Terroir 2012 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 An internet-based gis application for vineyard site assessment in the U.S. and matching grape variety to site

An internet-based gis application for vineyard site assessment in the U.S. and matching grape variety to site

Abstract

Vineyard site selection and determination of adapted grape varieties for a site are the most fundamental factors contributing to vineyard success, but can be challenging to ascertain, especially in developing wine regions. The objective of this research is to demonstrate, and describe the development of an internet based, scientifically objective tool to facilitate vineyard site assessment and grape variety selection in the US. The core of this tool is a spatially explicit environmental database relevant to wine grape production including climate, soil and topography data. The climate summaries are sourced from the U.S. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The daily elements included in our dataset are maximum temperature, minimum temperature, mean temperature, dew point, precipitation, and elevation for 1929 to present. Similarly, our soil database is derived from the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database for the continental U.S.A and the Harmonized World Soil Database for global soil data. Parameters include soil texture, pH, soil depth, water holding capacity, etc. This database was used to derive established and novel environmental indices relevant to grape production. The indices were used as inputs to mathematical and statistical models to examine the relationship between environmental factors and variety production in selected established growing regions. Finally, we incorporated both the environmental database, and the site/varietal selection models into a web-based site and grape variety selection tool. This tool enables a potential wine grape grower to either determine varieties most suited to a particular site or delineate areas most suitable for growing a particular grape variety.

DOI:

Publication date: October 1, 2020

Issue: Terroir 2012

Type: Article

Authors

Elvis TAKOW (1), Edward W. HELLMAN (2), Andrew G. BIRT (1),
Maria D. TCHAKERIAN (1), Robert N. COULSON (1)

(1) Knowledge Engineering Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
(2) Texas A&M University, AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403 USA; Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University

Contact the author

Keywords

GIS, viticulture and site sélection

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2012

Citation

Related articles…

Étude de la composante climatique du terroir viticole en Val de Loire : relation avec les facteurs physiques du milieu

The research carried out by the URVV of the INRA center in Angers aims to develop a methodology for the integrated characterization of the natural factors of viticultural terroirs, representative of the operating conditions of the vine and the sensory differences of the wines. In this context, the concept of Basic Terroir Unit (UTB) has been developed. The UTB represents a viticultural surface of variable geographical extension, defined as the association in a given place of a geological, pedological and landscape component, Morlat (1989), Riou et al. (1995).

Adsorption of tetraconazole by organic residues and vineyard organically-amended soils 

Spain is the country with the largest wine-producing area in the EU and its productivity is largely controlled applying fungicides. However, residues of these compounds can move and contaminate surface and groundwater. The objective of this work was to evaluate the capacity of bioadsorbents from different origin to adsorb and immobilize tetraconazole by themselves or when applied as organic soil amendment, and to prevent soil and water contamination by this fungicide. The adsorption of tetraconazole by 3 organic residues: spent mushroom substrate (SMS), green compost (GC) and vine pruning sawdust (VP), as well as by vineyard soils unamended and amended individually with these residues at 1.5% (w/w) was evaluated using the batch equilibrium technique.

Soil or geology? And what’s the difference? Some observations from the New World

Observational historical geology seeks to establish the evolutionary history of the surface of Earth. This approach is applicable not only to bedrock, but to the soft material that lies at the surface, the stuff called soil by most people. The geologic perspective provides a view of this material that is quite different from that of soil science, at least as practiced by many in America.

Composition and molar mass distribution of different must and wine colloids

A major problem for winemakers is the formation of proteinaceous haze after bottling. Although the exact mechanisms remain unclear, this haze is formed by unfolding and agglomeration of grape proteins, being additionally influenced by numerous further factors.

In-line sensing of grape juice press fractioning with UV-Vis spectroscopy

UV-Visible spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometrics, was successfully applied to objectively differentiate sparkling wine press juice fractions of Pinot noir. Two measurements methods were applied: reflectance using a fibre optic probe in-line and transmission using a benchtop spectrophotometer.