Terroir 2008 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Vineyard soil mapping to optimise wine quality: from ‘terroir’ characterisation to vineyard management

Vineyard soil mapping to optimise wine quality: from ‘terroir’ characterisation to vineyard management

Abstract

In this study, a soil mapping methodology at subplot level (scale 1:5000) for vineyard soils was developed. The aim of this mapping method was to establish mapping units, which could be used as basic units for ‘terroir’ characterisation and vineyard management (precision viticulture). The developed methodology applied most of the criteria of the Soil Inventory of Catalonia and the Soil Survey Manual of the Department of Agriculture of United States, at very-detailed scale. The suitability of soil maps as a tool for definition of ‘terroir’ units and management units are discussed, according to our experiences. The method followed allowed good soil type discrimination at vineyard subplot level, differentiating zones with distinct soil properties important to vineyard development. However, the variability within the soil mapping unit could not be ascertained by this method. Significant differences in grape quality were found between distinct soil mapping units. Moreover, the application of variable rates of fertilizer at vine subplot level was possible using thematic maps calculated from soil maps, by means of Geographic Information Systems. 

Download the PDF

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type: Article

Authors

Josep Miquel UBALDE (1), Xavier SORT (1), Rosa Maria POCH (2) and Miquel PORTA (1)

(1) Dept. of Viticulture, Miguel Torres Winery, Miquel Torres i Carbó 6, 08720 Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain
(2) Dept. of Environment and Soil Science, University of Lleida, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain 

Contact the author

Keywords

soil mapping, viticultural zoning, terroir unit, management unit, precision viticulture

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

Leaf removal to regulate fruit ripening in Cabernet-Sauvignon

Aim: Under the effects of climate change it is becoming increasingly common to observe excessively fast sugar accumulation while anthocyanin and flavour development are lagging behind. Understanding the impact of different leaf removal techniques on ripening will provide vineyard managers with a canopy management strategy suitable for

Read More

SO2 consumption in white wine oxidation: approaches to low input vinifications based on rapid electrochemical analyses and predictive enology

Oxidative stability is a critical factor in maintaining wine quality during its shelf-life. SO₂ is commonly added to wine due to its strong antioxidant activity, although there is a general push to reduce SO₂ use in vinification.

Read More

Early likovrisi: the new white very early table grape seedless and resistant variety

This paper presents is the create, the study and ampelographic description the new «Early Likovrisi», that was created (2014) in Greece by Pantelis Zamanidis.

Read More

Could intermittent shading, as produced in agrivoltaics, mitigate global warming effects on grapevine?

Global warning increases evaporative demand and accelerates grapevine phenology. As a consequence, the ripening phase shifts to warmer and drier periods. This results in lower acidity and higher sugar levels in berries, yielding too alcoholic wines with altered organoleptic properties. Agrivoltaics, which combines crop and renewable energy production on the same land using photovoltaic panels, emerged as a promising innovation to counteract these impacts by partially shading the plants.

Read More

Influence of temperature and light on vegetative growth and bud fruitfulness of grapevine cv. Semillon

Aim: To investigate the effects of different levels of temperature and light intensity on grapevine vegetative growth and bud fruitfulness, which includes the number and size of inflorescence primordia in primary buds.

Read More