Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Variability of Tempranillo phenology within the toro do (Spain) and its relationship to climatic characteristics

Variability of Tempranillo phenology within the toro do (Spain) and its relationship to climatic characteristics

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this research was to analyse the spatial and temporal variability of vine phenology of the Tempranillo variety in the Toro Designation of Origen (DO) related to climatic conditions at present and under future climate change scenarios.

Methods and Results: Seven plots planted with Tempranillo, distributed throughout the DO, and located at elevations between 630 and 790 m a.s.l were considered in this analysis. Phenological dates referred to bud break, bloom, veraison and maturity recorded in each plot for the period 2005-2019 were analysed. The information was supplied by the Consejo Regulador of Toro Designation of Origin (Toro DO). The weather conditions recorded during the period under study were analysed using data recorded in Toro. The thermal requirements to reach each phenological stage were evaluated and expressed as the GDD accumulated from DOY=90, which were considered to predict the changes under future climatic conditions. For future climatic conditions, temperature and precipitation predicted by 2050 and 2070 under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios –RCP4.5 and RCP8.5-, based on an ensemble of models, were used to predict the changes in phenology.

During the analysed period, the dates at which the different phenological stages were reached presented high variability, with bud break between April 5th and May 7th; bloom between May 3rd and July 14th, veraison between July 20th and August 21st and maturity between September 1st and October 2nd. The earliest dates were observed in the hottest year (e.g. 2017), while the latest dates were recorded in the coolest and wettest years (eg. 2008, 2013 or 2018). Water deficits also gave rise to advances in phenological timing (e.g. 2009, 2015), which affect more the later than the earlier phenological states. Water deficit in the BL-V period had a significant effect on veraison, while in general the maturity was also affected by water existing in the BB-BL period. Some spatial variability was observed in the phenological dates, although the trend was not uniform for all the stages or for all years. Taking into account the thermal requirements to reach each stage and the predictions under future climate scenarios, advances in all phenological dates were projected, higher for the later than for the earlier stages, which may be of up 6 and 8 days for bud break, 7-10 days for bloom, 8 to 11 days for veraison, and 12 to 19 days for maturity by 2050, respectively under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 emission scenarios.

Conclusion: 

Based on the climate change projections, the Tempranillo variety cultivated in Toro DO may suffer an advance of all phenological stages, having harvest earlier and under warmer conditions, which could also affect grape composition.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Tempranillo is the third most cultivated wine variety in the world, being 88% of it cultivated in Spain, and in the Toro DO the main variety (“Tinta de Toro”) covering about 5100 ha. Thus, the knowledge of the vine response under future conditions could be a tool to adopt measurements to mitigate the effects of climate change in the area.

DOI:

Publication date: March 17, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type: Video

Authors

Daniël T.H.C. Go1, Santiago Castro, María Concepción Ramos1*

1Department of Environment and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio, Spain
2Consejo Regulador DO Toro, Toro, Zamora, Spain

Contact the author

Keywords

Climatic change, phenological dates, spatial and temporal variability, temperature, Toro DO, water deficit

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

Geologic and geomorphologic features applied for identification of wine terroir units by digital image processing, spectroradiometric and GIS techniques in Encruzilhada do Sul, RS, Brazil

Results in the characterization of a new wine terroir unit in south Brazil are reported. Presently, several areas in Brazil are being studied, in an effort to define new wine terroirs and improve the quality of Brazilian wines.

Combining effect of leaf removal and natural shading on grape ripening under two irrigation strategies in Manto negro (Vitis vinifera L.)

The increasingly frequent heat waves during grape ripening pose challenges for high quality wine grape production. Defoliation is a common practice that can improve the control of diseases in bunches, but also it increases the exposure to sunlight. Grapes exposed to solar radiation reach temperatures over the optimum for berry development and maturation. This makes the development of irrigation and canopy management techniques of great importance to maximize yield and grape quality. A field experiment was carried out during 2021 using Manto negro wine grapes to study the effect of applied irrigation and different light exposure levels on grape quality. Two irrigation treatments were imposed based on the frequency and amount of water doses in a four-block experimental vineyard at Bodega Ribas (Mallorca). Three light exposure treatments were randomly applied in each irrigation plot. The light treatments included exposed clusters from pea size, non-exposed clusters, and shaded clusters after softening. Leaf area index and canopy porosity was estimated every 2 weeks. Midday leaf water potential was measured weekly. Additionally, apparent electrical conductivity was measured between rows to estimate the soil water content variability. Light and temperature sensors were installed at the bunch level to quantify the differences in bunch temperature and light intensity among treatments. The effect of irrigation and cluster light exposure on berry weight, TSS, TA, malic acid, tartaric acid, K+, and pH were analysed at 5 moments along grape ripening. During different heat waves, the natural shading technique decreased the maximum bunch temperature around 10 °C respect to the exposed bunches in both irrigation strategies. The combination of defoliation and shading techniques after softening decreased TSS at harvest and affected most of the quality parameters during the last stages of ripening, showing an interesting technique to delay ripening in warm viticulture areas.

Influence of maturity on grape tyrosinase activity

Enzymatic browning of grape must remains a major issue in winemaking, especially when grapes are affected by grey rot.

Determination of target compounds in cava quality using liquid chromatography. Application of chemometric tools in data analysis

According to the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Cava is protected in the quality sparkling wines made by the traditional Champenoise method were the wine realize a second fermentation inside the own bottle1. Geographical and human peculiarities of each bottle are the main way for the final quality2. The aim of this study is to find correlations and which target compounds are the most representative of the quality of two different grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Xarel·lo. The quality of these two types of grapes is being studied for each variety by a previous classification of the vineyard made by the company who provided the samples (qualities A,B,C,D, being A the better one and D the worst one). The target compounds studied are organic acids and polyphenols. The methodology for the determination of organic acids is HPLC-UV/vis and for some of them the enzymatic methodology.

Pedoclimatic comparison of three viticultural areas of Italy devoted to high-quality Aglianico and Cabernet Sauvignon production

Aim: The study aims to show how different pedo-climatic conditions (past, present, and future) in three Italian sites at different latitudes (from center to southern), affect the adaptation of two red grapevine cultivars: Aglianico and Cabernet Sauvignon.