Terroir 2006 banner
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.

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

Contact the author

Keywords

GIS, survey, Sauvignon blanc, vineyard managers, terroir

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2006

Citation

Related articles…

Monitoring of alcoholic fermentation: development of an applicable in-line system

Alcoholic fermentation plays a crucial role in the winemaking process. In addition to producing ethanol, it results in the formation of various secondary metabolites that significantly influence the wine’s characteristics.

Un modello di lavoro per lo studio dell’ up-grading tecnologico del vigneto nel Veneto Occidentale. Connettività degli attori e mappatura su dati avepa integrati con rilevamento speditivo e qualitativo

Il lavoro si prefigge di esaminare la propensione alla modernizzazione della viticoltura del Veneto Occidentale, letto attraverso la diffusione di forme di allevamento a sviluppo contenuto.

Sensory and nephelometric analysis of tannin fractions obtained by ultrafiltration of red wines

The assessment of red wine mouthfeel relies primarily on the sensory description of its tannic properties. This evaluation could be improved by gaining a better understanding of the physicochemical properties of these tannins. Hence, the objectives of the present study were threefold: (1) to gain an insight into the sensory properties of subpopulations of proanthocyanidic tannins of different molecular sizes obtained through several ultrafiltration steps, (2) to quantify the kinetics of haze formation of these proanthocyanidic tannins in a dynamic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) precipitation test, (3) to determine whether a correlation exists between the sensory and the precipitation data.

Hexose efflux from the peeled grape berry

After the onset of grape berry ripening, phloem unloading follows an apoplasmic route into the mesocarp tissue. In the apoplast, most of the unloaded sucrose is cleaved by cell wall invertases

Eléments importants d’une méthodologie de caractérisation des facteurs naturels du terroir, en relation avec la réponse de la vigne à travers le vin

The French viticultural appellation areas are the result of an empirical, historical and evolutionary selection which, generally, has consecrated a match between natural factors, grape varieties and viti-vinicultural practices. The notion of terroir is the main basis of the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée in viticulture. It is based on the one hand on privileged natural factors and on the other hand on the know-how of the winegrowers; the whole allowing the production of a wine endowed with an authenticity and a sensory typicity. Wine-growing practices evolve according to progress in viticulture and oenology, while the natural factors of the terroir are much more stable, with the exception of the vintage. They therefore represent a fundamental pillar of the identity of an appellation vineyard.