Terroir 2016 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Electromagnetic conductivity mapping and harvest zoning: deciphering relationships between soil and wine quality

Electromagnetic conductivity mapping and harvest zoning: deciphering relationships between soil and wine quality

Abstract

Using electromagnetic conductivity mapping and GIS technology, we identified two unique soil zones within a 0.8-hectare Cabernet Franc block in central Virginia, USA. For three vintages we implemented a differential harvest and experimental winemaking based on soil zoning and noted that each zone produces unique wines despite the fact that both consist of the same rootstock, clone, row orientation, trellis system, vine age and undergo the same farming practices.

Significant differences observed between the two lots, particularly potassium (K+) levels and pH of the fruit and wine, have been consistent from vintage to vintage. Our findings suggest a relationship between soil physical characteristics, site hydrology, soil chemistry, nutrient levels in the vine and fruit, and wine chemistry (specifically K+ and pH).

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2016

Type: Article

Authors

Ernest BEASLEY IV, MS, CPG (1), Benoit PINEAU (2), Lucie MORTON (3)

(1) HydroGeo Environmental, LLC, 418 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
(2) Pollak Vineyards, 330 Newtown Road, Greenwood, Virginia 22943
(3) Vitipiont International Research Centre, PO Box 5607, Charlottesville, Virginia 22905

Contact the author

Keywords

geophysics, viticulture, terroir, soil, management zoning, potassium, wine, precision viticulture

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Leveraging the grapevine drought response to increase vineyard sustainability

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2024, Silvina Dayer (PhD in Agronomy, Les Sanctuaires du Mirazur-Groupe Mauro Colagreco, Menton, France) speaks about grapevine drought response to increase vineyard sustainability. This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on IVES Technical Reviews.

Release and perception of γ-nonalactone and massoia lactone in the red wine matrix: impact of ethanol and acidity

Climate change (CC) is altering grape/wine composition, challenging wine sensory quality. Rising temperatures increase grape sugar levels, with higher wine ethanol (EtOH) contents, reduce total acidity (TA) converging with increased pH and lead to the accumulation of CC odorous markers such as γ-nonalactone (γ-C9) and massoia lactone (ML).

Multivariate data analysis applied on Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy for the prediction of tannins levels during red wine fermentation

Red wine is a beverage with one of the highest polyphenol concentration, which are extracted during the maceration step of the winemaking process.

Can yeast cells sense other yeasts beyond competition interactions?

The utilization of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in the wine industry has increased significantly in recent years. Alternative species need commonly be employed in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae to avoid stuck fermentation, or microbial spoilage. The employment of more than one yeast starter can lead to interactions between different species with an impact on the outcome of wine fermentation. Previous studies[1] demonstrated that S. cerevisiae elicits transcriptional responses with both shared and species-specific features in co-culture with other yeast species.

Synthesis of scientific research on the application of mechanized grapevine pruning in the Republic of Moldova

One of the basic problems in the viticulture branch is the improvement of perspective technologies for both vine training systems: with vertical standing and with free position of shoots, adapted to the requirements of complex mechanization.