Phenolic compounds of grape varieties grown in the Northern temperate climate

This study investigated the influence of Northern cool climate and latitudes on phenolic compounds of black hybrid grape varieties. The concentrations of phenolic compounds in different grape varieties Zilga and Nordica, grown at latitude of 60°24ʼ Nord were analyzed and compared them to those in Spanish variety Autumn Royale grown 37°59ʼ Nord. Changes in sugar and phenolic concentrations during grape development were followed in Nordica. The influence of latitudes on the phenolic compounds was investigated in Rondo grown at the latitudes of 55°31ʼ to 61°20ʼ Nord. The phenolic compounds were analyzed by HPLC. The sugar concentrations and content of almost all phenolic compounds were distinctly higher in Zilga and Nordica than in imported table grape Autumn Royale. No systematic differences in the phenolic contents between latitudes were found for Rondo. This study shows that the phenolic compounds and sugar concentrations of different black grape varieties grown at the Northern latitudes were considerably different from that of the imported Southern grape. Thanks to the climate change scenarios and grape breeding it might be possible to grow high quality grapes in Southern Scandinavia after a few decades.