ABSTRACT
The agronomic behavior of the Bobal variety has been studied in this work,
through the monitoring of its ripening in different agricultural conditions and with
differentiated hydric contributions. Also several systems of evaluation of the
anthocyanic and phenolic content in grapes have been tested, and the contents in the
grapes with the final contents of the elaborated wines have been correlated.
The maximum anthocyanic content is noticed twenty days after the veraison in
all the plots. The youngest vineyard shows grapes of smaller size, lower pH, greater
total acidity, greater tartaric and lower malic acid contents, lower content in sugars and
anthocyanins and an intermediate level of phenolics.
The vineyard located in the warmest area and with winter irrigation shows higer
grape size, high values of pH, lower total acidity, lower tartaric and greater malic acid
contents, intermediate in sugars and very low values in anthocyanins, phenolics and
colour intensity.
The most effective moment for the hydric contribution locates between the
grapevine bud break and the veraison. A remarkable increase of the productivity and the
weight of the grape with the irrigation is observed. Difference in the content in
anthocyanins is noticed, diminishing as increases the dose of irrigation. It is not
observed influence in sugars, total acidity, pH and tartaric acid contents. A diminution
in the colour intensity is noticed. Wines with superior values of pH and malic acid are
obtained. Wines with lower values of total acidity, tartaric acid, phenolics and colour
intensity are obtained.
The studied ripening indexes in grapes of Bobal show a very high variability and
they are not correlated with any factor of the grapes or wines.
The ethanol content and anthocyanin and phenolic contents are the factors that
have more influence in the appreciation of the sensorial quality of Bobal red wines. In
addition, wines with minor tartaric acid content and greater in malic acid are preferred.