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IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2006 9 Integrated approach in terroir studies (Terroir 2006) 9 The use of local knowledge relating to vineyard performance to identify viticultural terroirs in Stellenbosch and surrounds

The use of local knowledge relating to vineyard performance to identify viticultural terroirs in Stellenbosch and surrounds

Abstract

A terroir represents grouping of homogenous environmental units, or natural terroir units, based on the typicality of the products obtained. Identification and characterisation of terroirs depends on knowledge of environmental parameters, the functioning of the grapevine and characteristics of the final product, which must be placed in a spatial context. Field studies, resulting in point data, are considered to be necessary to investigate the functioning of the grapevine, but the use of representative sites to determine the response of the grapevine to its environment is time consuming and costly and limits terroir studies to research related investigations. We surveyed vineyard managers on their perceptions of the functioning of established Sauvignon blanc vineyards in the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin District. Comparison of data generated with these questionnaires to measured data in commercial vineyards suggested that the vineyard managers were able to characterise the performance of vineyards with respect to vigour, signs of drought stress and yield. Each vineyard was mapped and the responses were linked to modelled environmental variables. This data was used to construct decision trees, which could be applied to environmental data in a geographic information system to determine viticultural terroirs for production of Sauvignon blanc.

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DOI:

Publication date: January 12, 2022

Issue: Terroir 2006

Type: Article

Authors

Victoria A. CAREY (1), Eben ARCHER (1), Gérard BARBEAU (3) and Dawid SAAYMAN (3)

(1) Department of Viticulture and Oenology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland, South Africa
(2) Unité Vigne et Vin, Centre INRA d’Angers, 42 rue G. Morel, BP 57, 49071 Beaucouzé, France
(3) Distell, P.O. Box 184, 7599 Stellenbosch, South Africa

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Keywords

GIS, survey, Sauvignon blanc, vineyard managers, terroir

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2006

Citation

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