Terroir 2006 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2006 9 Climate component of terroir (Terroir 2006) 9 Climatic zoning and viticulture in Galicia (North West Spain)

Climatic zoning and viticulture in Galicia (North West Spain)

Abstract

Galicia is situated in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula, just north of Portugal and so sharing a mild, maritime climate, certain vine species and a number of long-standing viticultural traditions. In Galicia about 18,000 has are dedicated to wine growing, of which roughly half (46%) correspond to the 6 DOs in the area. The Galician climate is marked by its great diversity that can be explained by the prevailing maritime and continental winds over this part of the world and also due to its topography where a series of N to S mountainous chains check rain-bearing fronts from the Atlantic. This factor gives rise to the appearance of rain shadows particularly suitable for vine growing. A database was established with standardised 1971-2000 climatic data from 53 selected stations. Fourteen parameters and climatic indices commonly used in viticulture zoning studies were calculated. An analysis of principal components identified the main factors related to climatic variability as well as the climatic indices and parameters with major discriminating scores. These indices included those selected by the Geoviticulture Multicriteria Climatic Classification System (GMCCS). Results show that 13 out of the 36 worldwide viticulture climates specified by the GMCCS appear in Galicia confirming the diversity of viticultural climates present in the region. These results also demonstrate the efficacy of the GCCM system for the differentiation of climatic types on a regional level reinforcing the system’s versatility.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2006

Type: Article

Authors

José QUEIJEIRO, Daniel BLANCO and Cristalina ÁLVAREZ

Plant Biology and Soil Science Department, Vigo University, Spain.
Facultade de Ciencias de Ourense, As Lagoas s/n. 32004 Ourense, España

Contact the author

Keywords

mesoclimate, vine, Galicia, zonification

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2006

Citation

Related articles…

Use of the soils information system for detailed vineyard soil surveys and as a component of precision viticulture

Vineyard soil surveys can be costly and time consuming. The Soils Information System (SIS) provides a set of tools to do a quick evaluation of soil physical properties in the vineyard. First, a system equipped with GPS and EM38 equipment, provides a very precise DEM and a soil electrical conductivity map. Specific sampling points are located for a tractor-mounted geotechnical probe to make soil physical measurements.
Read More

Sensory impacts of the obturator used for the Chasselas: study over the time

Many parameters affect the organoleptic characteristics of wine: internal parameters like the chemical composition or polyphenol content and external as for example storage conditions or the type of obturator. The aim of this study was to characterize sensorally the impacts of several type of obturator on a white wine: Chasselas. To determine the organoleptic characteristics of this wine, a quantitative descriptive analysis could be used. But rapid sensory methods were preferred in this project. Indeed these methods are an appropriate alternative to conventional descriptive methods for quickly assessing sensory product discrimination.

Read More

Frost variability in the Champagne vineyard: probability calendar

Dans le vignoble champenois, le risque thermique associé au gel des bourgeons au printemps et en hiver est très mal connu et ne peut être envisagé qu’à l’échelle locale, en raison d’une variabilité spatiale forte. L’objectif de l’étude est d’appréhender ce risque de façon fiable et pluri locale en utilisant le réseau de stations météos récemment implanté.

Read More

Mesoclimate impact on Tannat in the Atlantic terroir of Uruguay

The study of climate is relevant as an element conditioning the typicity of a product, its quality and sustainability over the years. The grapevine development and growth and the final grape and wine composition are closely related to temperature, while climate components vary at mesoscale according to topography and/or proximity to large bodies of water. The objective of this work is to assess the mesoclimate of the Atlantic region of Uruguay and to determine the effect of topography and the ocean on temperature and consequently on Tannat grapevine behavior.

Read More

Terroir, climat et sol

Le sol et le climat occupent une place prépondérante dans le concept de terroir, pour lequel l’OIV s’apprête à adopter une définition internationale. Les travaux de recherche qui ont été menés depuis une trentaine d’années sur ces thèmes et qui ont été, pour les plus importants, présentés dans les 7 premiers Congrès Internationaux des Terroirs Viticoles ont considérablement modifié les connaissances sur le fonctionnement des terroirs viticoles dans le monde et le comportement des consommateurs avertis par rapport aux vins de terroirs.

Read More