Receptiveness of the wine industry to fungus-resistant grape varieties in the south of France

The adoption of fungus-resistant grape varieties (FRGs) represents a promising pathway for steering viticulture towards more sustainable production methods by reducing the use of phytosanitary inputs. At the time of writing, the dissemination of these varieties remains limited, partly due to constraints within the wine industry (i.e., cost of planting and cultivar limitations associated with Protected Designation of Origin). This study was conducted with commercial wines made from two types of grape: Vitis vinifera and FRGs. A panel of 96 participants from the wine industry in the Occitanie region (south of France) conducted sensory evaluations. The panel performed the evaluations both blind and having been informed about type of grape in a combination of short CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) sessions followed by questions exploring their interest in FRGs and expected plantations in the coming years. The results of the sensory analyses underlined the absence of any notable difference in liking or in the sensory profiles of the wines, whether tasted blind or not. Indeed, disclosure of the type of grape used to make the wines did not alter participants' perceptions or evaluations. Furthermore, the analysis of questionnaire data revealed a typology of three adopter profiles: i) "Sceptics": older professionals from private wineries who were generally unfavourable towards the adoption of FRGs, ii) "Receptives": cooperative members who showed measured support for innovation, and iii) "Observers": young, non-decision-making individuals with heterogeneous opinions. This industry panel predicted that there could be 25 % of vineyard areas planted with FRGs in Occitanie within the coming 30 years. This study offers insights into the future adoption of this new plant material within the wine industry.