Classification of the wine-growing environment of Central Mancha (Spain). First works

This paper describes a zoning study performed on a vast territory of around 86,500 hectares, situated in the countryside area of La Mancha Central (Castilla-La Mancha). The aim of the study was to classify the environment according to a small number of ecological criteria, establish the relevant territorial units and generate thematic maps with the different levels of criteria employed and synthetic maps by crossing these criteria. We studied the spatial distribution of one qualitative environmental factor, the nature of the substrate (lithostratigraphy), and other quantitative factors relating to the topography of the territory, slopes, exposures and theoretical insolation. The crossing of information between the two most integrating factors, lithostratigraphy and accumulated insolation – allowed us to classify the territory into homogeneous cartographic units according to the levels of criteria used. These units were prepared using automatic means (SIG) and then compared by interpreting aerial photographs at a scale of 1:20,000 and field work. The definitive cartographic units were drawn on printed maps from the vineyard register and then converted into digital format using the corresponding Arc-Info module.