Partial rootzone drying (PRD): strategic irrigation management as viticultural tool affecting plant physiology and berry quality

It is not easy at first sight to give an exhaustive definition of the notion of terroir as it can be simplified or complicated at will. Thus the vagueness that surrounds this concept leaves the door open to various interpretations of the terroir. These tend towards a questionable level of objectivity because the fields they explore are not sufficient to explain the notion on their own, constituting only part of a whole.

Water deficits limit yields and this is one of the negative aspects of climate change. However, this applies particularly when emphasis is on biomass production (e.g. for crops like maize, wheat, etc.)

In recent decades, sustainability has risen to prominence across various industries, including agriculture, spurred by initiatives such as the new common agricultural policy and the farm to fork strategy within the European Union. Among agricultural activities, viticulture stands as a crucial player in sustainability, intertwining environmental, social, and economic dimensions, as exemplified by the OIV general principles of sustainable viticulture. Italy, one of the main players in the global wine market, has long been making efforts towards the introduction of sustainability-oriented practices and certifications.

The Valpolicella hilly area, north of Verona, is highly vocated for viticulture but its vineyards are sometimes characterized by very different soil and microclimate conditions which can greatly affect their oenological potential.

The phenological stages and the content of the anthocyanins of non-irrigated cultivars Blatina, Vranec, Kratoshija, Prokupec and Stanushina were study