Terroir 2016 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Introducing heterogeneity measurements in terroir studies. Application in the região demarcada do douro (n portugal)

Introducing heterogeneity measurements in terroir studies. Application in the região demarcada do douro (n portugal)

Abstract

Terroir zoning studies have to manage the heterogeneity and complexity of the landscape properties and processes. The varying geology is one of the main landscape properties conditioning the spatial variability of terroirs. An entropy-based index used to characterize the heterogeneity of soil particle size distribution has been recently recognized to be controlled by the lithological properties at landscape scale. This index, known as the Balanced Entropy Index (BEI), which has been identified as a very good predictor of soil water content, is a promising tool in geosciences because it provides a continuous parameterization of soil texture that enables establishing quantitative relationships between soil texture and all the hydropedological attributes related to it.

In this study, carried out in the Portuguese winegrowing region called Região Demarcada do Douro (RD Douro), we explored the BEI in the lithostratigraphic units, and its potential relationship with the vineyard distribution and characteristics at plot scale. The data set for this work was the soil map of RD Douro scale 1/25 000, the vineyard distribution, and the information of the soil map database, which includes analytical and morphological data of 1 217 soil profiles.

Results evidenced that, in areas with similar lithological properties, vineyard plant density is linearly related with the soil texture heterogeneity, being this relationship stronger in metamorphic lithologies than in granitic lithologies. In light of this and other remarkable results we concluded that the BEI is a useful new tool that might have multiple applications in terroir studies.

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2016

Type: Article

Authors

Joaquín CÁMARA, Alberto LÁZARO, Vicente GÓMEZ-MIGUEL

Departamento de Producción Agraria, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 2, Spain

Contact the author

Keywords

soil texture heterogeneity, Balanced Entropy Index, plant density, fractals, RD Douro

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Effect of polysaccharide extracts from grape pomace on the oxidative evolution of hydroxycinnamic acids

Phenolic acids are especially sensitive to oxidation, so they can greatly impact wine sensory characteristics and stability [1]. Furthermore, extracts derived from grape pomace have been previously postulated as possible oenological adjuvants for wine protection [2].

Effect of intra‐vineyard ripeness variation on the efficiency of commercial enzymes on berry cell wall deconstruction under winemaking conditions

Intra-vineyard variation grape berry ripening occurs within bunches, between bunches on the same vine and between vines. Although it is assumed that such variation also occurs at the grape berry cell wall level, no study to data has investigated in any depth. Here we have used a intra-vineyard panel design to investigate pooled bunches from six vines (per panel) in the context of a winemaking scenario. The dissected vineyard was harvested by separate panels, where each panel was then subjected to a standard winemaking procedure with or without the addition of three different enzyme preparations for maceration.

The role of vine trunk height in delaying grape ripening: insights for viticultural adaptation strategies

Global changes in temperature patterns necessitate the development of viticultural adaptation strategies. One promising approach involves modifying the training system and elevating trunk height. This study explored the potential of raising the vine trunk as an adaptive strategy to counteract the effects of increasing temperatures and delay ripening. Thermal conditions, radiation levels, and must composition were measured at different heights (10 and 150 cm) in a commercial vineyard of the minority variety Maturana Blanca, trained on a vertical cordon.

VitiProtect–Development and testing of a downy mildew AI forecasting model for Swiss viticulture

Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) is a fungal pathogen that causes a destructive disease in grapevines (Vitis vinifera).

Functionality of different inter-stimulus rinse protocols for the sensory analysis of wildfire affected wines

From the effect of global climate change, wildfire occurrence during grape ripening has increased. These wildfires produce smoke that can carry organic compounds to a vineyard. These smoke compounds are adsorbed in the grape berry and result in wines with elevated levels of smoke-related phenols. These wines are described as having a smokey, burnt, and dirty aroma (Kristic et al, 2015). Not only are volatile phenols carried by smoke, but additionally glycoconjugate forms of these phenols are present as will. These have been found to have a large impact on the flavor of wines, being the cause of a lasting ashy aftertaste post consumption (Parker et al, 2012). When evaluating the sensory profile of these wines when tasted one after the other, there is an observed problem due to the lasting nature of these undesirable attributes and high level of carry-over from sample to sample. The aim of this work is to evaluate the extent this carryover occurs, along with the best sensory practices to mitigate its influence via different inter-stimulus rinse protocols.