SmartGrape

Conventional methods of grape analysis are often limited by laboratory equipment, and many parameters that contribute to grape quality are not taken into account. With a more comprehensive characterization, grapes with a protected designation of origin can be authenticated, and the relationship between external factors—such as soil and climate conditions—and quality can be assessed more effectively.

The goal of the SmartGrape project is to develop a non-destructive measurement system for grape analysis based on attenuated total reflection spectroscopy in the mid-infrared range (ATR-MIR). This technology uses infrared light to “see” into the interior of the grapes without destroying them, but the signals it generates are not direct measurements of the grapes’ composition. Our task here at the Wine Campus Neustadt is to perform the chemical analysis required to translate these signals into compositional parameters such as sugar, acidity, and nitrogen content. Over 500 grape samples from France, Italy, and Germany are being chemically analyzed. With the help of artificial intelligence, this extensive database can be used to calibrate the ATR-MIR measurement system and ultimately enable a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between grape composition, quality, and “terroir.”