RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Preveraison Leaf Removal Changes Fruit Zone Microclimate and Phenolics in Cold Climate Interspecific Hybrid Grapes Grown under Cool Climate Conditions JF American Journal of Enology and Viticulture JO Am J Enol Vitic. FD American Society for Enology and Viticulture SP ajev.2019.18052 DO 10.5344/ajev.2019.18052 A1 Jacob Scharfetter A1 Beth Ann Workmaster A1 Amaya Atucha YR 2019 UL http://www.ajevonline.org/content/early/2019/03/14/ajev.2019.18052.abstract AB Changes in grape cluster microclimate during ripening have been extensively exploredacross V. vinifera cultivars, but there is limited information about its effect on cold climateinterspecific hybrid grape (CCIHG) cultivars grown under cool climate conditions. The influenceof a single preveraison leaf and lateral shoot removal (“exposed”) treatment on fruit zonemicroclimate and juice total phenolic concentration (TPC), monomeric anthocyanin concentration (MAC), and percent polymeric color was evaluated in the white cultivars Brianna and La Crescent and the red cultivars Frontenac, Marquette, and Petite Pearl over three consecutive growing seasons and their respective wines in the last year of the study. Treatment effect on juice TPC in the white cultivars was cultivar dependent and there was no detectable treatment effect on wine TPC. For the red cultivars, Frontenac, Marquette, and Petite Pearl, the exposed treatment increased the TPC, MAC, and increased the percent polymeric color in the wines. The beneficial influence of the exposed treatment on MAC, TPC, percent polymeric color, and titratable acidity was associated with an increase in berry temperature and an increase in photosynthetically active radiation in the fruiting zone. The cultural practice of a single, preveraison leaf and lateral shoot removal may be an effective strategy to improve red wine color stability of CCIHG cultivars grown under cool climate conditions.