Fermentable nitrogen can be managed in the vineyard through vine nitrogen additions or in the winery through amendments. There has been a preference of winemakers to avoid nitrogen additions in the winery, opting for nitrogen management in the vineyard. However, many growers are concerned about adding nitrogen in the vineyard for fear of overly vigorous vines and potential for reduced wine quality. This session will share results of a multi-year, multi-vintage study where nitrogen applications were made in the vineyard and winery to adjust fermentable nitrogen levels of the fruit and must. Viticulture, wine production, and sensory results will be shared, including a technical tasting.

1. Nitrogen in the Vineyard or Winery

2. Nitrogen in the Vineyard or Winery
Students / Staff:
Tian Tian - PhD Student
Meghan Rupell - M.S. Student
Matthew Scott - Technician
Aubrey DuBois - Technician
PI’s:
Paul Schreiner - USDA/ARS
James Osborne - OSU
Patty Skinkis - OSU
Elizabeth Tomasino - OSU
Industry Cooperators / In-kind Support:
Geoff Hall, Ryan McAdams, Nicole Jolliffe - Erath/ Ste. Michelle
Leigh Bartholomew, Alex Cabrera, Jesse Delarbre, Morgan Garay -
Results Partners. Inc.

3. Can we produce better wines by:
1) Boosting vine N status in the vineyard ?
2) Maintaining low N in the vineyard ?
Primary Question:
With the option to adjust N in the Winery

4. Does the type of winery N supplement matter?
Inorganic-N VS Organic-N
Second Question:
Ammonium (DAP) VS Amino (Nutriferm)

5. Rationale:
• Vine N status drives vegetative growth - vigor
(more critical in high rainfall regions)
• Vine N status impacts reproductive growth
• Tug of war 1 (Shoots or Fruits)

6. Nitrogen & Balance - Growth
Shoots Fruits

7. Nitrogen & Balance - Growth
Shoots
Fruits

8. Nitrogen - MicroPlot Experiments
Schreiner et al. 2018 AJEV
We can control Canopy Size
before losing Crop Yield

9. Rationale:
• Low N status often improves red fruit quality attributes
2° metabolites (phenolics, some aroma precursors)
• Low N status reduces berry N or must YAN
1° metabolites (amino acids linked to specific aromas)
• Tug of war 2 (primary VS secondary metabolites)

10. Nitrogen & Balance - Quality
1° metabolites 2° metabolites
N SupplyN Supply
Schreiner et al. 2018 AJEV

11. Nitrogen & Balance - Quality
1° metabolites 2° metabolites
Schreiner et al. 2014 AJEV

12. Experimental Design:
• Work in ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Pinot noir’
• 3 Treatments in the Vineyard (no N, Soil N, Foliar N)
• Soil N applied as UAN @ 40-60 lbs/acre N (2-3 doses)
• Foliar N applied as urea @ 18 lbs/acre (3 doses)
• Wide array of Viticultural measurements
• 2 Treatments added at Winery (+DAP, +Nutriferm)
• 4 field replicates maintained in separate ferments
• 5 treatments were produced and evaluated
No N (control), +Soil N, +Foliar N, +DAP, +Nutriferm

13. Viticulture Results - Chardonnay
May 13, 2016 - First Soil N application Aug. 29, 2016 - 2 weeks after veraison
Soil N in Chardonnay - 60 pounds/acre N in 2016 & 2017, 40 pounds in 2018

14. September 28, 2016 – 2 weeks after harvest
August 25, 2017 – Veraison

15. Petiole N - Responded the same as Leaf Blade N
Effect of N Treatments on Vine N Status

16. Effect of N Treatments on Vegetative Growth

17. Effect of N Treatments on Yield Parameters
Year Control + Soil N + Foliar N
2016 107 110 N.D.
2017 102 b 131 a 101 b
2018 109 132 * 109
Cluster Weights - Chardonnay
* P value = 0.071
Other Reproductive Parameters were not Significantly Altered by N:
1) Fruitfulness 2) Cluster # per vine 3) Average Berry Weight

18. Other Impacts of Vineyard N
Soil N reduced AMF in roots
Dilution Effect due to larger canopy? NO - Veraison LA up by 16% -- Veraison leaf P down by 32%
Lower AMF = Lower P Uptake

19. Must YAN Levels - Chardonnay
Other Must Measures not Altered by N:
1) Brix 2) pH 3) Titratable Acids

20. Summary: Vineyard N Additions - Chardonnay
•Soil N Increased Vine N Status in all years &
Improved Vine Growth & Yield in year 2 & 3.
•Foliar N did not alter Vine N status, Growth or Yield.
•Soil N Boosted must YAN better than Foliar N.

21. “
Will changes to nitrogen source and
concentration impact fermentation
and wine quality attributes?
?

22. Control Vineyard
Juice or Must
(Low YAN)
+Soil N Vineyard
Juice or Must
(High YAN)
+Soil N Vineyard Juice
or Must
(High YAN)
Divide into Carboys
+Nutriferm+DAP +Soil N +FoliarNControl
Measure YAN
Add
DAP
Add Nutriferm
Arom Plus
Measure YAN
Inoculate and Ferment
Divide into Carboys Divide into Carboys
Control Vineyard
Juice or Must
(Low YAN)
+Nutriferm+DAPControl
Add
DAP
Add Nutriferm
Arom Plus
Measure YAN
+Soil N
https://en.wikipedia.org
+Foliar N
https://www.evineyardapp.com

23. Control Vineyard
Juice or Must
(Low YAN)
+Soil N Vineyard
Juice or Must
(High YAN)
+Soil N Vineyard Juice
or Must
(High YAN)
Divide into Carboys
+Nutriferm+DAP +Soil N +FoliarNControl
Measure YAN
Add
DAP
Add Nutriferm
Arom Plus
Measure YAN
Inoculate and Ferment
Divide into Carboys Divide into Carboys
+Soil N Vineyard
Juice or Must
(High YAN)
+Soil N Vineyard Juice
or Must
(High YAN)
+Soil N +FoliarN
Control + DAP
Control + NutriFerm
© 2014 Oregon State University
Control = No Vineyard or Winery
Nitrogen Added

24. YAN (mg N/L): Chardonnay Juice
Year Control +Soil N +Foliar N +DAP +NutriFerm
2016 99 c 189 a - 191 a 162 b
2017 59 c 179 a 121 b 166 a 123 b
2018 64 c 147 a 103 b 150 a 111 b

25. Winemaking
Chardonnay
Fermentation
Temperature
15oC
Yeast Strain D47
MLF No
Aging time before
sensory
6 months
All wines had free SO2 boosted to 30ppm and were sterile filtered
prior to bottling. Wines aged at 13oC until sensory

26. Relationship between Fermentation Time and YAN
Means
All Reps

27. 2017 Chardonnay Fermentations
0.0
3.0
6.0
9.0
12.0
15.0
18.0
21.0
24.0
0 72 144 216 288 360 432 504 576 648 720 792 864
Brix
Time (Hours)
Control
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+FoliarN
YAN (mg/L)
59
166
123
179
121

28. Take Home….
oYAN was effectively raised in the vineyard
and the winery promoting successful
fermentation of Chardonnay
oYAN concentration impacted fermentation
kinetics

29. How do the different
nitrogen supplements
modify YAN
composition?
© 2019 Oregon State University

30. Amino Acid Profiles: Chardonnay
oSoil N
• Increased the concentration of the most individual amino
acids in each year
• Significantly increased the concentration of alanine, arginine,
glutamine, and serine compared to the control in every year
o+Nutriferm
• Increased the concentration of threonine compared to the
control in every year

31. Do different nitrogen
supplements impact
wine sensory
attributes?
© 20194Oregon State University

32. Chardonnay YAN Tasting
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8Only evaluate the Chardonnay wines

33. Chardonnay YAN Tasting
Nutriferm Soil N Control DAP
5 6 7 8Only evaluate the Chardonnay wines

34. 2016
Control
+Nutriferm+DAP
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
Control
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(16.27%)
F1 (32.90 %)
Aroma: Chardonnay
2017
Control
Control
+FoliarN
+FoilarN
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
+DAP
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4F2(16.63%)
F1 (28.90 %)

35. Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
F2(15.24%)
F1 (21.57 %)
Aroma: Chardonnay
2016
2017
2018
Control
+Nutriferm+DAP
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
Control
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(16.27%)
F1 (32.90 %)
Control
Control
+FoliarN
+FoilarN
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
+DAP
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
F2(16.63%)
F1 (28.90 %)

36. Aroma: Chardonnay
2016
Control
Control
+FoliarN
+FoilarN
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
+DAP
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
F2(16.63%)
F1 (28.90 %)
Control
+Nutriferm+DAP
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
Control
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(16.27%)
F1 (32.90 %)
2017
2018
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
F2(15.24%)
F1 (21.57 %)

37. Aroma: Chardonnay
2016
2017
2018
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6
F2(15.24%)
F1 (21.57 %)
Control
+Nutriferm+DAP
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
Control
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(16.27%)
F1 (32.90 %)
Control
Control
+FoliarN
+FoilarN
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+DAP
+DAP
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
F2(16.63%)
F1 (28.90 %)
+SoilN was described
as TROPICAL in ALL 3
VINTAGES

38. Take Home….
oSource of nitrogen impacted Chardonnay
aromatic sensory properties
oSoil nitrogen consistently resulted in
“tropical” aromas.

39. Viticulture Results - Pinot noir
Sep. 14, 2017 - 2 weeks after veraison
Soil N in Pinot noir - 60 pounds/acre N in 2017, 40 pounds in 2018 & 2019

40. Effect of N Treatments on Vine N Status

41. Effect of N Treatments on Vegetative Growth

42. Effect of N Treatments on Yield Parameters
Not Significant in Any Year
Other Reproductive
Parameters were not
Altered by N:
1) Fruitfulness
2) Cluster # per vine
3) Ave. Berry Weight
Cluster Weights sig. in 2018
Soil N = 114 a
Control = 102 b
Foliar N = 101 b

43. Other Impacts of Vineyard N
Soil N reduced AMF in roots
b
Smaller & Less Consistent Impact on Nutrients
Leaf P - N.S.
Petiole Zn - N.S.

44. Other Must Measures not Altered by N:
1) Brix 2) pH 3) Titratable Acids
Must YAN Levels - Pinot noir

45. Summary: Vineyard N Additions – Pinot noir
• Soil N Increased Vine N Status in all years &
Improved Vine Growth in year 2 & 3.
• Soil N did not alter Yield.
• Foliar N did not alter Vine N status, Growth or Yield.
• Soil N & Foliar N Boosted must YAN equally.

46. YAN (mg N/L) : Pinot Noir Must
Year Control +Soil N +Foliar N +DAP +NutriFerm
2016* 176 b 243 a - 257 a 253 a
2017 134 c 218 ab 235 ab 244 a 206 b
2018 140 b 211 a 206 a 245 a 210 a
* Data from 2016 was from a separate Pinot noir vineyard block

47. Winemaking
All wines had free SO2 boosted to 30ppm and were sterile filtered
prior to bottling. Wines aged at 13oC until sensory
Pinot Noir
Fermentation
Temperature
27oC
Yeast Strain RC212
Punch Downs 2x Daily
MLF VP41
Aging time before
sensory
1 year

48. Fermentation Time: 2017 Pinot Noir
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Timeto0oBrix(hours)
YAN (mg N/L)
Control
+DAP
+NutriFerm
+Soil N
+Foliar N

49. Fermentation Time: 2017 Pinot Noir
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Timeto0oBrix(hours)
YAN (mg N/L)
Control
+DAP
+NutriFerm
+Soil N
+Foliar N
Soil N and Foliar ferments initially proceeded more quickly

50. Pinot noir YAN Tasting
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8

51. Pinot noir YAN Tasting
1 2 3 4
DAP Control Soil N Nutriferm

52. 2016
Aroma: Pinot Noir
2017
Control
+SoilN
+SoilN
+Nutriferm
+DAP
+DAP
Control
Nutriferm
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(19.87%)
F1 (26.68 %)
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6F2(17.30%)
F1 (19.76 %)

53. 2016
Aroma: Pinot Noir
2017
Control
+SoilN
+SoilN
+Nutriferm
+DAP
+DAP
Control
Nutriferm
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(19.87%)
F1 (26.68 %)
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6F2(17.30%)
F1 (19.76 %)

54. 2016
Aroma: Pinot Noir
2017
Control
+SoilN
+SoilN
+Nutriferm
+DAP
+DAP
Control
Nutriferm
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(19.87%)
F1 (26.68 %)
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6F2(17.30%)
F1 (19.76 %)
Red Plum &
Earthy
Cherry & Berry

55. Mouthfeel: Pinot Noir
2017
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(16.39%) F1 (20.81 %)
Control
+SoilN
+SoilN
+Nutriferm
+DAP
+DAP
Control
+Nutriferm
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
F2(18.24%)
F1 (28.31 %)
2016

56. Mouthfeel: Pinot Noir
20172016
Control
+SoilN
+SoilN
+Nutriferm
+DAP
+DAP
Control
+Nutriferm
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
F2(18.24%)
F1 (28.31 %)
Control
Control
+DAP
+DAP
+Nutriferm
+Nutriferm
+SoilN
+SoilN
+FoliarN
+FoliarN
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
F2(16.39%) F1 (20.81 %)

57. Take Home….
oSoil N significantly boosted native YAN and increased
yield in Chardonnay but not Pinot noir
oFoliar N boosted native YAN, w/o causing increased
growth
oNitrogen source and concentration altered wine sensory
attributes to a more consistent extent in Chardonnay
than in Pinot Noir.