The Trends and Prospects of Winemaking in Poland

Abstract

Viticulture and winery origins in Poland date to the tenth century, but their tradition has been reborn in the last ten years, resulting in a development of small vineyards producing excellent wines not only for the local market. Due to the cold climate, usually short summers with moderate and low temperatures, the grapes are characterized by lower sugar content and higher acidity compared to those grown in the south of Europe. According to the European Union regulations, Poland was classified as the coldest wine-growing region (A) and officially acknowledged as a wine-producing country. The grapevine cultivars adopted to the harsh climatic conditions give the Polish grape wines some unique sensory features. The most popular varieties of grapes for the production of red wine are Regent,

Assessment of the Bioactive Compounds in White and Red Wines Enriched with a Primula veris L.

“…As has been noted previously, red wines are a richer source of polyphenols and display relatively higher antioxidant properties in comparison to white wines. In studies performed by other researchers, it has been demonstrated that the varieties analyzed in this study, i.e., Rondo, are particularly rich in polyphenolic compounds and display a high antioxidant activity [5]. In the study of Kapusta et al [4], who analyzed wine samples from Subcarpathian vineyards, antioxidant activity measured by the FRAP method ranged from 2 mmolTE/L (Cabernet Cortis variety) to 0.05 mmolTE/L (Regent variety); the Regent variety also contained the most polyphenolic compounds as assayed using LC/MS (1860 mg/L).…”

“…The increased interest in wine production in Poland is related to climate changes (a rising trend in temperature and shorter winters have been observed), the emergence of more resistant grapevine varieties, greater knowledge concerning grapevine cultivation, increased consumer awareness of wine’s pro-health properties, and farmers seeking new, profitable crops [4,5].…”

“…Despite this, winemaking is a growing industry in Poland, where the tradition reaches as far as the Middle Ages [4]. The climate in Poland is characterized by significant daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature, with a risk of frost and hailstorms during the spring season [5]. The European Union has classified Poland as viticultural Zone A, i.e., the coldest one, together with Germany (except Baden), the Czech Republic (excluding Moravia), Belgium, and the United Kingdom [6], which means that wines from Poland can be sold on the European market.…”

Thermal Conditions for Viticulture in Poland

“…At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, viticulture was discontinued due to a marked cooling of the climate and then resumed (mainly in the area of the current Lubuskie and Dolnośląskie voivodeships) in the first half of the 19th century by German settlers [3]. During the Second World War, viticulture was again discontinued only to be reinstated gradually in the 1990s [4,5]. The current revised legal regulations on marketing wine produced from one's own cultivation have also contributed to an increase in cultivation area as well as in the number of growers [3,6,7].…”

Climate change impact on viticulture in Poland

“…Today, however, Polish viticulture has become one of the most dynamically growing sectors in Europe, as has domestic wine production. As stressed by Kunicka-Styczy nska et al (2016) the revival of viticulture in Poland is favoured primarily by climatic change, accompanied by some social phenomena such as consumer preferences, increasing wealth, ecotourism and value added food. It also contributes to growth in off-farm activities and to regional development (Jesiotr and Szymanska, 2016).…”