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 4 Johannes Rösti

2 Swiss innovative varieties first generation

Gamaret 5%

Doral Charmont Gamaret Garanoir Diolinoir Chasselas x Chardonnay Gamay x Reichensteiner Robin noir x Pinot noir Pinot noir

Galotta Carminoir Mara Ancelotta x Pinot noir x Gamay x Gamay Cabernet Sauvignon Reichensteiner Hectares

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 5 Johannes Rösti

Four different breeding programs at Agroscope since 1965

Métis V. vinifera Métis V. vinifera Hybrids Hybrids

1st generation 2nd generation 1st generation 2nd generation

1965 1995 1996 2009

Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to grey rot grey rot grey rot, powdery grey rot, powdery (Botrytis cinerea ) (Botrytis cinerea ) and downy mildew and downy mildew

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 6 Johannes Rösti

3 Swiss innovative red varieties second generation

° Intraspecific crosses between Gamaret and other classical European varieties with a strong intensity and a high quality potential but a restricted growing area in Switzerland ° Syrah ° Merlot ° Nebbiolo ° Humagne Rouge ° Cornalin ° More than 2000 candidates screened since 1995 ° Registration of five new varieties in 2011 ° Transfer to industry since 2017

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 7 Johannes Rösti

• Cabernello Cabernet franc x Gamaret (MRAC 40)

• Merello Merlot x Gamaret (MRAC 1087)

• Gamarello Merlot x Gamaret (MRAC 1099)

• Cornarello Humagne rouge x Gamaret (MRAC 1626)

• Nerolo Nebbiolo x Gamaret (MRAC 1817)

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 8 Johannes Rösti

4 Experimental vineyards Agroscope

Wädenswil: 9.5°C 1390 mm 1595 h

Changins (Nyon): 10.2°C 998 mm 1844 h

Sion: Cadenazzo: 10.1°C 11.4°C 603 mm 1832 mm 2093 h 2102 h

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 9 Johannes Rösti

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 10 Johannes Rösti

5 Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 11 Johannes Rösti

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 12 Johannes Rösti

6 Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 13 Johannes Rösti

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 14 Johannes Rösti

7 Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 15 Johannes Rösti

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 16 Johannes Rösti

8 Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 17 Johannes Rösti

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 18 Johannes Rösti

9 Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 19 Johannes Rösti

Industry transfer – the last stage of the breeding process

° Transfer to the industry through the Swiss system for certified plant material

° The first plots for multiplication were put in place in spring 2017

° Trials at Agroscope are under way to further characterize the agronomical and oenological potential of these new varieties

° At the same time 62 extended industrial trials are carried out each year in collaboration with industry partners

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 20 Johannes Rösti

10 Four different breeding programs at Agroscope since 1965

Métis V. vinifera Métis V. vinifera Hybrids Hybrids

1st generation 2nd generation 1st generation 2nd generation

1965 1995 1996 2009

Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to grey rot grey rot grey rot, powdery grey rot, powdery (Botrytis cinerea ) (Botrytis cinerea ) and downy mildew and downy mildew

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 21 Johannes Rösti

Resistant grape varieties Resistant to Plasmopara viticola , Erysiphe necator and Botrytis cinerea

- Based on naturally occurring stilbenes

- Selection based on agronomical, enological and organoleptic criteria

- Experiments under the different climatic conditions of Switzerland

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 22 Johannes Rösti

11 Stilbenes as breeding tools

• Initial works: Agrosocope Changins since 1985

Resveratrol Pterostilbene Piceid • Ongoing works on new antifungal stilbenes at Agroscope and University of Geneva

viniferine

ε- α- δ-

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 23 Johannes Rösti

Resistant grape varieties

Since 1996

V 55 different interspecific crosses V 896 individuals selected after biochemical tests V 33 cultivars (30 red, 3 white) at 20 plants stage including winemaking V 13 cultivars in enlarged experiments (Agroscope research vineyards)

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 24 Johannes Rösti

12 Divico: first multi-resistant white variety bred by Agroscope V Resistant to downy mildew and grey mold, week sensitivity to powdery mildew

V High qualitative potential

V Wine type Gamaret high color potential

V Bouquet dominated by red berries

V Rich, powerful wine, with intense, smooth tannins, long in mouth with a

complex taste Gamaret (Leytron VS, 2013) Divico (Gamaret x Bronner) Divico (Leytron VS, 2013) 2016: 22 ha in Switzerland

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 25 Johannes Rösti

Family tree of the resistant variety Divico

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 26 Johannes Rösti

13 Four different breeding programs at Agroscope since 1965

Métis V. vinifera Métis V. vinifera Hybrids Hybrids

1st generation 2nd generation 1st generation 2nd generation

1965 1995 1996 2009

Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to Resistance to grey rot grey rot grey rot, powdery grey rot, powdery (Botrytis cinerea ) (Botrytis cinerea ) and downy mildew and downy mildew

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 27 Johannes Rösti

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER Agroscope

First series White wines:

3 wines

www.agroscope.ch I good food, healthy environment

14 First series: Swiss traditional and innovative white varieties

Glass 1 Glass 2 Glass 3 Chasselas Müller-Thurgau IRAC 2060 Pully, Vaud Wädenswil, Zürich Pully, Vaud 2015 2015 2015

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 29 Johannes Rösti

IRAC 2060 first multi-resistant white variety bred by Agroscope

V High resistance to downy mildew, low sensibility to powdery mildew and grey rot (1-3 treatments depending on the fungal attack)

V Contains resistance genes RPV10, RPV3-4 (downy mildew) and REN3 (powdery mildew)

V Early ripening variety (similar to Müller Thurgau). Good yield potential.

V High quality potential, well structured and harmonious wines

IRAC 2060 (Bronner x Gamaret) V Fruity and floral aroma profile (thiols)

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 30 Johannes Rösti

15 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER Agroscope

Second series Red wines:

3 wines

www.agroscope.ch I good food, healthy environment

Second series: Swiss innovative red varieties first generation

Glass 1 Glass 2 Glass 3 Mara Gamaret Diolionoir Nyon, Vaud Leytron, Valais Leytron, Valais 2015 2013 2010

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 32 Johannes Rösti

16 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER Agroscope

Third series Red wines:

4 wines

www.agroscope.ch I good food, healthy environment

Third series: Swiss innovative red varieties second generation

Glass 1 Glass 2 Glass 3 Glass 4 Merello Nerolo Divico Divico Pully, Vaud Pully, Vaud Leytron, Valais Leytron barrique 2016 2016 2015 2012

Innovative grape varieties | Masters of Wine 2017 34 Johannes Rösti

17 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER Agroscope

Fourth series Red wines:

1 wine