Terroir 2004 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Methodology to assess vine cultivation suitability using climatic ranges for key physiological processes: results for three South African regions

Methodology to assess vine cultivation suitability using climatic ranges for key physiological processes: results for three South African regions

Abstract

[English version below]

Le climat a de fortes implications sur le bon fonctionnement physiologique de la vigne et a besoin d’être quantifié afin de déterminer l’aptitude des régions à la culture de la vigne. Une méthode, qui pourrait éventuellement servir à prévoir l’aptitude des régions à la culture de la vigne, est proposée. Les seuils climatiques (température, vitesse du vent et humidité relative) pour les processus physiologiques (aussi bien photosynthèse des feuilles qu’accumulation des sucres et potassium et formation d’acide organique et respiration) ont été étudiés dans trois régions viticoles d’Afrique du Sud (Stellenbosch, Roberston et Upington) pendant les périodes de pré-et post-véraison. Sont considérés à la fois les seuils climatiques optimum et extrêmes. Une variation importante dans le nombre d’heures disponibles pour le fonctionnement physiologique optimal (selon les paramètres étudiés) apparait entre les régions. En considérant tous les facteurs, la région de Stellenbosch semblerait être la plus appropiée aux besoins physiologiques étudiés pour la culture de la vigne.

Climate has serious implications on proper physiological functioning of grapevines and needs to be quantified in order to determine the vine cultivation suitability of grape growing regions. Methodology is proposed that may eventually be used to predict the suitability of regions/terroirs for grapevine cultivation. Climatic ranges of temperature, wind speed and relative humidity for key physiological processes (photosynthesis of the leaves as well as sugar and potassium accumulation, organic acid formation and respiration, and colour and flavour development in the grapes) were studied in three wine producing regions of South Africa (Stellenbosch, Robertson and Upington) during the pre- and post-véraison growth periods. Both optimum and extreme climatic ranges were considered. Marked variation in the number of hours available for optimal physiological functioning (according to the parameters studied) occurred between the regions. All factors considered, the Stellenbosch region would seem to be best suited to the studied physiological requirements for grapevine cultivation.

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2004

Type: Article

Authors

J.J. Hunter (1) and V. Bonnardot (2)

1) Infruitec/Nietvoorbij-Institute for Fruit, Vine and Wine of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa
2) ARC-Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ISCW), Private Bag X5026, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa

Contact the author

Keywords

List of different keywords (keyword1, keyword2, keyword3)

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

Related articles…

Caractérisation et valorisation des terroirs de l’appellation d’origine contrôlée Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion

Le terroir viticole, qui est la base de la délimitation des aires d’Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, est une notion complexe dans laquelle sont en interaction la vigne, les facteurs naturels tels que le sol, le climat, ainsi que le facteur humain à travers les pratiques des viticulteurs. Le terroir conditionne la composition des raisins et ainsi la qualité et la typicité des vins qui en sont issus.

« Wine routes »: a collective brand to build a wine reputation on the basis of terroir and landscapes

Le marché international du vin est désormais tourné vers la qualité et les vignobles de vin de masse se transforment pour construire la qualité et la réputation de leurs produits. Cette construction s’appuie notamment sur la valorisation de ressources territoriales de nature physique (terroir, pacage, écosystème) et humaine (savoir-faire, culture, patrimoine…). Les « Routes des Vins » sont des exemples concrets de ces processus de «territorialisation», combinant ces ressources territoriales pour communiquer sur l’ancrage géographique et la spécificité des vins. Les «Routes des Vins» émergentes, observées dans les régions vitivinicoles en transition vers la qualité, en Languedoc Roussillon, à Mendoza (Argentine) et au Western Cape (Afrique du Sud), participent souvent à la valorisation des terroirs, en organisant un itinéraire sur le territoire associé, en faisant découvrir les vins «de qualité», les paysages, les pratiques et le savoir-faire associés à leur élaboration.

How are canned wine drinkers perceived? An investigation involving Swiss nationals and different scenarios of outdoor leisure activities

This study examines how people who consume wine in cans are perceived in terms of their basic personality characteristics, helps understand the role of cultural background on people’s perception, and verify the role played by the consumption context on the perception. Our hypothesis is that prejudice and negative attitudes towards wine in cans might exert a negative effect on the evaluation of people who consume canned wine. To evaluate this hypothesis, the consumption of wine in cans was evoked in four different contexts of use during outdoor leisure activity (beach resort, ski resort, desert safari, and party). In order to examine the effect of culture on subject’s response we use participants from Switzerland, a country where three different cultures, associated with three different languages, cohabit.

Estudio comparativo del potencial enológico de dos varietales tintos cultivados en la isla de Tenerife

En el presente trabajo se ha realizado un estudio comparativo entre los varietales tintos Listán negro y Negramolle en la Denominación de Origen Tacoronte-Acentejo. Se han determinado durante dos años

Grape berry size is a key factor in determining New Zealand Pinot noir wine composition

Making high quality but affordable Pinot noir (PN) wine is challenging in most terroirs and New Zealand’s (NZ) situation is no exception. To increase the probability of making highly typical PN wines producers choose to grow grapes in cool climates on lower fertility soils while adopting labour intensive practices. Stringent yield targets and higher input costs necessarily mean that PN wine cost is high, and profitability lower, in line-priced varietal wine ranges. To understand the reasons why higher yielding vines are perceived to produce wines of lower quality we have undertaken an extensive study of PN in NZ. Since 2018, we established a network of twelve trial sites in three NZ regions to find individual vines that produced acceptable commercial yields (above 2.5kg per vine) and wines of composition comparable to “Icon” labels. Approximately 20% of 660 grape lots (N = 135) were selected from within a narrow juice Total Soluble Solids (TSS) range and made into single vine wines under controlled conditions. Principal Component Analysis of the vine, berry, juice and wine parameters from three vintages found grape berry mass to be most effective clustering variable. As berry mass category decreased there was a systematic increase in the probability of higher berry red colour and total phenolics with a parallel increase in wine phenolics, changed aroma fraction and decreased juice amino acids. The influence of berry size on wine composition would appear stronger than the individual effects of vintage, region, vineyard or vine yield. Our observations support the hypothesis that it is possible to produce PN wines that fall within an “Icon” benchmark composition range at yields above 2.5kg per vine provided that the Leaf Area:Fruit Weight ratio is above 12cm2 per g, mean berry mass is below 1.2g and juice TSS is above 22°Brix.