terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Different soil types and relief influence the quality of Merlot grapes in a relatively small area in the Vipava Valley (Slovenia) in relation to the vine water status

Different soil types and relief influence the quality of Merlot grapes in a relatively small area in the Vipava Valley (Slovenia) in relation to the vine water status

Abstract

Besides location and microclimatic conditions, soil plays an important role in the quality of grapes and wine. Soil properties influence the soil water holding capacity, the vegetative growth and the vine water status. Moreover, it is known that the vine water status affects the grape quality, such as concentration and structural characteristics of phenols. In a relatively small area of the Vipava Valley, soil profiles were described on terraced and flat vineyards in the valley bottoms (n=5). Texture, pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, potassium and magnesium were determined for each soil horizon in the soil profile. Viticultural parameters (number of buds, clusters and leaf area) were standardised. Stem water potential (SWP) was measured during the growing season and grapes were randomly sampled during ripening in 2019. The content and structural characteristics of proanthocyanidins were determined in grape skins and seeds. On terraces, SWP was predominantly more negative than on flat vineyards, probably mainly due to the soil ability to retain water. Vineyards on flysch terrace soils consist of up to 90% coarse material and therefore contain less organic matter than the dense and largely non-skeletal loamy alluvial soils of flat vineyards. These two extreme groups of vineyards in the same vine-growing area differ considerably in morphology and soil profile characteristics, as well as microclimatic conditions and relief. The diversity of vineyards is reflected, among other things, in the grape quality. Higher concentration of anthocyanins in the skins and higher galloylation of seed proanthocyanidins was found in grapes from terraced vineyards. Understanding relationships between site, soil and the phenolic ripening of grapes is crucial for determining the best vineyard sites and thus for characterising terroirs suitable for high quality wines.

DOI:

Publication date: May 5, 2022

Issue: Terclim 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Alenka Mihelčič1, Klemen Lisjak1, Andreja Vanzo1, Paolo Sivilotti2, Mario Čule3 and Borut Vrščaj1

1Department of Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Oenology and Department of Agricultural Ecology and Natural Resources Services, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
3Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

Contact the author

Keywords

soil, flysch, skeleton, stem water potential, grape phenolic

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terclim 2022

Citation

Related articles…

Extension to the Saumurois-Touraine area of an Anjou-originated method for the characterisation of the viticultural terroirs. (Loire Valley, France)

En Anjou, une méthode de caractérisation des terroirs viticoles a été développée. Elle utilise un modèle de terrain basé sur la profondeur de sol et son degré d’argilisation. Le modèle concerne des terrains issus principalement de roches mères métamorphiques et éruptives du Massif Armoricain. Cet outil de caractérisation des terroirs viticoles nécessite d’être adapté lorsqu’il s’agit d’ensembles géologiques très différents, en particulier sur sols d’apport et de roches mères tendres et poreuses du Bassin Parisien. Une meilleure compréhension de la réserve hydrique des sols apparaît être un critère important de l’interaction entre le milieu et la plante.

Read More

First disclosure of eugenol precursors in Vitis genus: analytical development and quantification

The main aim of this work was to develop an analytical method to disclosure the
molecular form of eugenol precursor. Indeed eugenol is an important contributor to
Armagnac spirits typicity made with Baco blanc.

Read More

How sensor technologies combined with artificial intelligence increase the efficiency in grapevine breeding (research): current developments and future perspectives

Viticulture and grapevine breeding programs have to face and adapt to the rapidly changing growing conditions due to the ongoing climate change, the scarcity of resources and the demand for sustainability within the whole value chain of wine production. In times of highly effective and cost-efficient genotyping technologies routinely applied in plant research and breeding, the need for comparable high-speed and high-resolution phenotyping tools has increased substantially. The disciplines of grapevine research, breeding and precision viticulture picked up this demand – mostly independent from each other – by the development, validation and establishment of different sensor technologies in order to extend management strategies or to transform labor-intensive and expensive phenotyping.

Read More

Effect of row direction in the upper part of the hillside vineyard of Somló, Hungary

Hillside vineyards have a great potential to produce world class wines. The unique microclimate lead to the production of rich, flavory wines.

Read More

Anthocyanin content and composition of Merlot grapes under temperature and late pruning conditions 

One of the main aspects of Climate Change is the increase of temperatures during summer and grape maturity period. Physiological processes are influenced by these high temperatures and result in grapes with higher sugar concentration, less acidity and less anthocyanin content among other quality changes. One strategy to deal with the climate change effects is the implementation of late winter pruning to alter the effect of high temperatures during key periods by delays in maturity time.

Read More