Terroir 2004 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 The use of remote sensing in South-African terroir research

The use of remote sensing in South-African terroir research

Abstract

The diversity of soil types in the Western Cape of South Africa leads to high levels of within-vineyard variability. Multispectral remote sensing has received a lot of attention recently in the South-African wine industry in an attempt to identify and deal with this variability. While this technology holds promise for precision vineyard management as well as segmented harvesting of grapes, its potential as a tool in research has not yet been fully utilised. It holds promise as a tool to study the interaction of the grapevine with its environment, especially with regards to differences in vine performance due to soil variability. One of the most important goals of this research is to determine how the information derived from the vegetation indices used in the imaging relates to grapevine performance. Another objective is to assess the effects of practices that could differ between vineyards, such as trellis systems or canopy management on the image signal.
In a terroir study, aerial images were used to optimise plot layouts in the vineyards at different localities according to vineyard characteristics. Factors limiting or enhancing vine vigour were investigated using multispectral images. The use of hyperspectral satellite imagery from the Hyperion imager was also investigated as an additional tool to monitor the effects of the environment on the performance of the grapevine.
Terroir research focuses on identifying homogenous environmental units that have a specific viticultural and oenological potential. It is deemed necessary to investigate the “building blocks” of these “homogenous” units, which may encompass high levels of variability, in order to adapt them to a micro-scale for application on a vineyard level. Closer investigation of these “micro” terrroirs that exist within vineyards may enable us to utilise the full potential of our diverse natural environment.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

A.E. Strever

Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa

Contact the author

Keywords

Vine, Vitis vinifera L., remote sensing, high resolution, intrablock management, vineyard leaf area, NDVI

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

Related articles…

Addition of Malvasia di Candia Aromatica must and marcs to Golden Ale beer wort to obtain different Italian Grape Ales

Nowadays, the recovery of secondary resources of wine industry is insufficient and the developing of new products and adjuvants from secondary raw materials could become a relevant sector of research. The re-use of byproducts derived from winemaking could improve the sustainability of wine industry and give additional value to other food industries

Read More

Roots and rhizosphere microbiota diversity is influenced by rootstock and scion genotypes: can this be linked to the development of the grafted plant?  

Soil is a reservoir of microorganisms playing important roles in biogeochemical cycles and interacting with plants whether in the rhizosphere or in the root endosphere. Through rhizodeposition, plants regulate their associated microbiome composition depending on the environment and plant factors, including genotypes. Since the phylloxera crisis, Vitis vinifera cultivars are mainly grafted onto American Vitis hybrids. Rootstocks play a pivotal role in the grapevine development, as the interface between the scion and the soil.

Read More

Enological evaluation of the attitude of the grapevine fumin to give varietal wines

Initiatives have been ongoing in recent years to safeguard biodiversity in the oenological sector via a process of enhancement of ancient varieties, under a pressure of a market strongly oriented towards production deriving from native vines of specific geographical zones. In that sense, Aosta Valley
(Italy) has raised the need to preserve and characterize its minority vine varieties which have the potentiality to give varietal wines. Fumin represents the 7% of the production of the region with 16 hectares of vineyards and 753 hectolitres of derived wine. Due to its large phenolic potential, strong astringency and deep colour, it has long been, and is still today, assembled or blended with other varieties as occurs, for example, for the Torrette.

Read More

Extraction-modelling approach demonstrates grapevine rooting patterns varies significantly as a result of contrasting ground management and growing environment in cover cropped vineyards

The use of cover crops in viticulture has increased in recent decades as growers seek to reduce herbicide use, improve soil organic matter and biodiversity, and minimize soil-related agronomic issues such as compaction and erosion.

Read More

Within-vineyard variability in grape composition at the estate scale can be assessed through machine-learning modeling of plant water status in space and time. A case study from the hills of Adelaida District AVA, Paso Robles, CA, USA

Aim: Through machine-learning modelling of plant water status from environmental characteristics, this work aims to develop a model able to predict grape phenolic composition in space and time to guide selective harvest decisions at the estate scale.

Read More