WINTER WINES AS AN EMERGING WINE CATEGORY: DOUBLE PRUNING, HUMAN-MEDIATED TERROIR AND MARKET PERSPECTIVES

Winter wines, produced through double pruning that shifts grape ripening to the dry autumn–winter season, are an emerging wine category. This critical review synthesizes viticultural, enological, sensory, institutional and market evidence and proposes an integrated framework for the category. Double pruning can favor grape health and composition, but results depend on cultivar, management and winemaking. We introduce the concept of human-mediated terroir and highlight the Vinhos de Inverno Sul de Minas geographical indication as a model of institutional recognition. Sensory typicity, consumer understanding and market acceptance still require further research.