Tesis doctoral de Josep Miquel Ubalde Bauló
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. A k-means clustering analysis is proposed in order to group soils according to their potential for vine growing, since most of the variability of soil properties was not reflected exactly in the soil map unit classification. Chapter 3 discusses the implications of soil forming processes on very detailed soil surveys. The identified soil forming processes had significant effects on soil properties which are important for vineyard growing. However, soil forming processes were not always reflected in soil classification, especially in soils modified by man. Chapter 4 analyses the suitability of soil taxonomy to characterize the soil moisture regime for viticultural zoning purposes. A soil moisture regime classification based on cluster analysis was developed, since soil taxonomy did not adequately reflect the variability of soil moisture dynamics during vineyard growing. Chapter 5 focuses on the influence of soil and climate on vintage variability. Climate and soil moisture explained 70% of vintage variability and soil properties explained 28% of variability. Generally, climate was the most influential factor on must composition, while soil factor mostly affected yield. Chapter 6 determines the effects of climate and soil on grape ripening and wine quality of cabernet sauvignon. Climate and soil had overall a significant effect on grape ripening. These effects of soil and climate can be explained mainly by their influence on vine water availability status. Soil was determining in wine phenolic composition, and related wine tasting characteristics. As a final conclusion, very detailed soil surveys based on soil taxonomy are valuable sources of information for viticultural zoning studies, although their implementation can be improved with statistical analysis that considers the variability of soil properties related to grapevine growing. Moreover, although climate explains most of the vintage variability, soil type is decisive in determining the vineyard potential for wine quality.
Datos académicos de la tesis doctoral «Quantifying the effects of soil and climate on grape and wine quality: application in a viticultural zoning based on very detailed soil surveys«
- Título de la tesis: Quantifying the effects of soil and climate on grape and wine quality: application in a viticultural zoning based on very detailed soil surveys
- Autor: Josep Miquel Ubalde Bauló
- Universidad: Lleida
- Fecha de lectura de la tesis: 28/05/2010
Dirección y tribunal
- Director de la tesis
- Rosa María Poch Claret
- Tribunal
- Presidente del tribunal: josep María Villar mir
- Luis gonzaga Santesteban García (vocal)
- josep Rufat lamarca (vocal)
- david Badia villas (vocal)
