The Soil Component of Terroir

Temperature is a relevant parameter during vineyard development, affecting vine phenology and grape maturity. Moreover, the climate of the different Chilean valleys influences the varieties cultivated, the ripening period and the final quality of the wines. The use of growing degree days (GDD) is known worldwide for the study of climate in viticulture regions. However, little is known about the evolution of maturity and the sugar loading stop, based on this parameter.

Viticulture needs for spatial and temporal information are increasing to improve vineyard management, especially concerning water efficiency. Remote sensing, particularly from satellites, can be a powerful tool to assess vineyard characteristics such as vigor or water status in space-time. In this study, we use Landsat 8, an American Earth observation satellite with six bands from the visible (VIS) to the Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) domains with 30m spatial resolution and two thermal bands with 100m spatial resolution.

In vineyards grown in warm areas, it is usual that the stage of maturity of the grapes is fast and easily reach a high concentration of sugar and low acidity, but not a adequate phenolic maturation. The geometry of the trellis system and the shoot density can modify the microclimate of the cluster and, therefore, the maturation process.

Context and purpose of the study. As other perennial crops grapevine is facing the challenges of climate changes. One of the major issues is global warming and variations of the water budget.

L’objectif de cette étude est analyser l’influence de la densité de plantation sur l’état hydrique (potentiel hydrique), le comportement productif (matière sèche et rendement) et la expression qualitative (poids de baie, degrée Brix, pH, acidité totale, concentration polyphénolique) de la varieté Tempranillo dans la Vallée du Douro, à l’A.O. Cigales.