Terroir 2020 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Future projections for chilling and heat forcing for European vineyards

Future projections for chilling and heat forcing for European vineyards

Abstract

Aims: The aims of this study were: (1) to compute recent-past thermal conditions over European vineyards, using state-of-the art bioclimatic indices: chilling portions and growing degree hours; (2) to compute future changes of these thermal conditions using a large ensemble of high-resolution climate models.

Methods and Results: To assess grapevine chilling and forcing conditions, chilling portions (CP) and growing degree-hours (GDH) indices were computed for the baseline period (1989–2005) and for the future RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios (2041–2060), using several regional-global climate model chains. These calculations also considered model uncertainties and biases. These indices were extracted to the current location of vineyards, in Europe and CP-GDH delimitations were assessed. For the baseline period, higher CP values were found in north-central European regions, while lower values tend to occur on opposed sides of Europe (east-west). Regarding forcing, southern European wine regions currently display the highest GDH values. Future projections depict lower CP in southwestern Europe (-45%) and higher CP (+30%) in Eastern Europe. For GDH, most of Europe is projected to have greater values (up to +30%). 

Conclusions: 

These changes may bring limitations to some of the world’s most important wine producers, such as Spain, Italy and Portugal. Nevertheless, a timely planning of appropriate adaptation measures may aid mitigating future yield/quality losses and improve the future sustainability of the winemaking sector. 

Significance and Impact of the Study: Temperature is a fundamental factor affecting plant growth and development rates. Grapevines have thermal thresholds for adequate growth, physiological development and phenology. Given the future projections for Europe, it is evident that grapevine productivity may be particularly vulnerable to climatic change.  As such, it become imperative to study how future temperature conditions will affect vineyards in Europe, namely the chilling and heat forcing conditions.

DOI:

Publication date: March 17, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2020

Type: Video

Authors

Helder Fraga* and João A. Santos

Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, CITAB, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal

Contact the author

Keywords

Climate change, chilling, head forcing, viticulture, Europe 

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2020

Citation

Related articles…

The relationship of wine store customers with the areas of production, considering provenance and tourism

This work aims at identifying the most appropriate marketing strategies to inform consumers of the global market about the added value of the wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Enological characterization of mold resistant varieties grown in the Trentino Alpine Region

Among the different strategies used in vine growing to fight against mold diseases, it can be pointed out the hybridation of traditional grape varieties with others, presenting a genetic resistance to pathogen attack. The research in this field has been encouraged in recent years due to the increased concern about human safety and environmental pollution linked to the use of agrochemicals. This approach allows to limit the number of treatments and the type of active compounds used in vine management. The environment determines the pressure degree of the diseases on vines and the biologic response of the plant to their attack.

Effect of rising atmospheric CO2 levels on grapevine yield and composition by the middle of the 21st century: what can we learn from the VineyardFACE?

Atmospheric CO2 levels have been rising continuously since the industrial revolution, affecting crop physiology, yield and quality of harvest products, and grapevine is no exception [1]. Most of previously reported studies used potted plants in controlled environments, and explored grapevine response to relatively high CO2 levels, 700 ppm or more. The vineyardFACE, established in Geisenheim in 2012, uses a free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) system to simulate a moderate (ambient +20%) increase in atmospheric CO2 in a vineyard planted with cvs. Cabernet-Sauvignon and Riesling grafted on rootstock 161-49 Couderc and SO4, respectively.

Winter physiology in a warmer world: Cold hardiness and deacclimation sensitivity drive variation in spring phenology

As the climate warms, the focus of concern in viticulture often turns to how higher temperatures may shift growing regions, change the character of AVAs, and alter fruit quality. However, climate warming is increasing most quickly during the winter dormancy cycle, a critical and often underappreciated portion of the grapevine life cycle. In response to decreasing temperatures and decreasing daylength, grapes initiate a series of physiological changes to enter dormancy, acquire freeze resistance, and time spring phenology such that the growing season begins after threat of frost.

Effects of the addition of yeast derived products during aging in chardonnay sparkling winemaking

From the beginning of the yeast autolysis process, several interesting intracellular and cell wall constituyents are released to the media providing different characteristics to the wine, being this process extensively studied in sparkling wines due to their important contribution to their properties (1-2). Yeast derived products (YDs) try to emulate the natural yeast autolysis compounds release enhancing the organoleptic characteristics of resulting wines (2-3). This study is a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the addition of different YDs added to base wine on the chemical, physical and sensory characteristics of the resulting sparkling wines. METHODS: Chardonnay base wine was employed to carry out this study. Three experimental YDs were added at 5 and 10 g/hL to the tirage liqueur: a yeast autolysate (YA), a yeast protein extract (PE) and an inactivated dry yeast from Torulaspora delbrueckii, (TD), and two commercial specific inactivated dry yeast: OPTIMUM WHITE® (OW) and PURE-LONGEVITY®(PL). After second fermentation, measurements were carried out after 3, 6, 9 and 18 months of aging on lees. General enological parameters, proteins, polysaccharides (HPLC-DAD-RID), volatile compounds profile (GC-MS), foaming characteristics (Mosalux), and descriptive sensory analyses were carried out.