Vineyard Site Selection
(book excerpts)Vineyard site selection is the most essential, fundamental, and irreversible decision in the life of a vineyard. It takes several years to develop and establish a vineyard and for the vines to produce a regular crop of grapes, with the vineyard remaining productive for many decades. Although the grapevine can grow in many places, its successful cultivation for high-quality wine production is limited to sites where specific characteristics and conditions prevail, and the necessary management practices can be implemented. The main factors affecting vines, their development and annual cycle of growth, and the crop produced each year include: physical environment (e.g., landforms, altitude, slope, aspect, natural & built features, soils, nutrients, water, and drainage); natural phenomena (e.g., climate, heat summations, seasonal variations, longer term cycles and fluctuations, weather & hazards); viticulture and vineyard management (e.g., site selection, design and layout of vineyards, varieties and rootstocks, infrastructures and services such as irrigation). All of these factors contribute to the térroir of a region’s wine. Térroir (pronounced tair-wahr) is a French concept that describes the complex interplay of physical characteristics and cultural influences that interact to define the wine styles and quality associated with any vineyard site or region.
Topics Within This Chapter:
- Climate
- Classification of Climates
- Large Bodies of Water Influence on Climate
- Components of Climate
- Temperature
- Diurnal Temperature Variation
- Maximum Summer Temperatures
- Minimum Winter Temperatures
- Frost Potential
- Solar Radiation
- Rainfall
- Humidity
- Wind
- Evaporation
- Temperature-based Metrics for Assessing Sites
- Growing Degree Days
- Latitude Temperature Index
- Frost-free Days
- Spring Frost Index
- Average Growing Season Temperature
- Global Warming
- Historical Observations of Wine Region Climates
- Implications
- Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
- Canopy Management
- Irrigation Efficiency
- Mid-row Management
- Rootstocks
- Variety Choice
- Vineyard Design
- Topography
- Elevation
- Relative Elevation
- Latitude
- Slope
- Aspect
- Southern-facing Aspects
- Western-facing Aspects
- Eastern-facing Aspects
- Northern-facing Aspects
- Soils for Grapes
- USDA Soil Survey Maps
- Mapping Soil Electrical Conductivity
- Electrical Conductivity
- Evaluating Soil Properties
- Excavating Soil Profiles to Evaluate Soils
- Preplant Soil Sampling
- Evaluating Physical and Chemical Soil Properties
- Physical Properties
- Chemical Properties
- Precision Viticulture
- Water Requirements and Quality
- Water Requirements
- Water Quality
- Organic Certification Site Requirements
