Terroir 2016 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Understanding and managing wine production from different terroirs

Understanding and managing wine production from different terroirs

Abstract

A « terroir » is a cultivated ecosystem in which the vine interacts with the soil and the climate. Main climatic parameters include temperature, rainfall and reference evapotranspiration. Vine phenology and grape ripening is mainly driven by air temperature, but also by soil temperature. Soil provides water and minerals to the vine, in particular nitrogen. Over the past decades, tools have been developed to quantify terroir parameters. Small scale weather stations can yield temperature data at high resolution which can be used to provide refined maps of temperature summations. Models have been developed to predict phenology in relation to temperature. Vine water status can be assessed with a pressure chamber, or by means of carbon isotope discrimination measured on grape sugar (so-called δ13C). Vine nitrogen status can be assessed with the measurement of yeast available nitrogen (YAN). In this way, terroir parameters can not only be measured but also mapped. This approach allows precise vineyard management to optimize terroir expression, through plot selection, the choice of appropriate plant material in relation to soil and climate, vineyard floor management, fertilization and training system.

DOI:

Publication date: June 23, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2016

Type: Article

Authors

Cornelis VAN LEEUWEN, Jean-Philippe ROBY and Laure de RESSEGUIER

Bordeaux Sciences Agro, ISVV, UMR EGFV, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon, France

Contact the author

Keywords

terroir, climate, soil, temperature, water status, nitrogen status, phenology, modeling, vineyard management, plant material

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Effects of water and nitrogen uptake, and soil temperature, on vine development, berry ripening and wine quality of Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet franc and Merlot (Saint-Emilion, 1997)

Wine quality depends largely on berry ripening conditions in relation to soil and climat. The influence of the soil has been studied in Bordeaux since the early Seventies (SEGUIN, 1970; DUTEAU et al., 1981; VAN LEEUWEN, 1991; VAN LEEUWEN et SEGUIN, 1994) and, more recently, in the Val de Loire (MORLAT, 1989), the Alsace (LEBON, 1993) and the Costières de Nîmes regions (MARTIN, 1995).

A generic method to analyze vine water deficit continuously

In the context of global warming, water scarcity is becoming an increasing issue worldwide. However, the reference method to characterize vine water deficit is based on water potential measurement, which is a destructive and discontinuous method. The current climatic context emphasizes the need for more precise and more continuous vineyard water use measurements in order to optimize irrigation and vine water deficit monitoring.

Phenotyping bud break and trafficking of dormant buds from grafted vine

In grapevine, phenology from bud break to berry maturation, depends on temperature and water availability. Increases in average temperatures accelerates initiation of bud break, exposing newly formed shoots to detrimental environmental stresses. It is therefore essential to identify genotypes that could delay phenology in order to adapt to the environment. The use of different rootstocks has been applied to change scion’s characteristics, to adapt and resist to abiotic and biotic stresses[1].

Expanding the biotechnological potential of M. pulcherrima/fructicola clade for wine-related applications

AIM: Strains belonging to M. pulcherrima/fructicola clade are frequently isolated from flowers, fruits and grape musts, and exhibit a broad spectrum of enzymatic activities and antimicrobial potential (Morata et al., 2019; Sipiczki, 2020; Vicente et al. 2020).

High levels of copper and persistent synthetic pesticides in vineyard soils

Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) and bunch rot (Botrytis cinerea) are the most prevalent fungal diseases in viticulture.