Terroir 1996 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Caractéristiques physiques et agronomiques des principaux terroirs viticoles de l’Anjou (France). Conséquences pour la viticulture

Caractéristiques physiques et agronomiques des principaux terroirs viticoles de l’Anjou (France). Conséquences pour la viticulture

Abstract

Une étude conduite dans le cœur du vignoble A.O.C. angevin, sur une surface d’environ 30.000 ha, a permis de caractériser et cartographier finement (levé au 1/12.500), sur le plan des facteurs naturels, les différentes unités de terroir présentes. Pour cela, on a mis en œuvre une méthode basée sur le concept d’Unité Terroir de Base (U.T.B.). Elle utilise, à une même échelle cartographique, une clef géologique (stratigraphie et lithologie) et une clef agro-pédologique (modèle de terrain : roche, altération, altérite) pour identifier et zoner l’U.T.B. Une caractérisation agronomique de chaque U.T.B. a été faite sur le plan physique et chimique en mettant en œuvre les outils et mesures de la science du sol et de l’agronomie. Au plan viticole, une caractérisation de l’U.T.B. a également été conduite, grâce à l’utilisation d’algorithmes experts élaborés spécialement pour avoir une estimation chiffrée des principales variables de fonctionnement du système terroir / vigne : réservoir utilisable en eau pour la vigne, potentiel de précocité du terroir, potentiel de vigueur et rendement. L’effet terroir sur la vigne et le vin a été abordé par l’intermédiaire d’une enquête menée, au niveau de la parcelle, auprès de chaque vigneron de la zone étudiée.
Les résultats concernant les plus importantes Unités Terroir de Base de l’Anjou sont présentés. Ils montrent des différences souvent considérables entre U.T.B., en ce qui concerne les propriétés agro-viticoles. En conséquence, l’adaptation des porte-greffes, des pratiques agro-viticoles, de même que l’aptitude de l’U.T.B. à produire divers types de vins et le choix des cépages qui en résulte, sont discutés.

A study realized in the vineyard of Anjou, allowed to characterize and to map the different viticultural “terroirs”. A method based on the concept of the “Base Terroir Unit” (B.T.U) was utilized. It uses a geologic key (stratigraphical and lithological components) and a ground model known as: Roche, Altération, Altérite, to identify and to cartography the B.T.U. B.T.U. corresponds to an entity (a territory) that is sufficiently homogeneous with respect to functioning of the “terroir” / vine / wine system and that has a surface area sufficient for enhanced value through viticulture. An agronomic study was made for every T.B.U. from the point of view of physical and chemical factors. Viticultural potentialities were studied by using algorithms experts which allowed to estimate : soil water capacity, potential for early growth and potential of vigour, for each B.T.U. The results obtained were confirmed by means of the viticultural survey, amongst the wine growers.
Results show important differences between Base “Terroir” Units. As a consequence, the adaptation of the vineyard and the viticultural practices are discussed

DOI:

Publication date: February 24, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2000

Type: Article

Authors

R. Morlat*, P. Guilbault**, D. Rioux**, S. Cesbron**

*U.R.V.V. INRA. 42, rue Georges Morel. 49071 Angers. France
**Equipe Terroirs d’Anjou. Angers

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2000

Citation

Related articles…

A predictive model of spatial Eca variability in the vineyard to support the monitoring of plant status

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...

Permanent cover cropping with reduced tillage increased resiliency of wine grape vineyards to climate change

Majority of California’s vineyards rely on supplemental irrigation to overcome abiotic stressors. In the context of climate change, increases in growing season temperatures and crop evapotranspiration pose a risk to adaptation of viticulture to climate change. Vineyard cover crops may mitigate soil erosion and preserve water resources; but there is a lack of information on how they contribute to vineyard resiliency under tillage systems. The aim of this study was to identify the optimum combination of cover crop sand tillage without adversely affecting productivity while preserving plant water status. Two experiments in two contrasting climatic regions were conducted with two cover crops, including a permanent short stature grass (P. bulbosa hybrid), barley (Hordeum spp), and resident vegetation under till vs. no-till systems in a Ruby Cabernet (V. vinifera spp.) (Fresno) and a Cabernet Sauvingon (Napa) vineyard. Results indicated that permanent grass under no-till preserved plant available water until E-L stage 17. Consequently, net carbon assimilation of the permanent grass under no-till system was enhanced compared to those with barley and resident vegetation. On the other hand, the barley under no-till system reduced grapevine net carbon assimilation during berry ripening that led to lower content of nonstructural carbohydrates in shoots at dormancy. Components of yield and berry composition including flavonoid profile at either site were not adversely affected by factors studied. Switching to a permanent cover crop under a no-till system also provided a 9% and 3% benefit in cultural practices costs in Fresno and Napa, respectively. The results of this work provides fundamental information to growers in preserving resiliency of vineyard systems in hot and warm climate regions under context of climate change.

Evolution of the amino acids content through grape ripening: Effect of foliar application of methyl jasmonate with or without urea

The parameters that determine the grape quality, and therefore the optimal harvest time, suffer variations during berry ripening, related to climate change, with the widely known problem of the gap between technological and phenolic maturities. However, there are few studies about its incidence on grape nitrogen composition. For this reason, the use of an elicitor, methyl jasmonate (MeJ), alone or with urea, is proposed as a tool to reduce climatic decoupling, allowing to establish the harvest time in order to achieve the optimum grape quality. The aim was to study the effect of MeJ and MeJ+Urea foliar applications on the evolution of Tempranillo amino acids content throughout the grape maturation. Three treatments were foliarly applied, at veraison and 7 days later: control (water), MeJ (10 mM) and MeJ+Urea (10 mM+6 kg N/ha). Grape samples were taken at five stages of maturation: day before the first and second applications, 15 days after the second application (pre-harvest), harvest day, and 15 days after harvest (post-harvest). The amino acids analysis of the samples was carried out by HPLC. Results showed that the evolution of amino acids was similar regardless of the treatment; however, foliar applications influenced the nitrogen compounds content, i.e., there was no qualitative effect but quantitative one. Most of the amino acids reached their maximum concentration in pre-harvest, being higher in grapes from the treatments than in the control. In general, no differences in grape amino acids content were observed between MeJ and MeJ+Urea treatments. Foliar applications with MeJ and MeJ+Urea enhanced the grape amino acids content, without affecting their profile, helping to optimize their quality and allowing to establish a more complete grape ripening standard. Therefore, MeJ and MeJ+Urea foliar applications can be a simple agronomic practice, which has shown promising results in order to enhance the grape quality.

Estimating bulk stomatal conductance of grapevine canopies

In response to changes in their environment, grapevines regulate transpiration using various physiological mechanisms that alter conductance of water through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Expressed as bulk stomatal conductance at the canopy scale, it varies diurnally in response to changes in vapor pressure deficit and net radiation, and over the season to changes in soil water deficits and hydraulic conductivity of both soil and plant. It is necessary to characterize the response of conductance to these variables to better model how vine transpiration also responds to these variables. Furthermore, to be relevant for vineyard-scale modeling, conductance is best characterized using data collected in a vineyard setting. Applying a crop canopy energy flux model developed by Shuttleworth and Wallace, bulk stomatal conductance was estimated using measurements of individual vine sap flow, temperature and humidity within the vine canopy, and estimates of net radiation absorbed by the vine canopy. These measurements were taken on several vines in a non-irrigated vineyard in Bordeaux France, using equipment that did not interfere with ongoing vineyard operations. An inverted Penman-Monteith equation was then used to calculate bulk stomatal conductance on 15-minute intervals from July to mid-September 2020. Time-series plots show significant diurnal variation and seasonal decreases in conductance, with overall values similar to those in the literature. Global sensitivity analysis using non-parametric regression found transpiration flux and vapor pressure deficit to be the most important input variables to the calculation of bulk stomatal conductance, with absorbed net radiation and bulk boundary layer conductance being much less important. Conversely, bulk stomatal conductance was one of the most important inputs when calculating vine transpiration, further emphasizing the need for characterizing its response to environmental changes for use in vineyard water use modeling.

Making sense of available information for climate change adaptation and building resilience into wine production systems across the world

Effects of climate change on viticulture systems and winemaking processes are being felt across the world. The IPCC 6thAssessment Report concluded widespread and rapid changes have occurred, the scale of recent changes being unprecedented over many centuries to many thousands of years. These changes will continue under all emission scenarios considered, including increases in frequency and intensity of hot extremes, heatwaves, heavy precipitation and droughts. Wine companies need tools and models allowing to peer into the future and identify the moment for intervention and measures for mitigation and/or avoidance. Previously, we presented conceptual guidelines for a 5-stage framework for defining adaptation strategies for wine businesses. That framework allows for direct comparison of different solutions to mitigate perceived climate change risks. Recent global climatic evolution and multiple reports of severe events since then (smoke taint, heatwave and droughts, frost, hail and floods, rising sea levels) imply urgency in providing effective tools to tackle the multiple perceived risks. A coordinated drive towards a higher level of resilience is therefore required. Recent publications such as the Australian Wine Future Climate Atlas and results from projects such as H2020 MED-GOLD inform on expected climate change impacts to the wine sector, foreseeing the climate to expect at regional and vineyard scale in coming decades. We present examples of practical application of the Climate Change Adaptation Framework (CCAF) to impacts affecting wine production in two wine regions: Barossa (Australia) and Douro (Portugal). We demonstrate feasibility of the framework for climate adaptation from available data and tools to estimate historical climate-induced profitability loss, to project it in the future and to identify critical moments when disruptions may occur if timely measures are not implemented. Finally, we discuss adaptation measures and respective timeframes for successful mitigation of disruptive risk while enhancing resilience of wine systems.