Application of organic carbon status indicators on vineyard soils: the case study of DOC Piave (Veneto region, Italy)

The markets for quality wine are becoming more competitive as newer producers emerge and traditional producers improve their quality. The concept of terroir is one way to differenzi­ate wines in a competitive market and to enhance producer income.

Viticulture is exposed to a range of new stressors, that are challenging its sustainability and disrupting famous and well-established production regions. Steady increase of average temperature, recurring heat waves, altered rainfall seasonal distribution, drought spells, increased pathogens pressure, they all mix up with increased frequency, making every growing season a special challenge and calling for new approaches to cope with worrying scenarios.

Climate change has been influencing viticulture and changing wine profiles in the past years, and effects are expected to get worse.

The ‘Caiño’ cultivar was cultivated in Galicia (Northwestern Spain) before the invasion of grape phylloxera. Genetic diversity from this cultivar have been described and considered as originating in Galicia, ‘Caiño Tinto’, ‘Caiño Bravo’, ‘Caiño Redondo’, ‘Caiño Longo’ and ‘Caiño Blanco’.

Valbelluna valley is an area located in the northeastern Italy. It is extended from the East-West between Feltre and Belluno, along the Piave waterway and enclosed between Cansiglio valley on the South and the Dolomites in the North. Here, the villages of Limana and Trichiana are present, which are considered for decades potentially interesting areas to aim a niche production with own particular properties.The position of this area, its sun exposition, its soil composition and the microclimate, are ideal factors to obtain vines and consequently wines with unique features especially regarding the diversity and complexity aroma.