VNB Hellenoinos

Hellenoinos

Selection-Evaluation-Utilization of Greek grape varieties

HELLENOINOS is a scientific partnership that studies and evaluates the Greek Vine genetic resources, emphasizing in  25 key grapevine varieties of the Greek vineyard and 16 Hellenifera clones.

For the first time in Greek viticulture, 7 different private and university-research bodies are working together, with the common goal of capturing and highlighting the special potential of greek varieties. At the same time, through HELLENOINOS, the agencies focus on the analysis of the first clones of the 6 main varieties of our country.
 
VNB, in collaboration with the laboratories of the Agriculture University of Athens and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, studies 25 Greek varieties (Moschofilero ENTAV-INRA 017VNB, E12, E26, Agiorgitiko ENTAV-INRA 001VNB, E44, E47, Assyrtiko ENTAV-INRA 004VNB, E6, E16, Xinomavro ENTAV -INRA 018VNB, E12, E18, Roditis ENTAV-INRA 019VNB, E13, E16, Malagouzia ENTAV-INRA E4, Limnio, Athiri, Muscat white, Kydonitsa, Mavrotragano, Mandilaria, Limniona, Kotsifali, Vilana, Vidiano, Robola, Aidani White, Augustiatis, Vertzami, Koiniariko, Mavrodafni, Monemvasia, Debina, Savvatiano) and records the following:
 
• primary and secondary metabolomic characterization of the grapes of the 5 "frontline" varieties and mapping of the transcriptomic background to determine the biochemical pathways leading to the formation of their aromatic profile.
• wine evaluation of the organoleptic profile of the 25 main varieties with an emphasis on the "frontline" varieties and their clones.
• evaluation of the 5 "frontline" varieties in terms of adaptation to environmental and cultivation conditions and the functional characterization of the genes that control their response to common abiotic stresses in Greek vineyard conditions.
The above is a basis, a reference and a means for the two future researches to improve the varieties that intend to lead to a new generation of wines from Greek varieties with a strong varietal identity.
A large part of the project focuses on the 25 Greek varieties that are of particular and direct interest to Greek wine production and concerns the production of data and the analysis of the variables that determine the aromatic and taste characteristics of the grapes and wines of these varieties, defining for the first time the special "organoleptic profile" of each one.
One of the most powerful elements of this program, is that the study of the varietal organoleptic profile is combined and supported in depth with the study of its genetic, transcriptomic and metabolomic background.