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.

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…

OENOLOGICAL STRATEGIES FOR THE REMOVAL OF PINKING IN WHITE WINE

The pinking of in white wine is the turning of color from yellow to salmon hue. White wines obtained from certain grape varieties (e.g. Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Trebbiano di Lugana) showed to be susceptible to pinking [1] that has been evaluated by an assay providing the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Even if its appearance does not seem to affect the sensory properties [2], strategies are necessary for its removal. Nowadays, the treatment with polyvinylpolipirroline (PVPP) was reported to significantly decrease the pink color [3].

Impact assessment of the reverse osmosis technique in wine alcohol management

Wine authenticity and composition can be influenced by a range of membrane separation processes as reverse osmosis. In the context of climate change, the natural trend is to obtain wines with higher alcoholic concentration when classical winemaking methods are employed, and this may induce alteration of typicity of wines by masking the olfactory and taste properties. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of reverse osmosis techniques used for decrease of ethanol content on the stable isotopic ratios as markers for wine authenticity characteristics.

Determination of steviol glycosides in wine by HPLC

The SCL laboratory in Bordeaux is one of the two official control laboratories for wine and wine products in france, under the authority of the ministry of finance and two of its general directorates: the DGCCRF (directorate general for competition, consumer affairs and fraud control) and the DGDDI (directorate general of customs and excise duties). In this capacity, it verifies the regulatory compliance of wines and investigates any possible falsifications or fraud. Steviol glycosides are natural sweeteners that are not authorized as additives in wine.

Toasting and grain effect on Tempranillo red wine aged in Quercus petraea barrels

The barrel-making process is widely recognized as a crucial practice that affects the composition of barrel-aged wine. After the drying process, the staves are considered ready for barrel assembly, which includes the processes of bending and toasting the barrel structure. Toasting is considered one of the most critical stages in determining the physical and chemical composition of the staves, which can influence the chemical and sensory composition of the wine aged in barrels made from them [1].

FERMENTATION POTENTIAL OF INDIGENOUS NON-SACCHAROMYCES YEASTS ISOLATED FROM MARAŠTINA GRAPES OF CROATIAN VINEYARDS

The interest in indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeast for use in wine production has increased in recent years because they contribute to the complex character of the wine. The aim of this work was to investigate the fermentation products of ten indigenous strains selected from a collection of native yeasts established at the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation in 2021, previously isolated from Croatian Maraština grapes, belonging to Hypopichia pseudoburtonii, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Metschnikowia sinensis, Metschnikowia chrysoperlae, Lachancea thermotolerans, Pichia kluyveri, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Hanseniaspora guillermondii, Hanseniaspora pseudoguillermondii, and Starmerella apicola species, and compare it with commercial non-Saccharomyces and Saccharomyces strains.