A multicriteria climatic classification system for grape-growing regions worldwide

Abstract

This study concerns firstly the methodology to describe the climate of vineyards, on a macroclimate scale of viticultural regions worldwide. Three synthetic and complementary viticultural climatic indices (potential water balance of the soil over the growing cycle, heliothermal conditions over the growing cycle and night temperature during maturation), validated as descriptors, are used: (1) dryness index (DI) which corresponds to the potential water balance of the soil of Riou's index, here adapted using precise conditions to calculate it, as an indicator of the level of presence-absence of dryness; (2) heliothermal index (HI) which corresponds to Huglin's heliothermal index; (3) cool night index (CI) an index developed as an indicator of night temperature conditions during maturation. These indices are representative of the variability of the viticultural climate worldwide, related to the requirements of varieties, vintage quality (sugar, colour, aroma), and typeness of the wines. A Multicriteria Climatic Classification System (Géoviticulture MCC System) for the grape-growing regions worldwide is formulated based on classes for each of the three climate indices, with elements to explain the results. Three formulated concepts provide the system base: viticultural climate, climatic group and viticultural climate with intra-annual variability (for warm regions with more than one harvest a year in natural climate conditions). The application of the Géoviticulture Multicriteria Climatic Classification System is presented for 97 grape-growing regions in 29 countries. The system is a research tool for grape-growing and wine-making zoning. It also enables work at different levels on the scale, on a world-wide scale or larger -the large grape-growing region, the small grape-growing region, as shown by the studies performed. It allows relating the viticultural climate to the elements of grape quality and the typeness of the wines considering the climatic zone.

Desfolha precoce como estratégia de controle da podridão de Botrytis cinerea na videira Cabernet Sauvignon em regiões de altitude

“…O clima da região é classificado como 'Frio, Noites Frias e Úmido', Índice Heliotérmico de 1,714, precipitação pluvial média anual de 1,621mm e a umidade relativa do ar média anual de 80% (25). Foi utilizado um vinhedo de Cabernet Sauvignon enxertada sobre porta-enxerto 'Paulsen 1103'.…”

Agronomic performance of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' with leaf removal management in a high-altitude region of Southern Brazil

“…The climate of the region has been classified as "cool, cool nights, and humid", with heliothermic index of 1,714, average annual rainfall of 1,621 mm, and annual average relative humidity of 80% (Tonietto & Carbonneau, 2004). Daily rainfall, relative humidity, and mean temperatures were recorded at an automatic weather station located near the vineyard, in the municipality of São Joaquim, in the state of Santa Catarina.…”

Uso da temperatura para cálculo do índice de seca de regiões produtoras de uva

“…O Sistema de Classificação Climática Multicritérios Geovitícola (CCM) (TONIETTO, 1999;CARBONNEAU, 2004) tem sido empregado na caracterização climática de regiões produtoras de uvas no Brasil (CONCEIÇÃO; TONIETTO, 2005;POMMER et al, 2009) e no exterior (SOTÉS et al, 2007;TONIETTO, 2008) . Esse sistema é composto por três índices: o Índice Heliotérmico (IH), que é função das temperaturas mensais máxima e média do ar; o Índice de Frio Noturno (IF), que se refere à temperatura mínima do ar no último mês de maturação da uva; e o Índice de Seca (IS), que se baseia no balanço hídrico potencial do solo.…”