ArticlePDF Available

Natural terroir units, Siena province, Tuscany

Taylor & Francis
Journal of Maps
Authors:
Simone Priori at Tuscia University
Simone Priori
Barbetti Roberto at Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis
Barbetti Roberto
Giovanni L'Abate at Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis
Giovanni L'Abate
Pierluigi Bucelli
Pierluigi Bucelli
Pierluigi Bucelli
  • This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet.
Show all 6 authorsHide
Download full-text PDF
Read full-text
Download citation

Abstract

This work aimed at setting up a multivariate and geostatistical methodology to map viticultural terroirs at the province scale (1:125,000). The methodology is based upon the creation of a GIS storing all the viticultural and oenological legacy data of experimental vineyards (1989–2009), long-term climate data, digital elevation model, soilscapes (land systems) and legacy data of soil profiles. Environmental parameters related to viticulture, selected by an explorative PCA, were: elevation, mean annual temperature, mean soil temperature, annual precipitation, clay, sand and gravel content of soils, soil water availability, redoximorphic features and rooting depth. The variables interpolated using geostatistical methods, were used for a k-means clustering aimed to map the Natural Terroir Units (NTU). Vineyards of the province of Siena was subdivided into 9 NTU. Both the historical DOCG (Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Nobile di Montepulciano) and other DOCs were characterized by three or four NTU, whereas the wider Chianti and Chianti Colli senesi DOCG was mainly constituted by seven NTU.
Content uploaded by Simone Priori
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Simone Priori on Feb 11, 2014
Content may be subject to copyright.
SCIENCE
Natural terroir units, Siena province, Tuscany
Simone Priori
a
∗, Roberto Barbetti
a
, Giovanni L’Abate
a
, Pierluigi Bucelli
a
, Paolo Storchi
b
and
Edoardo A.C. Costantini
a
a
Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Research Center for Agrobiology and
Pedology (CRA-ABP), Firenze, Italy;
b
Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura,
Research Unit of Viticulture (CRA-VIC), Arezzo, Italy
(Received 24 May 2013; resubmitted 13 January 2014; accepted 17 January 2014)
This work aimed at setting up a multivariate and geostatistical methodology to map viticultural
terroirs at the province scale (1:125,000). The methodology is based upon the creation of a GIS
storing all the viticultural and oenological legacy data of experimental vineyards (1989–2009),
long-term climate data, digital elevation model, soilscapes (land systems) and legacy data of
soil profiles.
Environmental parameters related to viticulture, selected by an explorative PCA, were:
elevation, mean annual temperature, mean soil temperature, annual precipitation, clay, sand
and gravel content of soils, soil water availability, redoximorphic features and rooting depth.
The variables interpolated using geostatistical methods, were used for a k-means clustering
aimed to map the Natural Terroir Units (NTU). Vineyards of the province of Siena was
subdivided into 9 NTU.
Both the historical DOCG (Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Nobile di
Montepulciano) and other DOCs were characterized by three or four NTU, whereas the
wider Chianti and Chianti Colli senesi DOCG was mainly constituted by seven NTU.
Keywords: GIS; Geostatistics; soils; Sangiovese; wine
1. Introduction
The terroir concept possesses many definitions, all based on the interaction between soil, geology,
climate, agro-ecosystems landscape, historical and sociological aspects (Carbonneau, 2002;
Deloire, Vaudour, Carey, Bonnardot, & Van Leeuwen, 2005;Vaudour, 2003). Terroir can be
loosely defined as ‘taste of territory,’ embodying certain characteristic qualities, which are the
sum of the effects that the territory has on the final product. Man has geared agricultural husban-
dry and processing technologies to the particular natural environmental conditions to maximize
the quality of food and confer it peculiarity and exclusivity (Costantini & Bucelli, 2008). This
concept has been applied as the Geographical Typical Indication and the Protected Appellations
of Origin (D.O.P. in Europe) for many agricultural products, or ‘Appelation d’Origine Controˆle
´e’
(AOC, France), ‘Denominacı
´on de Origen’ (DO, Spain) and ‘Denominazione di Origine
#2014 Simone Priori
∗Corresponding author. Email: simone.priori@entecra.it
Journal of Maps, 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2014.885853
Downloaded by [CRA] at 09:45 10 February 2014
... Clay has an important function in the constitution of the water reserves of the soil; often, if it is too high, it leads to the formation of underground stagnations that are responsible for the development of an anoxic environment in which the roots of plants have difficulty surviving. Despite this, in the lower part of the hills, the soils tend to be cooler and richer in nutrients; moreover, with the thermal sums being higher than in the higher areas, the ripening of the grapes is more anticipated [24]. ...
... The Chianti Classico territory can be divided into five areas ( Figure 1) [21,24,25]. Area A, located on the east side of the DOCG, has an average altitude of 450 m a.s.l. ...
A Statistical Approach to Describe the Ripening Evolution of Sangiovese Grapes Coming from Different Chianti Classico Sub-Areas
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2021
In Italy, Chianti Classico identifies a territory located in the heart of Tuscany that was once known as Chianti. From the pedological point of view, the entire DOCG (Denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin) has some common features but also shows many specific features related to certain small areas that give rise to the presence of many “terroirs”. Due to the intertwining created by the alternation of valleys and hills and the different characteristics of the territory, factors such as altitude and exposure play a very important role in the vegetative and productive expression of grapes. Some production areas were identified within the appellation where it is argued that the terroir and the grapes are quite distinct from those of other surrounding areas, albeit within the Chianti Classico appellation. On the basis of this information and considering that no data are available in the literature, the present study proposed an innovative multidisciplinary approach (analytical and statistical) that was capable of carrying out an objective evaluation of the various sub-areas investigated, using Sangiovese grapes as the variety in question. This research took into account the climatic results and the different pedological characteristics, evaluating the evolutionary phenomena that were linked to the ripening of the grapes in each phase of its formation.
View
... The NTU concept can also be an effective tool to minimize soil degradation and other associated environmental risks (Kapur and Ersahin, 2014;Priori et al., 2014). This is because in order to maintain the high-quality status, the farmers and the local community would be particularly careful to preserve the qualities of the land that define the NTU. ...
... In previous efforts, digital soil mapping (DSM) methods have been used to map NTUs at different scales (Bonfante et al., 2011;Carey et al., 2008;Coggins et al., 2019;Olsen et al., 2011;Priori et al., 2014;Vaudour et al., 2015). However, no previous studies have used soil, terrain and climate information for mapping and yield data for describing NTUs at national scale. ...
Mapping and describing natural terroir units in Denmark
Article
  • Mar 2021
A natural terroir unit is a tract of land whose natural characteristics form a unique assemblage of factors (soil, terrain and climate) which together impart specific high-quality characteristics to an agricultural product. In order to map and describe Danish natural terroir units, we built on previous efforts to quantitatively map and describe Danish natural terroir units based on soil, terrain, climatic and historical crop yield data. Our work consists of four stages: (1) The OSACA algorithm was applied to define soil centroids and measure taxonomic distance between soil profiles and soil centroids based on a Danish soil spectral library; (2) nine Danish terron classes were established by fuzzy c-means clustering based on soil, terrain and climate information; (3) a Danish terron map was generated by Cubist regression tree models and the uncertainty of this map was assessed by a terron membership map; (4) Danish natural terroir units were described by linking historical crop yield data to the terron map. The results suggested that the OSACA algorithm and Vis-NIR spectral data could be used as an efficient tool to facilitate terron identification. The terron predictions also showed that the addition of terrain and climatic predictors improved the previously created Danish terron map. The description of Danish natural terroir units showed that seven natural terroir units could be an optimal number for Denmark for specific crop types. Further investigations are needed that link more agricultural yield data to this terron map in order to describe natural terroir units for different agricultural products. The methods developed in this study could be tested in other countries to facilitate sustainable soil management and minimize environmental risks.
View
... Nevertheless, a definitive definition of terroir can only be given by crossing the zonation depending on territorial features with wine quality. In other words, the same territorially homogeneous zone can generate different terroirs, since cultural (grape processing) and micro-climatic conditions can further Land 2023, 12, 647 2 of 24 differentiate wine quality [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. The word "Terroir" was originally proposed in the Middle Ages referring to the "terrain" and "land" concepts; initially, it had an administrative meaning within the land-partitioning context [17]. ...
Zonation of a Viticultural Territorial Context in Piemonte (NW Italy) to Support Terroir Identification: The Role of Pedological, Topographical and Climatic Factors
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2023
Grapevine production and quality greatly depend on site-specific features such as topography, soil, and climate. The possibility of recognizing and mapping local specificities of a wine-production area is highly desirable, as environmental conditions are the main drivers of wine production in terms of both quality and quantity. Areas showing similar features able to determine specific traits in vine and wine production are referred to as terroirs. It is commonly considered that soil and climate represent the main elements for a functional and balanced viticultural ecosystem; if they change, grapevine quality and yield change too, and this occurs in spite of any agronomic practice. Terroir mapping based on traditional methodology requires a considerable investment of time and money by producers and wine consortia; moreover, it preserves an important subjective component. In this work, the authors propose an approach to map territorial differences, possibly conditioning the definition of terroir, of an important wine-production area located in Piemonte (NW Italy) based on free and open data and free GIS. The resulting zones were related to the main local vine varieties looking for possible relationships. The results proved that, with reference to the pedological, topographical, and climatic factors, six zones were recognized as significantly different in the study area. These were compared against the six main vine varieties in the area (i.e., Barbera, Brachetto, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Moscato Bianco, and Nebbiolo), finding that: (i) Nebbiolo is highly specialized, covering almost a single zone; (ii) Moscato, Dolcetto, and Chardonnay showed no significant preference for any zone, being almost equally distributed over all of them; and (iii) Barbera and Brachetto are averagely specialized, being distributed mainly over two clusters (out of six) different from the one where Nebbiolo appears to be majorly present.
View
... Specific soil, terrain, temperature, landscape, and biodiversity traits are all elements of terroir. The idea of "Natural Terroir Units", or NTUs, was put into practice by Priori, et al. [5]. They defined an NTU as "a volume of the Earth's biosphere that is characterized by a stable group of values relating to the topography, climate, substrate, and soil". ...
Delineating Natural Terroir Units in Wine Regions Using Geoinformatics
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2023
The terroir effect refers to the interactions between the grapes and their natural surroundings and has been recognized as an important factor in wine quality. The identification and mapping of viticultural terroir have long been relying on expert opinion coupled with land classification and soil/climate mapping. In this study, the data-driven approach has been implemented for mapping natural terroir units based on spatial modeling of public-access geospatial information regarding the three most important environmental factors that make up the terroir effect on different scales, climate, soil, and topography. K-means cluster analysis was applied to the comprehensive databases of relevant spatial information, and the optimum number of clusters was identified by the Dunn and CCC indices. The results have revealed ten clusters that cover the agricultural area of Drama (Greece), where it was applied, and displayed variable conditions on the climate, soil, and topographic factors. The implications of the resulting natural terroir units on the vini-viticultural management of the most common vine varieties are discussed. As more accurate and detailed input spatial data become available, the potential of such an approach is highlighted and paving the way toward a true understanding of the drivers of terroir.
View
... Laville (95) coined the term "Natural Terroir Unit" (NTU) to define locations that share the same topography, soil and climate, providing a unique high-quality characteristic for an agricultural product. Several studies have applied DSM methods to identify NTUs using environmental characteristics in Denmark (96)(97)(98) and around the world (99,100). Importantly, Peng (98) noted a missing link between the existing terron maps and agricultural data. ...
Soil assessment in Denmark: Towards soil functional mapping and beyond
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2023
Soil provides essential ecosystem services sustaining and improving human life, but mapping soil functions is an ongoing challenge. Denmark has a long history of carrying out soil assessments − originally in order to determine tax revenues for the king, and, more recently, for aiding policymakers and farmers. This knowledge has supported the development of intensive agricultural systems while maintaining the provision of ecosystem services (e.g., clean water). Getting an overview of historical soil surveys and pedological mapping approaches can generate useful information for mapping soil, identifying gaps and proposing directions for future research. In this review, we explore the evolution of soil and environmental inventories, the historical development of soil mapping methods, and how these factors contributed to a better spatial understanding of soil functions. Specifically, we discuss soil functions related to water regulation (e.g., drainage, groundwater and water surface interactions, water table), water filtering (e.g., nitrogen leaching), carbon sequestration (e.g., peatlands), agricultural production (e.g., land suitability, wheat yields), and threats related to soil degradation (e.g., soil erosion). Denmark has benefitted from a government-coordinated approach, promoting detailed and systematic national soil surveys and environmental monitoring programmes. The large databases produced in the surveys formed the basis for mapping several soil properties and functions at increasingly high resolutions over the last many years based on developments in machine learning. In contrast to methodological advances in soil mapping and relevant contributions to pedometric research, we identified a lack of spatial information on soil biodiversity. Detailed spatial information about soil functions is essential to address global issues, such as climate change, food security and water security, and the experience of mapping soil functions in Denmark can be a source of inspiration to other parts of the world.
View
... This characteristic allowed the formation of developed soils. Using the socalled 'natural terroir units' (Laville, 1993;Priori et al., 2014), it can be stated that one of the oldest natural terroir units has been generated on rañas and the like in the Anchuras area. Deloire et al. (2005) stated that beneficial water deficit (a typical process in vineyards of Mediterranean regions, like that herein studied) delays shoot growth without notably affecting photosynthetic activity. ...
Characteristics of vineyard soils derived from Plio‐Quaternary landforms (raña or rañizo) in southern Europe
Article
  • Jul 2022
Soil is an essential component in viticulture. The study reported here concerns the assessment of the morphology chemical and physicochemical features of typical, well‐developed and representative evolved Mediterranean soils near Anchuras (Spain, southern Europe), a site with soils that developed on old landforms (Plio‐Quaternary) called ‘raña’ and/or ‘rañizo’. The soils under study were described and sampled by conducting soil surveys. Selected soil properties, such as texture, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and contents of organic matter, nutrients, etc., were analysed using standard procedures. The results showed that these landscape surfaces were, linked with specific soil properties such as low pH (from 4.4 to 5.3) and EC (from 0.15 to 0.02 dSm ⁻¹ ), clay contents (20.1%–48.8%), high CEC (26–39 cmol/kg), and low base saturation values (from 11.2% to 17.2%), and have an adequate and singular pedological potential in relation to the ‘terroir’ or ‘terron’ concepts that meet suitability criteria. Furthermore, the information provided by this study, fundamentally through the weathering indices, supports the role of soil‐forming factors and their influence on soil properties. In addition, as these landforms and underlying materials have abundant and extensive rock fragments, the role of these soils in the context of vineyard growth and development has been investigated. Highlights There are unknown conceptual zones that support production of wine This study highlights the importance and uniqueness of vineyard soils linked to old plioquaternary surfaces. Pedogeomorphologic vineyard constraints can serve as a basis for implementing a PDO The association soils‐old surfaces can contribute to the identity and reputation of a viticultural zone
View
... The grape variety chosen was Sangiovese, the protagonist of Tuscan oenology and the main component of the seven Tuscan DOCGs: Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Morellino di Scansano, Montecucco, and Nobile di Montepulciano. Currently, the "Sangiovese" vine is the most widespread vine in Italy, with about 10% of the total vineyard area [21]. In Tuscany, it is the most widespread vine, with 67.4% of the regional wine-growing area [22]. ...
Technological Improvements on FML in the Chianti Classico Wine Production: Co-Inoculation or Sequential Inoculation?
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2022
Winemaking variables and techniques are known to affect the composition of wines. To obtain a rapid and safe fermentation course, with a reduced risk of proliferation of unwanted microbial species, frequent recourse is made to the use of selected microorganisms, which can greatly simplify the complex management of the fermentation process. In particular, selected strains of lactic acid bacteria are used, which are much more sensitive than yeasts to the operating conditions of the medium. In this regard, the overall aim of this research was to verify whether the early inoculation of homolactic acid bacteria for hexoses (Lactobacillus plantarum) carried out after 24 h, compared with that of saccharomycetes operating alcoholic fermentation, could be advantageous compared with a traditional innoculation with a different heterolactic bacterial strain for hexoses (Oenococcus oeni) operated at the end of alcoholic fermentation. The grape variety chosen was Sangiovese, the protagonist of Tuscan oenology. The evaluation focused on different aspects such as the management of winery operations, and the quality and longevity of the product; was carried out in all phases of winemaking; and analysed both from a chemical and sensory point of view.
View
... 11.824° E; 260 m a.s.l.). Pots (70 L) were filled with a clay-loam soil with the following average characteristics: clay 40%; silt 35%; and sand 25%, with a volumetric soil water content of ∼34% at field capacity, collected from a vineyard of the Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. district in Tuscany, Italy [51]. The vines were trained on vertical shoot positioned trellis, with spur cordon pruning and an average of 10 buds per vine. ...
Eco-Physiological Traits and Phenylpropanoid Profiling on Potted Vitis vinifera L. cv Pinot Noir Subjected to Ascophyllum nodosum Treatments under Post-Veraison Low Water Availability
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2020
In Mediterranean regions, extreme weather conditions during the growing season may alter grapevine physiology and metabolism, thus modifying the quality of wines. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum treatments on plant physiology and berry metabolism in Vitis vinifera exposed to water stress. The experiment was performed on potted vines subjected to two irrigation regimes (well-watered, WW, and water stressed, WS) both associated with A. nodosum treatments (SWE), compared with control plants (CTRL). Gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence, and water relations were monitored on SWE and CTRL leaves, both in WW and WS vines at three times. Moreover, the quantification of secondary metabolites and their partitioning were performed in berry skins. Plants treated with A. nodosum extract showed higher photosynthesis and stomatal conductance than CTRL in both irrigation regimes and maintained a better plant hydraulic conductivity at the end of the sampling period. In addition, secondary metabolites in berry skins and their partitioning were significantly affected by the treatments in both irrigation regimes. Our results suggest that foliar application of A. nodosum extract may help the acclimation of grapevines to post-veraison water stress, likely improving plant physiological and biochemical performances under environmental constraints.
View
Beyond the Bottle: Exploring Health-Promoting Compounds in Wine and Wine-Related Products-Extraction, Detection, Quantification, Aroma Properties, and Terroir Effects
Article
Full-text available
  • Nov 2023
Health-promoting compounds in wine and wine-related products are important due to their potential benefits to human health. Through an extensive literature review, this study explores the presence of these compounds in wine and wine-related products, examining their relationship with terroir and their impact on the aromatic and flavor properties that are perceived orally: sunlight exposure, rainfall patterns, and soil composition impact grapevines' synthesis and accumulation of health-promoting compounds. Enzymes, pH, and the oral microbiome are crucial in sensory evaluation and perception of health promotion. Moreover, their analysis of health-promoting compounds in wine and wine-related products relies on considerations such as the specific target compound, selectivity, sensitivity, and the complexity of the matrix.
View
Approches de zonage viticole fondées sur la télédétection.: Apport particulier de la télédétection des sols.
Article
  • Sep 2019
Cet article répertorie les approches de télédétection qui ont été développées à des fins de zonage viticole depuis la fin des années 1990. Il explicite la spécificité du zonage viticole et les enjeux sous-jacents au développement des techniques géospatiales pour les besoins de gestion géographique du vignoble. La télédétection offre un moyen puissant de réalisation et de mise à jour des zonages viticoles, en vue d'une telle gestion technique. Les résultats de zonage par télédétection sont d'autant plus pertinents, qu'ils sont combinés à d'autres types de mesures, telles que proxydétection des sols ou de la végétation de la vigne, ainsi que prospection pédologique conventionnelle, et reposent sur des jeux de données de référence, ainsi que des jeux de validation viticole, recueillis sur le terrain. La contribution de la télédétection à la cartographie des propriétés de sols viticoles est prometteuse au sein d'approches de cartographie numérique des sols.
View
Soil regionalisation by means of terrain analysis and process parameterisation
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2002
Specific computational procedures have been developed for the regionalisation of soil properties and related data as support system for soil mapping at different scales. The methodological framework integrates digital terrain analysis, climatic, hydrological and process-oriented modelling and geo-statistical approaches as well as pedological rules and transfer functions. The main task focuses on the development of advanced applications in automated terrain analysis and process parameterisation. For routine use, most of the procedures have been integrated into a Geographical Information System (GIS). To detect the spatial variability of soil properties a process-oriented approach is used that considers digital terrain models, satellite data, land use, and climatic data as a basis for spatial parameterisations of terrain, climate, management and substrate controlled processes. In contrast to conventional approaches, which substitute processes by a discrete combination of soil related variables and turn out as more or less soil related polygons, the procedure presented here focuses on modelling processes and soil properties as continua, whereby the continua are represented by grids. Grid based methodologies lead to greater objectivity and reliability for the spatial distinguishing of soil related polygons as well as the providing of improved information about the variability, statistical composition and formation of functional soil properties. The combination of complex terrain parameters and regionalised climatic data provides a suitable database for representing processes such as wind and water induced erosion, transport and deposition. Components of the system have been tested and evaluated for many geo-scientific applications such as soil mapping, geology, climatology and hydrology over a wide range of landscapes. Using selected results as examples, the methods of terrain analysis, process parameterisation, regionalisation of soil properties and erosion risk assessments are presented. The conception is based on computational methods for the regionalisation of soil related geo-factors and processes. It is able to assimilate input data available on a European scale and offers the potential for the creation of a soil data base (scale 1:250.000) for all European countries.
View
Geology and wine 8. Modeling viticultural landscapes: A GIS analysis of the terroir potential in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2004
Terroir is a holistic concept that relates to both environmental and cultural factors that together influence the grape growing to wine production continuum. The physical factors that influence the process include matching a given grape variety to its ideal climate along with optimum site characteristics of elevation, slope, aspect, and soil. While some regions have had hundreds and even thousands of years to define, develop, and understand their best terroir, newer regions typically face a trial and error stage of finding the best variety and terroir match. This research facilitates the process by modeling the climate and landscape in a relatively young grape growing region in Oregon, the Umpqua Valley appellation. The result is an inventory of land suitability that provides both existing and new growers greater insight into the best terroirs of the region.
View
Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on Terroir
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2004
  • AM J ENOL VITICULT
The three main components of terroir - soil, climate, and cultivar - were studied simultaneously. Vine development and berry composition of nonirrigated Vitis vinifera L. cv. Merlot, Cabernet franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon were compared on a gravelly soil, a soil with a heavy clay subsoil, and a sandy soil with a water table within the reach of the roots. The influence of climate was assessed with year-to-year variations of maximum and minimum temperatures, degree days (base of 10°C), sunshine hours, ETo, rainfall, and water balance for the period 1996 to 2000. The effects of climate, soil, and cultivar were found to be highly significant with regard to vine behavior and berry composition (an example being anthocyanin concentration). The impacts of climate and soil were greater than that of cultivar. Many of the variables correlated with the intensity of vine water stress. It is likely that the effects of climate and soil on fruit quality are mediated through their influence on vine water status.
View
Viticultural Terroirs in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I. the Identification of Natural Terroir Units
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2008
  • J INT SCI VIGNE VIN
Aims: A natural terroir unit (NTU) can be defined as a unit of land that is characterized by relatively homogenous topography, climate, geological substrate and soil. The mapping of NTUs is the first stage of data acquisition in a terroir study. This study aimed to identify NTUs using a Geographic Information System and to characterize the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin District using existing digital information at the scale of a wine producing district. Methods and results: The study area is bordered by mountains, situated close to the Atlantic Ocean and bisected by the Eerste river valley, resulting in notable spatial variation of all climatic parameters. The geology is complex due to the high degree of tectonic movement and mixing of parent material. Terrain morphological units, altitude, aspect and soil type were used as primary keys/variables for the identification of NTUs. Each of the identified units was further described with respect to the extent of the expected sea breeze effect and, for certain of the soil types, the associated parent material. A total of 1389 NTUs were identified in the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin District. Conclusions: Many of the natural terroir units identified for the Stellenbosch Wine of Origin District are of a size that is not economically or practically viable. Significance and impact of the study: The natural terroir units should be grouped into larger, more manageable and thus more viable terroir units using data relating their viticultural and oenological potential. This task will be addressed in subsequent companion papers.
View
Suolo, vite ed altre colture di qualità: l’introduzione e la pratica dei concetti “terroir” e “zonazione”. Ital J Agron, 1 Suppl. pp 23-33
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2008
La ricerca della vocazionalità colturale è uno degli strumenti più efficaci per la tutela della qualità e tipicità delle produzioni e, al tempo stesso, per limitare la degradazione del suolo. In particolare, lo studio del “terroir”, cioè delle relazione fra qualità dell'ambiente e qualità dei prodotti, evidenzia l’esistenza di una positività locale delle risorse che è strettamente connessa alla specificità degli ambienti di origine e che va adeguatamente tutelata. La valorizzazione del terroir è da più parti ritenuta una delle maggiori prospettive di successo dell’agricoltura nazionale all’interno del mercato globale, poiché molto spesso la coltura di qualità diventa anche coltura di riferimento ed immagine trainante di un territorio. Oggi si parla, infatti, di “qualità totale del territorio” cioè di territorio gestito in funzione della qualità dei prodotti, della conservazione del suolo e degli ecosistemi, della salubrità dell’ambiente e della bellezza del paesaggio. Il riconoscimento della vocazionalità di un territorio ha bisogno della ricerca delle sue peculiarità, che determinano l’unicità di quell’areale di produzione. L’unicità di un “terroir” è quindi un valore aggiunto alla qualità che può essere determinante per il successo di una coltura. Dall’idea di “terroir” è nata la pratica della “zonazione”, cioè la suddivisione di un comprensorio in base alle caratteristiche ecopedologiche e geografiche, con verifica della risposta adattativa delle diverse specie e varietà. La “zonazione” è un processo molto complesso, che consiste in uno studio integrato e interdisciplinare, mirante a suddividere il territorio in funzione della vocazionalità alla coltura. In estrema sintesi, le informazioni climatiche, pedologiche ed agronomiche vengono fatte interagire con l'espressione vegetativa, produttiva e qualitativa della coltura, nell’ambito di un determinato contesto socio-culturale.
View
View
Grapevine responses to terroir: A global approach
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2005
  • J INT SCI VIGNE VIN
This paper deals with the technical and/or practical treatment of terroir as a study concept, together with related functional aspects. Functioning of the terroir relies on the relation between climate, soil and vine. In addition to this interaction, a comprehensive study concept for terroir requires the consideration of viticultural and enological sciences and techniques necessary to ensure the assurance of wine quality, together with spatial aspects of the grapevine response to environmental factors, as required for vineyard management. In order to comprehend the quality of the harvest, it is necessary to understand the relationship «whole plant - berry». An easy field and laboratory method to study the relationship between the whole plant and berry and the consequences thereof for wine quality is proposed. Knowledge of grapevine water status and the biochemical evolution within the grape berry from berry set onwards are important issues for the understanding of the role that terroir plays with respect to the quality of the harvest and the wine style or «typicality».
View
Soil and climate functional characters for grape ripening and wine quality of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 1996
The paper presents the results obtained from a methodological interdisciplinary study realised with the aim of setting the viticultural vocation of the Vino Nobile di Montcpulciano territory and zoning the vineyards. The study provided for climate monitoring, soil biological, physical, chemical, hydrological characterisation, as well as soil survey and cartography. Moreover, a large set of winegrape characteristics was measured during the vegetation of vines and at the harvest. Finally, the wines obtained by the standard techniques for small-lot wincmaking winery, have been sensory analysed. The trial showed the importance of environmental characteristics to define the quanti-qualitative answer of the wincgrapes. in particular it specified the fertility conditions of different lots and the relative ocnological answer of the wines. So, the most fertile soils, those lacking permanent limitations to crop cultivation, owing to excessive productivity, provided the worst viticultural and ocnological results. On the other hand, the best results could be obtained in quite fertile soils, but with some pedological limitations. The least fertile soils, those which have been more or less eroded, produced always less than the better preserved ones, but with very variable ocnological results according to the influence of the year.
View
View
Mapping suitability for Sangiovese wine by means of δ13C and geophysical sensors in soils with moderate salinity
Article
  • Oct 2010
  • EUR J AGRON
A three year experiment was carried out to test the possibility of using the carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) measured in wine, combined with data of proximal and remote soil sensors, to assess viticultural and oenological suitability for Sangiovese. Two specialized vineyards on similar geomorphological conditions were investigated. Twelve plots were positioned differently along slopes. The soils were similar, except for structure, porosity and related hydrological characteristics, and salinity of the deeper horizons.
View