Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Soil and Climate Interactions with Grapevines

Soil and Climate Interactions with Grapevines

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that soil type plays a minor role relative to that of vine vigor in the determination of yield, fruit composition and wine sensory attributes, 5 Chardonnay vineyards in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario were chosen for study. These vineyards were located on sites with heterogeneous soil types to allow study of the impact upon yield, fruit composition and wine sensory attributes of: 1. Soil texture with mesoclimate kept constant; 2. The comparative magnitude of effects of soil texture, vine vigor, and crop size. Vineyard blocks were delineated using global positioning systems, and a series of 72-162 data vines per site were geo-located within a sampling grid imposed on each vineyard block. Data were collected on soil texture, soil composition, tissue elemental composition, vine performance (yield components and weight of cane prunings), and fruit composition. These variables were mapped using geographical information systems and relationships between them were elucidated. Soil texture and composition were frequently correlated to yield components and fruit composition but often relationships were site-specific. Spatial correlations were common between % sand, vine size, yield, berry weight, soluble solids (Brix), and titratable acidity (TA); however, these relationships were vineyard and vintage dependent. Several spatial relationships were apparent between vine size, yield, Brix, TA and many soil and petiole composition variables, including organic matter, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, and soil/petiole N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and B. Spatial relationships between yield, berry weight, berry composition, vine size, and several soil physical and composition variables suggests a likely soil basis to the so-called “terroir effect”.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Andrew G. REYNOLDS

Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute
Brock University, 500 Glenridge Ave., St. Catharines, Ont. L2S 3A1

Contact the author

Keywords

GPS, GIS, soil moisture, leaf water potential, vine size, soil texture

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

The role of NAC61 transcription factor in the regulation of berry ripening progression 

The undergoing global warming scenario is affecting grapevines phenology, including the timing of berry ripening and harvest date, negatively impacting production and quality. This work reports the crucial role of NAC61, a grapevine NAC transcription factor, in regulating metabolic processes occurring from the onset of ripening onwards. NAC61 high confidence targets mainly represent genes acting on stilbene biosynthesis and regulation, and in osmotic and oxidative/biotic stress-related responses. The direct regulation of the stilbene synthase regulator MYB14, the osmotic stress-related gene DHN1b, and the Botrytis cinerea susceptibility gene WRKY52, were all further validated.

Read More

AROMATIC AND FERMENTATIVE PERFORMANCES OF HANSENIASPORA VINEAE IN DIFFERENT SEQUENTIAL INOCULATION PROTOCOLS WITH SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE FOR WHITE WINEMAKING

Hanseniaspora vineae (Hv) is a fermenting non-Saccharomyces yeast that compared to Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) present some peculiar features on its metabolism that make it attractive for its use in wine production. Among them, it has been reported a faster yeast lysis and release of polysaccharides, as well as increased ß-glucosidase activity. Hv also produces distinctive aroma compounds, including elevated levels of fermentative compounds such as ß-phenylethyl acetate and norisoprenoids like safranal. However, it is known for its high nutritional requirements, resulting in prolonged and sluggish fermentations, even when complemented with Sc strain and nutrients.

Read More

Predicting consumers’ organic wine consumption behaviour

Organic wine production and consumption is one of the sustainable practices contributing to a number of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Read More

Digitization for automation–A frost management case study

The need to mitigate the yield impact of Spring frosts in vineyards remains a significant challenge around the world.

Read More

THE ROLE OF CELL WALL POLYSACCHARIDES IN THE EXTRACTION OF ANTHOCYANINS AND TANNINS: RESULTS, PERSPECTIVES OF A MORE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION

The composition of grape berry cell walls was studied on two grape varieties, two years and two maturation levels at the same time as the extraction of anthocyanins and tannins. The chemical composition of skins, seeds, and pulps, focused on polyphenols and polysaccharides, was compared to the chemical composition in polyphenols after extraction from the skins in model solutions or after wine making of the berries. Polyphenols were mainly characterized by UPLC-MS and HPLC-SEC. Polysaccharides were characterized by analysis of the neutral sugar compositions, and also by the CoMPP (comprehensive micropolymer profiling) analysis, a new method which targets the functional groups of cell wall polysaccharides.

Read More