TY - JOUR T1 - Sensory Analysis of Riesling Wines from Different Sub-Appellations in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario JF - American Journal of Enology and Viticulture JO - Am. J. Enol. Vitic. DO - 10.5344/ajev.2015.14081 SP - ajev.2015.14081 AU - James J. Willwerth AU - Andrew G. Reynolds AU - Isabelle Lesschaeve Y1 - 2015/04/23 UR - http://www.ajevonline.org/content/early/2015/04/15/ajev.2015.14081.abstract N2 - Potential terroir effects are described that might impact Riesling wine varietal character. In 2005, the Vintners Quality Alliance of Ontario created putative sub-appellations within the Niagara Peninsula based on soil and climate. An objective of this research was to determine differences that might validate sub-appellation designations. It was hypothesized that differences would be found with respect to fruit composition and wine sensory attributes among these sub-appellations. This was tested in 10 commercial Riesling vineyards representative of each sub-appellation, from which wines were made in 2005 and 2006. Vineyards were delineated using GPS and 75–80 sentinel vines were georeferenced within a sampling grid. An assumption was that vine water status would play a major role in the terroir effect; therefore wines were made from vines of similar water status based on leaf water potential. Standard winemaking protocol was used to minimize enological effects. Descriptive analysis using a trained panel indicated that sub-appellation affected wine sensory profiles for both vintages. Thirteen aroma, flavor, and taste attributes differed between sub-appellations (2005) and 11 aroma, flavor, and taste attributes differed in 2006. In both vintages, musts and wines also differed between sub-appellations in terms of chemical composition (titratable acidity, pH, free and potentially volatile terpenes). Through principal component analysis and partial least squares regression, specific sensory and chemical attributes and vineyard variables were associated with wines from the different sub-appellations. However, wines were grouped in terms of their generalized regional designation (Lakeshore, Escarpment and Lake Plain) within the Niagara Peninsula. Similar sensory profiles were found in these appellations, suggesting wines classified from their place of origin in the Niagara Peninsula should exhibit specific varietal characteristics regardless of growing season. ER -