Viticultural potential assessment and its spatial delineation analysis in Goriška Brda viticultural area

Abstract

Context and purpose of the study – Viticultural potential has a complex conditioning, determined by relief, soil, climate and lithology. Delineation of viticultural potential from vineyard areas is essential for the purpose to collect the necessary data for viticultural zoning. Using this data, we can achieve greater yield quality, which is the most important criteria in viticulture. The main purpose of this research is characterizing of viticultural potential and zoning of homogeneous viticultural zones in Goriška Brda region by assessing the suitability of defined ecological factors.

Material and methods – Fourteen environmental factors, which represent relief, climate, soil and lithology, were used to evaluate and determine the viticultural potential which is further delimited in homogeneous viticultural zones within Goriška Brda study site, characterized by a mild Mediterranean climate. Each zone was described in terms of its viticultural potential, which expresses the types of wine that can be produced according to its ecological suitability. The spatial distributions of the environmental parameters were achieved using GIS-based multicriteria methodology. Spatial analysis was conducted at fine scale.

Results – Inside of study area, there were defined three zones with different viticultural potential, indicating the wine types that can be produced: a zone suitable for quality white wines and red table wines; a zone suitable for quality white wines; a zone suitable for sparkling and white table wines and wines for distillates. These zones make up the viticulture potential map of Goriška Brda study site. The south-western area, closer to the Mediterranean Sea, was defined as mainly suitable to produce quality white wines. Nevertheless, the north-eastern part was defined as suitable for production of mainly white table wines, sparkling wines, and wines for distillates. This research provides a map of viticultural potential and delimitate viticultural homogeneous zones for the winegrowing area of Goriška Brda. It also provides a spatial analysis of the ecological structure with suitability of ecological factors for different wine types. The results reveal the high spatial variability of the viticultural potential when analyzed at fine scale.