Influence of leaf removal and reflective mulch on phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of Merlot, Teran and Plavac mali wines (Vitis vinifera L.)

• Leaf removal and reflective mulch impact on red wines: Merlot, Teran and Plavac mali.
• Leaf removal had the strongest influence on phenolic composition of wines.
• Reflective mulch treatment had the least effect on phenolic composition of wines.
• Total phenols, anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols contents exhibited strong correlation with antioxidant activity.

Two years study was conducted to evaluate if leaf removal and red geotextile reflective mulch affect phenolic composition of wines from three red wine grape cultivars, Merlot, Teran and Plavac mali (Vitis vinifera L.). Leaf removal (LR) and reflective mulch (RM), made from weave of aluminum platelets protected by a transparent film and sewn together with red polypropylene threads, were tested separately and combined (LR + RM) on vines of Merlot, Teran and Plavac mali in 2009 and 2010 years, and compared with untreated control. All treatments were applied at veraison. LR had the strongest influence on phenolic composition of experimental wines, particularly in terms of increasing gallic acid, catechin, malvidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside content. LR + RM resulted in higher gallic acid and malvidin-3-glucoside concentrations. RM treatment had the least effect on phenolic composition of wines but still affected higher epicatechin and gallic acid content. The total phenols, anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols contents in wines exhibited strong correlation with antioxidant activity.