Anthropogenic intervention in shaping Terroir in a California Pinot noir vineyard

Abstract

In many vineyards optimal parcel size exceeds the geospatial complexity that exists in soils and topographic features that influence hydrological properties, sunlight interception and soil depth and texture (available water capacity). A premise of precision management is that such variation can be lessened, but the practices that would be used to achieve this have not been subjected to rigorous scientific evaluation. During 2004-2006 we examined spatial heterogeneity of soils and topographical features and related them to yield, industrial quality (soluble solids content, titratable acidity and pH), vine water status (predawn, ψPD, and midday, ψL, leaf water potential) and vigor (pruning weights), in an extremely complex hillside vineyard that had undergone terraforming as a means of increasing planted hectares and diminishing soils variation. Factor analysis was used to identify latent variables used in a multiple linear regression model with least squares estimation to identify correlations among soil and topographic factors, vine physiology and industrial quality parameters. Our results indicated that overall vine water status (ψPD and ψL) had the largest influence on within vineyard variation on an interannual basis, and that extreme spatial heterogeneity was evident in this vineyard in spite of terraforming efforts.

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type : Article

Authors

David R. SMART (1), Alison BREAZEALE (1), Joshua VIERS (2), Dr. Richard PLANT (3)

(1) Department of Viticulture & Enology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis CA 95616
(2) Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616
(3) Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis CA 95616

Contact the author

Keywords

Complex slopes, ripening uniformity, precision viticulture, water potential, terraforming

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

EXTRACTIBLE COMPOUNDS FROM MICROAGGLOMERATED CORK STOPPERS

After bottling, the wine continues to evolve during storage. The choice of the stopper is an important factor in this evolution. In addition to the oxygen permeability of the closure, the migration of stopper compounds into the wine can also have an impact on the wine organoleptic properties. Many studies have shown that transfers of volatile compounds from the stoppers into the wine can happen depending on the type of closure used (1). Moreover, when cork-made stoppers are used, the migration of phenolic compounds from the stopper into the wine can also occur (2, 3).

Investigation on Valbelluna area and its oenological potentiality: case study on Prosecco DOC

Valbelluna valley is an area located in the northeastern Italy. It is extended from the East-West between Feltre and Belluno, along the Piave waterway and enclosed between Cansiglio valley on the South and the Dolomites in the North. Here, the villages of Limana and Trichiana are present, which are considered for decades potentially interesting areas to aim a niche production with own particular properties.The position of this area, its sun exposition, its soil composition and the microclimate, are ideal factors to obtain vines and consequently wines with unique features especially regarding the diversity and complexity aroma.

Inhibition of reductive characters in wine by cu-organic acids: predicting the duration of protection

Cu organic acid complexes efficiently bind hydrogen sulfide in wine and therefore prevent its accumulation and subsequent reductive off-flavour [1]. This fraction of Cu can also bind methanethiol

Contribution of soil and atmospheric conditions to leaf water potential in grapevines

Etant lié au sol et aux conditions atmosphériques, le statut hydrique influence la physiologie de la vigne d’une part, mais joue aussi un role important en ce qui concerne la qualité du raisin et donc du vin d’autre part. Nous avons mesuré, dans la région de Stellenbosch, le statut hydrique sur des pieds de Sauvignon Blanc non irrigués, implantés sur 2 terroirs différents, l’un froid, l’autre plus chaud.

Using the fraction of transpirable soil water to estimate grapevine leaf water potential: comparing the classical statistical regression approach to machine learning algorithms

Weather uncertainty is forcing Mediterranean winegrowers to adopt new irrigation strategies to cope with water scarcity while ensuring a sustainable yield and improved berry and wine quality standards. Therefore, more accurate and high-resolution monitoring of soil water content and vine water status is a major concern. Leaf water potential measured at pre-dawn (PD) is considered to be in equilibrium with soil water potential and is highly correlated with soil water content at the soil depth where roots extract water.