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…

Grapevine varietal diversity as mitigation tool for climate change: Agronomic and oenologic potential of 14 foreign varieties grown in Languedoc region (France)

Climate change effects in Languedoc include an expected rise in temperatures, increased evapotranspiration as well as more severe and frequent climatic hazards, such as frost, drought periods and heat waves. For winegrowers theses phenomena impact both yield and quality, resulting in more frequent unbalanced wines. Research on identified mitigation tools for vineyard management is necessary to improve resilience of grapevine agrosystems. Varietal assortment is one of them. This study focuses on agronomic and oenologic potential of 14 foreign varieties grown in Languedoc French region. Fourteen grapevine varieties were monitored during 2021 from June until harvest on eight different sites, some of which occurring on more than one site adding up to 21 different modalities: 7 white varieties Alvarinho B, Assyrtiko B (2), Malvasia Istriana B, Parellada B, Verdejo B, Verdelho B, Xarello B, and 7 black varieties Saperavi N (2), Touriga nacional N, Baga N, Aleatico N, Montepulciano N (2), Primitivo N (3), Calabrese N (3). Varietals were compared through the following parameters: phenology was assessed by using the information collected in the Database Network of French Vine Conservatories (INRAE-SupAgro-IFV, 2005-2015). The number of inflorescences for shoots from secondary buds and bourillons and suckers were observed to assess post-bud break frost tolerance potential. Grapevine water status was studied through stem water potential measurement, observation of foliage symptoms of drought, and 𝛿13C on must. Frequencies and intensities of downy mildew, powdery mildew, and black rot attacks were estimated before harvest on leaves and clusters and botrytis at harvest to assess disease susceptibilities. Berry composition was monitored from end of veraison until harvest. Yield and mean bunch weight were also calculated. Varieties were then ranked on a 1-4 scale for each parameter and compared through PCA. Forty two stations of the Mediterranean basin were compared by PCA with the Multicriteria Climatic Classification indicators in order to confront the collected information during 2021 campaign to the hypothesis that plants coming from dry and hot regions are genetically adapted to such climatic conditions.

Analysis of some environmental factors and cultural practices that affect the production and quality of the Manto Negro, Callet and Prensal Blanc varieties

45 non irrigated vineyards distributed in the DO (Denomination) Pla i Llevant de Mallorca and the DO Binissalem Mallorca were used to investigate the characteristics of production and quality and their relationships certain environmental factors and cultural practices. The grape varieties investigated are autochthonous to the island of Mallorca, Manto Negro and Callet as red and Prensal Blanc as white. All plants were measured for four consecutive years in the main production and quality parameters. Among the environmental factors, the type of soil has been studied, more specifically its water retention capacity, the planting density, the age of the vineyard and the level of viral infection. The presence or absence of virus seems to have no effect on any component studied in the varieties studied. For the white variety Prensal Blanc age is negatively correlated with production and the number of bunches, nevertheless it does not cause any effect on the required quality parameters. However, for the red varieties Callet and Manto Negro, the age of the plantation is the variable that best correlates with the quality parameters, therefore the old vines should be the object of preservation by the viticulturists and winemakers in order to guarantee its contribution to the quality of the wines made with these varieties.

Influence of a spontaneous cover crop on the vineyard and soil erosion under Mediterranean climate

Sixty five % of the agricultural area of the Basque Country located in the DO Ca Rioja corresponds to vineyards. More than 40% of it has an average slope greater than 10%, which makes it sensitive to erosive processes. Furthermore, it is foreseeable that extreme weather events (storms, hail, extreme heat and cold, etc.) will be favored due to climate change. Cover cropping can mitigate this risk, and therefore the objective of this work is to evaluate the impact that a vegetable cover has on the agronomic behavior of the vineyard, the quality of the grape and soil erosion. For this, a trial has been carried out with a Graciano variety vineyard with a slope between 10% -20% during the years 2020 and 2021. Conventional tillage management in the area has been compared (4-6 passes per year of tillage machinery) versus spontaneous vegetation cover management in the vineyard. This implies not tilling and allowing the grass of the land to colonize the range between the lines of vines, controlling their height through 1-3 mowing passes per year, always trying to affect the surface of the land as little as possible. The vegetative growth, yield and quality of the grape and wine was measured. Furthermore, erosion has been measured using Gerlasch boxes. The yield was lower in the second year of the trial in the cover crop treatment, but erosion was significantly reduced.

Phenolic composition of Tempranillo Blanco grapes changes after foliar application of urea

Our research aimed to determine the effect and efficiency of foliar application of urea on the phenolic composition of Tempranillo Blanco grapes. The field experiment was carried out in 2019 and 2020 seasons and the plot was located in D.O.Ca Rioja (North of Spain). The vineyard was Vitis vinifera L. Tempranillo Blanco and grafted on Richter-110 rootstock. The treatments were control (C), whose plants were sprayed with water and three doses of urea: plants were sprayed with urea 3 kg N/ha (U3), 6 kg N/ha (U6) and 9 kg N/ha (U9). The applications were performed in two phenological stages, pre-veraison (Pre) and veraison (Ver). Also, each of the treatments was repeated one week later. Control and treatments were performed in triplicate and arranged in a randomised block design. Grapes were harvested at optimum ripening stage. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to analyse the phenolic composition of the grapes. Finally, the results obtained from the analytical determinations – flavonols, flavanols and non-flavonoid (hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids and stilbenes) – were studied statistically by analysis of variance. The results showed that, in 2019, U6-Pre and U9-Pre treatments increased the hydroxybenzoic acid content in grapes, and also all foliar treatments applied at Pre enhanced the stilbene concentration. Moreover, U3-Ver was the only treatment that rose flavonol and stilbene contents in the Tempranillo Blanco grapes. In 2020, all treatments applied at Pre enhanced the flavonol concentration in grapes. Furthermore, U3-Pre and U9-Pre treatments increased stilbene content in grapes. Nevertheless, the hydroxybenzoic acid content was improved by U6-Ver and U9-Ver and besides, hydroxycinnamic acid concentration in grapes was increased by all treatments applied at Ver. In conclusion, the lower and highest dose of urea (U3 and U9), applied at pre-veraison, were the best treatments to improve the Tempranillo Blanco grape phenolic composition.

Impact of geographical location on the phenolic profile of minority varieties grown in Spain. II: red grapevines

Because terroir and cultivar are drivers of wine quality, is essential to investigate theirs effects on polyphenolic profile before promoting the implantation of a red minority variety in a specific area. This work, included in MINORVIN project, focuses in the polyphenolic profile of 7 red grapevines minority varieties of Vitis vinifera L. (Morate, Sanguina, Santafe, Terriza Tinta Jeromo Tortozona Tinta) and Tempranillo) from six typical viticulture Spanish areas: Aragón (A1), Cataluña (A2), Castilla la Mancha (A3), Castilla –León (A4), Madrid (A5) and Navarra (A6) of 2020 season. Polyphenolic substances were extracted from grapes. 35 compounds were identified and quantified (mg subtance/kg fresh berry) by HPLC and grouped in anthocyanins (ANT) flavanols (FLAVA), flavonols (FLAVO), hydroxycinnamic (AH), benzoic (BA) acids and stilbenes (ST). Antioxidant activity (AA, mmol TE /g fresh berry) was determined by DPPH method. The results were submitted to a two-way ANOVA to investigate the influence of variety, area and their interaction for each polyphenolic family and cluster analysis was used to construct hierarchical dendrograms, searching the natural groupings among the samples. Sanguina (A3) had the most of total polyphenols while Tempranillo (A5) those of ANT. Sanguina (A2) and (A3) reached the highest values of FLAVO, FLAVA and AA. These two last samples had also the maximum of AA. The effect cultivar and area were significant for all polyphenolic families analyzed. A high variability due to variety (>50%) was observed in FLAVA and the maximum value of variability due to growing area was detected in AA (86.41%), ANT and FLAVO (51%); the interaction variety*zone was significant only for ANT, FLAVO, EST and AA. Finally, dendrograms presented five cluster: i) Sanguina (A2); ii) Sanguina (A3); iii) Tempranillo (A5); iv) Tempranillo (A3); Terriza (A3,A5), Morate (A5,A6); v) Santafé (A1,A6); Tortozona tinta (A1,A3,A6); Tinta Jeromo (A3,A4).