Terroir 2006 banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 International Terroir Conferences 9 Terroir 2006 9 Application of zoning to increase the value of terroirs (Terroir 2006) 9 Agronomical assessment of a vine « terroir » map: first results in the « AOC » Minervois region

Agronomical assessment of a vine « terroir » map: first results in the « AOC » Minervois region

Abstract

Minervois is a vine region where the first detailed soil map was begun 30 years ago. In 2003, a new map was drawn plotting the soil-landscape associations. This map distinguishes 8 large soil units based on geology. The widest (called « marnes ») is the most complex : it is made of 57 sub-units, which leads to a high variability of the vine behaviour on this unit. We proposed a way to simplify that very complex soil information in order to understand the relationship between vines characteristics and the map sub-units of soil. The 57 first sub-units were turned into 5 new ones. Water constraint and agronomical data were examined for 2 vine cultivars on 47 vine plots among the « marnes » unit and compared to 3 of our simplified sub-units (87% of the total area of the « marnes » unit). Shoot elongation and carbon discrimination were used for estimating water regime during summer. The soil-plant water regime is revealed to be the main factor classifying the 3 sub-units : we show good relationship between grapes and vines characteristics and the new sub-units.

DOI:

Publication date: December 22, 2021

Issue: Terroir 2006

Type: Article

Authors

William TRAMBOUZE and Marie VIGNERON

(1) Chambre d’agriculture de l’Hérault, 15 rue Victor Hugo, 34120 Pézenas, France
(2) Syndicat du Cru Minervois

Contact the author

Keywords

vine terroir, soil unit, map, water regime

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terroir 2006

Citation

Related articles…

Preliminary studies of zoning applications in Goriška Brda (Collio) winegrowing region, Slovenia

Goriška Brda est la région viticole située le plus à l’ouest de la Slovénie, attenante au Collio d’Italie. Goriška Brda (2020 ha de vignobles) a une longue tradition d’élevage viticole. La proximité de la mer Adriatique (Golfe de Trieste) au sud-ouest et des Alpes Juliennes au nord contribue à un climat caractéristique et unique qui influe sur la croissance et la fertilité de la vigne. La constitution des sols, un climat typique et un relief mouvementé provoquent des différences dans la production du raisin, sa quantité et sa qualité. L’utilisation du zonage ou du microzonage permettraient d’atténuer les influences des facteurs climatiques et du sol sur la production de la vigne ou d’en profiter. Pour évaluer la signification des différents facteurs, nous avons résumé et réuni les modèles de différents auteurs.

The chemical composition of disease resistant hybrid grape cultivars and its impact on wine quality: an exploratory enquiry into sustainable wines

Disease resistant hybrid grape cultivars are now allowed in a number of EU wine PDOs, and are also accepted in a number of countries outside the EU. There is increasing interest in diseases resistant hybrid grape cultivars (RHGCs) because they allow for the production of healthy, high quality grapes with limited use of pesticides and the associated environmental and public health

Twenty-two shades of grey – An analysis of alcohol regulations in the Arab world

This article compares alcohol regulations across 22 Arab League member countries.

A look back at 20 years of exploring the future of the vines and wines sector

What if, in 25 years, most wines were dealcoholized and flavored ? What if vines were only cultivated to combat erosion, store carbon, and provide anthocyanins…? What if climate change completely changed the list of vine varieties cultivable for wine production in France? What if food stores had completely disappeared in favor of virtual platforms? And if… because the long-term future is not predetermined and therefore not knowable, because the future is open to several possibilities, because the future does not emerge from nothing but from the present which conceals heavy trends and weak signals, prospective approaches make it possible to consider the room for maneuver that actors have to promote the advent of a future, which we can hope to be chosen, at least in part.

Smoke taint: Understanding and addressing the compositional consequences of grapevine exposure to smoke

Climate change has become a major challenge for grape and wine production around the world