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

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.

Download the PDF

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

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2004

Citation

Related articles…

Enological potential of red grapes: cultivars and geographic origin of vineyards

The study of technologic and phenolic maturation is very efficient to determinate quality potential of red grapes cultivars and clones under different maturity levels or geographic origins

Read More

Characterization of various groups of pyranoanthocyanins in Merlot red wine

In red wines, anthocyanins evolve during the wine-making process and ageing. They react with other compounds (such as vinylphenols, acetaldehyde, pyruvic acid…) to form a stable family of compounds called pyranoanthocyanins. Furthermore, the oxidation process can modify the anthocyanic profile of a red wine. It is also interesting to evaluate the occurrence of the different subclasses of pyranoanthocyanins and to characterize their chemical properties. The first objective of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of the different groups of pyranoanthocyanins in an oxidised Merlot wine by a centrifugal partition chromatography strategy. The second goal is to evaluate their relative impact in red wines from Bordeaux region by measuring their concentrations.

Read More

The influence of pre-heatwave leaf removal on leaf physiology and berry development

Due to climate change, the occurrence of heatwaves and drought events is increasing, with significant impact on viticulture. Common ways to adapt viticulture to a changing climate include site selection, genotype selection, irrigation management and canopy management. The latter mentioned being for instance source-sink manipulations, such as leaf removal, with the aim to delay ripening.

Read More

ViniGWAS – improving the selection of climate-resilient grapevine varieties

Climate change and its consequences are becoming an increasing challenge for viticulture. The breeding of new grapevine varieties that are better adapted to the changing conditions offers a possible solution.

Read More

Aroma profile of Tempranillo tropical red wines from different seasons in the São Francisco valley, northeast of Brazil

Aromatic characteristics of wines are strongly influenced by agronomical and enological factors, depending of the climate, cultivar and winemaking process. Tropical wines are a new concept of vitiviniculture that is being developped in the Northeast of Brazil since the 80’s, located between 8-9º latitude of the South Hemisphere, where the second most important cultivar used for reds is Tempranillo. In this condition, vines produce grapes and enologists elaborate wines twice a year, because high temperatures, solar radiation and water availability for irrigation.

Read More