Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Canopy microclimate vineyard variability in vineyards of the Lodi region of California, USA

Canopy microclimate vineyard variability in vineyards of the Lodi region of California, USA

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this project was to evaluate the microclimatic effects on objective measures of fruit quality within different vigour classes of multiple vineyards and to compare the results across the Lodi region of California, USA.

Methods and Results: In May 2019, small temperature sensors were installed in the fruit zones of 10 vineyards in the Lodi region of California. To assess differences in canopy temperature between high and low vigour areas, three sensors were installed in each vineyard, two in the fruit zone (high and low vigor) and one above the canopy (ambient control). Photosynthetically active radiation in the fruit zone was measured at veraison and harvest on 15 vines surrounding each sensor and compared with the temperature data. At harvest, two randomly selected clusters were collected from each of the 15 data vines, combined into one composite sample per temperature sensor, and analysed for individual objective measures of grape quality. Results showed large differences in fruit composition between vigour zones. Daytime temperatures were higher in low vigour zones and canopy light measurements were correlated with anthocyanins (R2 = 0.59), polymeric tannins (R2 = 0.55), malic acid (R2 = 0.48), and linalool (R2 = 0.76).  

Conclusions: 

The results showed large differences in fruit quality within vineyards which implies delivery of heterogenous fruit to wineries. Excessive differences in fruit quality could be ameliorated with appropriate canopy management tools geared towards increasing vineyard uniformity. 

Significance and Impact of the Study: Delivery of reliable fruit to wineries by vineyard managers and consistent wines by winemakers is challenging when harvesting large vineyards into single programs. These risks are highlighted by the above results which also provide further evidence for the need of differential management solutions in wine grape production. 

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: March 17, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type: Video

Authors

B. Sams1,2*, R. Bramley3, L. Sanchez2, C. Bioni2, N. Dokoozlian2, and V. Pagay1

1School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine, University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA, Australia
2Department of Winegrowing Research, E&J Gallo Winery, Modesto, California, USA
3CSIRO, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, SA, Australia

Contact the author

Keywords

Canopy microclimate, objective measures of fruit quality, vineyard variability

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

A geologic numeric mapping, with geophysic transects, of Marsannay’s vineyard (Burgundy, France)

Marsannay est l’appellation la plus septentrionale de la Côte de Nuits, à la limite Sud de Dijon. Elle regroupe trois villages, Chenôve, Marsannay-la-Côte et Couchey, et constitue l’appellation la plus vaste de la Côte de Nuits avec 315 hectares en A.O.C. Elle possède uniquement des niveaux d’appellations régionales et communales depuis 1987.

Read More

Application of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in peculiar winemaking, sparkling and sweet wines: biological acidification, prise de mousse, aroma profile. Two cases of study

In this video recording of the IVES science meeting 2025, Raffaele Guzzon (Fondazione Edmund Mach, Centro di Trasferimento Tecnologico, San Michele all’Adige (TN), Italy) speaks about the application of non-Saccharomyces yeasts in peculiar winemaking, sparkling and sweet wines (biological acidification, prise de mousse, aroma profile). This presentation is based on an original article accessible for free on OENO One.

Read More

Under-vine management effects on grapevine vegetative growth, gas exchange and rhizosphere microbial diversity

The use of cover crops under the vines might be an alternative to the use of herbicides or tillage, improving grapevine quality and soil characteristics. The aim of this research was to study the implications of different management strategies of the soil under the vines (herbicide, cultivation or cover crops) on grapevine growth, water and nutritional status, gas exchange parameters and belowground microbial communities.
The experimental design consisted in 4 treatments applied on 35L-potted Tempranillo vegetative grapevines with 10 replicates each grown in an open-top greenhouse in 2022 and 2023. Treatments included two cover crop species (Trifolium fragiferum and Bromus repens), herbicide (glyphosate al 36%) and an untreated control.

Read More

Physical-mechanical berry skin traits as powerful indicators of resistance to botrytis bunch rot

The ongoing climate change results in increasing mean air temperature, which is manifested by weather extremes or sudden changes between drought and local heavy rainfalls. These changing conditions are especially challenging for the established grapevine varieties growing under cool climate conditions due to an increased biotic infection pressure. Thus, the scope of most grapevine breeding programs is the selection of mildew fungus-resistant and climatic adapted grapevines with balanced, healthy yield and outstanding wine quality. Since no resistances or candidate genes have yet been described for Botrytis bunch rot (BBR), physical-mechanical traits like berry size and thick, impermeable berry cuticles phenotyped with high-throughput sensors represent novel effective parameters to predict BBR.

Read More

Historical terraced vineyards – heritage and nature conservation strategies

Historical terrace vineyards are simultaneously impressive documents of the human inclination to design, sites for the production of high quality wines and habitats for a rich variety of flora and fauna

Read More