Great highlands wine growing terroir: conditions and expressions

Abstract

During 1982 started our wine growing project at the Puntalarga Hill, between 2500 and 2600 meters a.s.l.: 5.78 ºN, 72.98 ºW. Pinot noir, white Riesling and Riesling x Silvaner crossings are the most planted grapevines. Since 1984 research and development activities are carried out on pertinent subjects.
Low latitude, high altitude, relatively low rainfall, frequent atmospheric transparency, determines intensity and spectral composition of incident solar radiation, day/night temperature change extent and low night values that are the tropical highland’s climate features of the region.
Coexistence over the year of all grapevine developmental stages and the production of vintages with good sugar content and acidity levels, suitable for the production of wine remarkable in aroma and color intensity, are possible under those conditions.
Vine behavior and grape and wine characteristics indicate that at low respiratory losses, local climatic conditions could be considered thermally equivalent to those of temperate wine growing regions, with similar Huglin’s index values. At the localization of the project, the climatic conditions over the year are similar to those of autumnal ripening time in a temperate climate. At the same time acting solar radiation is UV-B rich. Both factors result in special features of local grapes that could be considered as being terroir expressions.

DOI:

Publication date: December 8, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2008

Type : Article

Authors

MARCO QUIJANO – RICO

Viñedo & Cava Loma de Puntalarga, Nobsa, Colombia, P.O. Box / A.P. 048 Sogamoso

Contact the author

Keywords

altitude, radiation, température, maturation, originalité

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2008

Citation

Related articles…

DNA and type of grain: which factor does better explain sensory differences of sessile and pedunculate oaks?

Sessile oak and pedunculate oak have shown several differences of interest for enological purposes. Tannic and aromatic composition among sessile oak or pedonculate oak has been well studied. Sessile oak is generally more aromatic than pedunculated, while the later is more tannic. This scientific point of view is rarely applied to classify oak in cooperages. Most coopers use the type of grain to distinguish wide and thin grain.

Impact of organic inputs on soil biodiversity in vineyard systems. A monitoring approach during 20 years

Conventional vineyard practices have lead in many environmental disturbances as erosion, soil compaction, loss of organic matter and soil biodiversity, water contamination

The importance of landscape in wine quality perception: l’importanza del paesaggio nella percezione qualitativa del vino

The wine quality is a characteristic that is both difficult to define and communicate, because the quality attributes can be divided into intrinsic (objective, such as alcohol degree, acidity

South American Creole grapevines: new varieties identified in the Caravelí Valley (Peru) and their aromatic profile

The valley of Caravelí (Peru) received the first vine plants in colonial times and the tradition of cultivation is maintained thanks to its terroir and artisanal techniques.

New biotechnological approaches for a comprehensive characterization of AGL11 and its molecular mechanism underlying seedlessness trait in table grape

In table grapes seedlessness is a crucial breeding target, mainly results from stenospermocarpy, linked to the Thompson Seedless variety. Several studies investigated the genetic control of seedlessness identifying AGL11, a MADS-box transcription factor, as a crucial gene.
We performed a deep investigation of the whole AGL11 gene sequence in a collection of grapevine varieties revealing three different promoter-CDS combinations. By investigating the expression of the three AGL11 alleles and evaluating their ability to activate the promoter region, we show that AGL11 regulates its transcription in a specific promoter-CDS manner. By a multi-AGL11 co-expression analysis we identified a methyl jasmonate esterase, an indole-3-acetate beta-glucosyltransferase, and an isoflavone reductase as top AGL11 candidate targets. In vivo experiments further confirmed AGL11 role in regulating these genes, demonstrating its significant influence in seed development and thus in seedlessness trait.