Outline for the définition of “Terroirs Viticoles application to the area of El AIjarafe (Seville, Spain)

The grapes producing and wine making regions are différent in their use of agricultural, industrial or agroindustrial means. These means are quite often very original and/or specialised; and lately are also quite competitive. Such means are being defined with increased accuracy in the delimitation and definition of its characteristics (Paneque et al., 1996 a). Human action together with other Elements and Agents involved in the vine growing production (Reyner, 1989) over these means lead to agronomic systems with important characteristics. Finally, the transformation of the vine growing production, through different technologies (Fleet, 1992), results in the creation of products with a different acceptance and economical value in the market. In order to provide a method for the characterisation and definition of those factors taking part in vine growing and wine making, we offer a system of characterisation for the vine growing areas, their production and the products resulting from it.