Quantifying the effects of soil and climate on grape and wine qualityapplicaton in a viticultural zoning based on very detailed soil surveys

Resumen

This study, carried out in vineyards of high quality wine production in Catalonia (Spain), aims to determine the suitability of very detailed soil surveys, based on Soil Taxonomy, for viticultural zoning purposes, and quantifies the effects of soil and climate on grape and wine quality in some representative soil map units. After an introductory chapter, this objective is developed in different chapters. Chapter 2 analyses the suitability of soil map units, determined at a 1:5,000 scale according to Soil Taxonomy classification, to determine important edaphic properties for vineyard growing. Chapter 3 discusses the implications of soil forming processes on very detailed soil surveys. Chapter 4 analyses the suitability of Soil Taxonomy to characterize the soil moisture regime for viticultural zoning purposes. Chapter 5 focuses on the influence of soil and climate on vintage variability. Chapter 6 determines the effects of climate and soil on grape ripening and wine quality of Cabernet Sauvignon. As a final conclusion, very detailed soil surveys based on Soil Taxonomy are valuable sources of information for viticultural zoning studies. Moreover, although climate explains most of the vintage variability, soil type is decisive in determining the vineyard potential for wine quality.