Terroir 2010 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Grapevine productivity modelling in the Portuguese Douro Region

Grapevine productivity modelling in the Portuguese Douro Region

Abstract

In Portugal, and particularly in the Demarcated Region of Douro (DDR), wine production has a great tradition, producing the unique and worldwide famous Port wine as well as other remarkably good table wines. In this study the impact of projected climate change to wine production is analysed for the DDR. A statistical grapevine yield model (GYM) is developed using climate parameters as predictors. Statistically significant correlations are identified between annual yield and monthly mean temperatures and monthly precipitation totals during the growing cycle of grapevines. Close relationships between these climatic elements are found that influence the annual yield, with the GYM explaining over 50% of the total variance in the yield time series in recent decades. Furthermore, results point out a clear relationship between the vegetative cycle of grapevines and their basic climatic requirements: anomalously high (low) precipitations in March, during bud break, shoot and inflorescence development are favourable (adverse) to yield, while anomalously high temperatures in May (bloom) and June (berry development) favour yield. The GYM is applied to output from the regional climate model COSMO-CLM, which is shown to skilfully reproduce the GYM predictors. Considering ensemble simulations under the A1B emission scenario, a slight upward trend in yield is estimated to occur until about 2050, followed by a steep and continuous increase until the end of the 21st century, when yield is projected to be about 800 kg/ha above its current values. The results emphasise the potential of using GYM coupled with regional atmospheric models to assess variations in grapevine yield owed to climate change. Complementary studies are in process in order to evaluate possible phenological shifts and wine quality impacts.

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: December 3, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2010

Type: Article

Authors

J. A. Santos (1), A. C. Malheiro (1), M. K. Karremann (2), J. G. Pinto (2)

(1) Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
(2) Institute for Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 13, 50923 Cologne, Germany

Contact the author

Keywords

Grapevine, Douro, Portugal, yield modelling, climate scenarios, CLM

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2010

Citation

Related articles…

Vitivoltaics: overview of the impacts on grapevine performance, wine quality, design features and stakeholder perceptions

This multidisciplinary study investigates “”Vitivoltaics,”” where photovoltaic (PV) panels are integrated into vineyard systems to generate renewable energy while providing partial shade to grapevines.
Read More

La balance hydrique explique davantage la diversité intravariétale du titre alcoométrique du Merlot que l’accumulation des sucres

Dans le cadre de TerclimPro 2025, Charles Romieu a présenté un article IVES Technical Reviews. Retrouvez la présentation ci-dessous ainsi que l’article associé : https://ives-technicalreviews.eu/article/view/8506

Read More

Remote sensing and radiometric techniques applied to vineyards in two regions of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The observation of Earth by satellites has demonstrated the feasibility of establishing differences between plant species, from their spectral features. The reflectance spectrum of vine plants follows this trend, being possible to identify vineyards in satellite images, among other species.

Read More

Diversity of leaf functioning under water deficit in a large grapevine panel: high throughput phenotyping and genetic analyses

Water resource is a major limiting factor impacted by climate change that threatens grapevine production and quality. Understanding the ecophysiological mechanisms involved in the response to water deficit is crucial to select new varieties more drought tolerant. A major bottleneck that hampers such advances is the lack of methods for measuring fine functioning traits on thousands of plants as required for genetic analyses. This study aimed at investigating how water deficit affects the trade-off between carbon gains and water losses in a large panel representative of the Vitis vinifera genetic diversity. 250 genotypes were grown under 3 watering scenarios (well-watered, moderate and severe water deficit) in a high-throughput phenotyping platform.

Read More

Occurrence of methyl salicylate in lugana wines: aroma impact and biogenesis 

AIM Methyl salicylate (MeSA) has been reported as a potentially impactful compound in Verdicchio wines produced in central Italy. Lugana is another white wine produced in the north-east of Italy from a grape locally known as Trebbiano di Soave, sharing a very similar genetic background with Verdicchio. The aims of this study were evaluating MeSA occurrence in Lugana, assessing its aroma impact on white wines aroma and elucidating its biogenesis during vinification. METHODS Fifteen Lugana wines were analysed for methyl salycilate content in comparison with Verdicchio, Pinot grigio and Garganega wines. MeSA impact on white wine aroma was studied by means of triangular test, adding MeSA at different concentrations. Possible routes of MeSA formation by yeast were investigated by means of a high throughput assay in which S. cerevisiae cells were put in contact with precursor such as salicylic acid (esterification) or glycosidic extracts (glycosidase). Sub-fractions of Lugana glycosidic extracts were also obtained by HPLC fractionation, allowing further evaluation of precursors role.

Read More