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…

Nucleophilic fraction to estimate the antioxidant activity of inactivated yeast derivates

Oxidation in wine is mostly related to the Michael addition of nucleophiles on two quinones formed from the oxidation of ortho-diphenols. In wine this mechanism is responsible for the increase of the yellow hue and aroma loss. Glutathione exerts its antioxidant activity throughout its competitive addition onto quinones, but many other compounds can have the same behavior: sulfanyl
compounds, amino acids, etc. Addition of yeast derivates during the winemaking process can increase the level of those nucleophilic compounds and then confer to the wine a higher resistance

Read More

Mycotoxin accumulation and the possibilities of biological control of wine production quality

Against the background of climate change and the increasing impact of phytopathogenic agents of mycotic origin on the vine favors the appearance and toxicity of mycotoxins in wine.

Read More

The history of the first demarkated wine region of the world – the Tokaj wine region

The optimal climatic conditions of the region were proved in 1867, when a leaf-print of Vitis tokaiensis was found in a stone from miocen age (13 million years ago).

Read More

A meta-analysis of the ecological impact of viticultural practices on soil biodiversity

Viticulture is facing two major challenges – climate change and agroecological transition. The soil plays a pivotal role in these transition processes. Therefore, soil quality and adequate soil management are key levers for an ecologically and economically sustainable viticulture. Over the last 15 years, numerous studies evidenced strong effects of viticultural practices on the soil physical, chemical and biological quality. However, to date a global analysis providing a comprehensive overview of the ecological impacts of viticultural practices on soil biological quality is missing.

Read More

Comparing the chemical and sensory consequences of grapevine smoke exposure in grapes and wine from different cultivars and different wine regions in Australia

Aim: This study aimed to benchmark the chemical and sensory consequences of grapevine exposure to smoke, by comparing: (i) the concentration of volatile phenols and volatile phenol glycosides in control and smoke-affected grapes from different cultivars and different wine regions; and (ii) the chemical and sensory profiles of wines made from control and smoke-affected grapes, from different cultivars.  

Read More