Terroir 2010 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Paysages viticoles et terroir dans l’OAC Ribeira Sacra (Galice, NO de l’Espagne)

Paysages viticoles et terroir dans l’OAC Ribeira Sacra (Galice, NO de l’Espagne)

Abstract

[English version below]

La notion d’Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC), repose sur l’existence d’un lien entre les caractéristiques du terroir et la qualité et la typicité de la production (DELAS, 2000). Si pendant longtemps, ce lien n’est apparu que comme le fruit de l’empirisme, les recherches entreprises dernièrement ont permis de fonder scientifiquement les relations complexes entre fonctionnement des milieux naturels et aptitude à une production de qualité.
L’aire d’AOC Ribeira Sacra s’étend sur presque 195 km au large des versants escarpés du Miño et du Sil, dans la Galice (Espagne). Cette AOC couvre presque 1100 hectares, soit 5,2% de la surface viticole galicien, produisant en moyenne 22000 hl du vin. Enfoncées de plusieurs centaines de mètres dans les vieilles surfaces d’aplanissement du massif ancien, les vallées du Miño et du Sil et les parties inférieures de certains de leurs affluents (Bibei, Cabe, Bubal et Mao), ont été découpées en un extraordinaire escalier de terrasses viticoles. Réservées à la viticulture –la vigne est souvent l’unique culture et lorsqu’elle n’existe pas, le versant est abandonné aux broussailles-, la construction de ces terrassettes (appelées “socalcos” par les paysans) a exigé un travail gigantesque de remodelage des versants et leur entretien demandait des soins constants.
Dans ces vallées en gorge, les terrasses viticoles occupent souvent tout le versant et encerclent les rares chicots rocheux qui n’ont pu être conquis. Ces terrasses, le plus souvent entaillées dans des roches granitiques, sont en effet de remarquables constructions: chaque “socalco”, qui suit les courbes de niveau sur des pentes qui atteignent parfois 45 degrés, est soutenu par un mur de pierre sèche et sa largeur est souvent si faible qu’il ne peut accueillir qu’une seule rangée de ceps (les gradins n’ont souvent plus d’un mètre de large). Ces terrasses constituent un exemple remarquable de formations anthropiques très effectives du point de vue de minimiser l’érosion du sol et de la formation de microclimats particulièrement adaptés aux besoins de la vigne.
Par leurs caractéristiques constructives on peut parler de véritables anthrosols. Du point de vue pédologique la région est bien homogène, même s’il y a quelques variations en raison des conditions particulières d’orographie, de la nature de la roche-mère (granites, gneiss, ardoises). Par contre, l’influence de l’altitude (200 à 450 m) et l’exposition (de l’ouest a sud-est) est évidente.
L’étude vise à caractériser les conditions climatiques, géologiques et pédologiques des différentes situations des vignobles d’OAC Ribeira Sacra, pour faire une première approximation à l’influence de l’altitude et l’exposition au zonage vitivinicole de l’AOC Ribeira Sacra.

The concept of Appellation d’Origine (AOC) is based on the existence of a link between the characteristics of the soil and quality and specificity of production grape and quality wine. This AOC include 1100 hectares (5.2% of the Galicia vineyard), planted on the valleys of the rivers Miño and Sil. The vine is planted in terraces, with different altitude (200-450 m) and exposition (west to southeast), example of anthropogenic formations very effective in terms of minimizing soil erosion and formation of microclimates particularly suited to the needs of vine. The area is divided into five sub-zones, with different edaphoclimate characteristics, Chantada, Amandi, Ribeiras do Miño, Ribeiras do Sil-Ourense, Quiroga-Bibei. The diversity of local climates allows to produce different type of cultivars, white (Albariño and Godello), as red (including Mencía, Brancellao and Merenzao).
This study aims to characterize the climatic conditions, geological and soil of vineyards of different situations from OAC Ribeira Sacra, to know the influence of altitude and exposure on wine characteristics.

DOI:

Publication date: December 3, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2010

Type: Article

Authors

Queijeiro J. (1), Vilanova M. (2), Rodriguez I. (1), de la Montaña J. (1)

(1) Sciences Faculty of Ourense, Edificio Politécnico, As Lagos s/n 32004. Ourense, Spain
(2) Misión Biológica de Galicia, Spain

Contact the author

Keywords

Ribeira Sacra, sols, pente, altitude, exposition
Mesoclimate, slope, bench terraces, altitude, exposition

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2010

Citation

Related articles…

Use of a new, miniaturized, low-cost spectral sensor to estimate and map the vineyard water status from a mobile 

Optimizing the use of water and improving irrigation strategies has become increasingly important in most winegrowing countries due to the consequences of climate change, which are leading to more frequent droughts, heat waves, or alteration of precipitation patterns. Optimized irrigation scheduling can only be based on a reliable knowledge of the vineyard water status. In this context, this work aims at the development of a novel methodology, using a contactless, miniaturized, low-cost NIR spectral tool to monitor (on-the-go) the vineyard water status variability. On-the-go spectral measurements were acquired in the vineyard using a NIR micro spectrometer, operating in the 900–1900 nm spectral range, from a ground vehicle moving at 3 km/h. Spectral measurements were collected on the northeast side of the canopy across four different dates (July 8th, 14th, 21st and August 12th) during 2021 season in a commercial vineyard (3 ha). Grapevines of Vitis vinifera L. Graciano planted on a VSP trellis were monitored at solar noon using stem water potential (Ψs) as reference indicators of plant water status. In total, 108 measurements of Ψs were taken (27 vines per date). Calibration and prediction models were performed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression. The best prediction models for grapevine water status yielded a determination coefficient of cross-validation (r2cv) of 0.67 and a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSEcv) of 0.131 MPa. This predictive model was employed to map the spatial variability of the vineyard water status and provided useful, practical information towards the implementation of appropriate irrigation strategies. The outcomes presented in this work show the great potential of this low-cost methodology to assess the vineyard stem water potential and its spatial variability in a commercial vineyard.

Influence of weather and climatic conditions on the viticultural production in Croatia

The research includes an analysis of the impact of weather conditions on phenological development of the vine and grape quality, through monitoring of four experimental cultivars (Chardonnay, Graševina, Merlot and Plavac mali) over two production years. In each experimental vineyard, which were evenly distributed throughout the regions of Slavonia and The Croatian Danube, Croatian Uplands,

Impact of yeast derivatives to increase the phenolic maturity and aroma intensity of wine

Using viticultural and enological techniques to increase aromatics in white wine is a prized yet challenging technique for commercial wine producers. Equally difficult are challenges encountered in hastening phenolic maturity and thereby increasing color intensity in red wines. The ability to alter organoleptic and visual properties of wines plays a decisive role in vintages in which grapes are not able to reach full maturity, which is seen increasingly more often as a result of climate change. A new, yeast-based product on the viticultural market may give the opportunity to increase sensory properties of finished wines. Manufacturer packaging claims these yeast derivatives intensify wine aromas of white grape varieties, as well as improve phenolic ripeness of red varieties, but the effects of this application have been little researched until now. The current study applied the yeast derivative, according to the manufacture’s instructions, to the leaves of both neutral and aromatic white wine varieties, as well as on structured red wine varieties. Chemical parameters and volatile aromatics were analyzed in grape musts and finished wines, and all wines were subjected to sensory analysis by a tasting panel. Collective results of all analyses showed that the application of the yeast derivative in the vineyard showed no effect across all varieties examined, and did not intensify white wine aromatics, nor improve phenolic ripeness and color intensity in red wine.

Genotypic variability in root architectural traits and putative implications for water uptake in grafted grapevine

Root system architecture (RSA) is important for soil exploration and edaphic resources acquisition by the plant, and thus contributes largely to its productivity and adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly soil water deficit. In grafted grapevine, while the degree of drought tolerance induced by the rootstock has been well documented in the vineyard, information about the underlying physiological processes, particularly at the root level, is scarce, due to the inherent difficulties in observing large root systems in situ. The objectives of this study were to determine genetic differences in the root architectural traits and their relationships to water uptake in two Vitis rootstocks genotypes (RGM, 140Ru) differing in their adaptation to drought. Young rootstocks grafted upon the Riesling variety were transplanted into cylindrical tubes and in 2D rhizotrons under two conditions, well watered and moderate water stress. Root traits were analyzed by digital imaging and the amount of transpired water was measured gravimetrically twice a week. Root phenotyping after 30 days reveal substantial variation in RSA traits between genotypes despite similar total root mass; the drought-tolerant 140Ru showed higher root length density in the deep layer, while the drought-sensitive RGM was characterised by shallow-angled root system development with more basal roots and a larger proportion of fine roots in the upper half of the tube. Water deficit affected canopy size and shoot mass to a greater extent than root development and architectural-related traits for both 140Ru and RGM, suggesting vertical distribution of roots was controlled by genotype rather than plasticity to soil water regime. The deeper root system of 140Ru as compared to RGM correlated with greater daily water uptake and sustained stomata opening under water-limited conditions but had little effect on above-ground growth. Our results highlight that grapevine rootstocks have constitutively distinct RSA phenotypes and that, in the context of climate change, those that develop an extensive root network at depth may provide a desirable advantage to the plant in coping with reduced water resources.

A predictive model of spatial Eca variability in the vineyard to support the monitoring of plant status

[lwp_divi_breadcrumbs home_text="IVES" use_before_icon="on" before_icon="||divi||400" module_id="publication-ariane" _builder_version="4.19.4" _module_preset="default" module_text_align="center" module_font_size="16px" text_orientation="center"...