The quality of grapevines measured by yield and must density in the northern part of Europe -conditions can be characterized as a type of “cool climate” – vary strongly from year to year and from one production site to another, i.e. différences in must densities can range from 30 to 50 °Oe. An explanation may be changes of weather conditions during critical developmental stages of the grapevines (2, 3, 5). These can be categorized as “macro climatic” influences. According to them different grape growing areas can be discriminated ; nothern viticultural areas show a distinct yearly variation in must quality than the southern ones. The second scaling deals with spatial and timely variability in a growing region, i.e. topography, soil type and climate. The influences of both categories on must quality will be described subsequently.
Authors: D. HOPPMANN (1), K. SCHALLER (2)
(1) Agrarmeteorologische Beratungs- und Forschungsstelle des Deutschen Wetterdienstes, Kreuzweg 21, D-65366 Geisenheim, Deutschland
(2) Forschungsanstalt Geisenheim, Institut für Biologie, Fachgebiet Bodenkunde und Pflanzenernährung, Postfach 1154, D-65358 Geisenheim, Deutschland