Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal

The Douro Demarcated Region (DDR) is one of the main winemaking regions in Portugal. Viticulture is tied to the Douro region, having a strong impact on the local economy. This mountainous region, characterized by the slopes of the Douro Valley, provides a vast range of environmental characteristics...

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Main Authors: Fraga Helder, Costa Ricardo, Santos João
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2018-01-01
Series:E3S Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20185002009
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author Fraga Helder
Costa Ricardo
Santos João
author_facet Fraga Helder
Costa Ricardo
Santos João
author_sort Fraga Helder
collection DOAJ
description The Douro Demarcated Region (DDR) is one of the main winemaking regions in Portugal. Viticulture is tied to the Douro region, having a strong impact on the local economy. This mountainous region, characterized by the slopes of the Douro Valley, provides a vast range of environmental characteristics for winegrapes. Different climatic conditions, soil characteristics, topography, varieties and practices comprise the Douro terroirs, resulting in the uniqueness of the wines produced. In the current study, an assessment of the homogeneous viticultural zones is proposed for the Douro, by integrating different terroir elements (thermal, hydric, soils, topography and vegetation), using state-of-the-art very-high resolution datasets (1-km) and a large number of variables. A multivariate zoning was carried out using a principal component analysis (PCA) and a subsequent clustering. A geospatial assessment of the terroir elements was also performed separately for each sub-region in the DDR. The connections of the different terroirs prevailing at a given location were also innovatively assessed. This zoning may promote a more appropriate selection of vineyard sites, the selection of more locally-adapted varieties and rootstocks and the adoption of appropriate viticultural practices. The present study may be a standard methodology that can be applied to other winemaking regions worldwide.
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spelling doaj.art-28c5d78400cb44a2b4c6c390ed7036932022-12-21T19:37:44ZengEDP SciencesE3S Web of Conferences2267-12422018-01-01500200910.1051/e3sconf/20185002009e3sconf_terroircongress2018_02009Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, PortugalFraga HelderCosta RicardoSantos JoãoThe Douro Demarcated Region (DDR) is one of the main winemaking regions in Portugal. Viticulture is tied to the Douro region, having a strong impact on the local economy. This mountainous region, characterized by the slopes of the Douro Valley, provides a vast range of environmental characteristics for winegrapes. Different climatic conditions, soil characteristics, topography, varieties and practices comprise the Douro terroirs, resulting in the uniqueness of the wines produced. In the current study, an assessment of the homogeneous viticultural zones is proposed for the Douro, by integrating different terroir elements (thermal, hydric, soils, topography and vegetation), using state-of-the-art very-high resolution datasets (1-km) and a large number of variables. A multivariate zoning was carried out using a principal component analysis (PCA) and a subsequent clustering. A geospatial assessment of the terroir elements was also performed separately for each sub-region in the DDR. The connections of the different terroirs prevailing at a given location were also innovatively assessed. This zoning may promote a more appropriate selection of vineyard sites, the selection of more locally-adapted varieties and rootstocks and the adoption of appropriate viticultural practices. The present study may be a standard methodology that can be applied to other winemaking regions worldwide.https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20185002009
spellingShingle Fraga Helder
Costa Ricardo
Santos João
Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal
E3S Web of Conferences
title Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal
title_full Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal
title_fullStr Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal
title_full_unstemmed Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal
title_short Modelling the Terroir of the Douro Demarcated Region, Portugal
title_sort modelling the terroir of the douro demarcated region portugal
url https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20185002009
work_keys_str_mv AT fragahelder modellingtheterroirofthedourodemarcatedregionportugal
AT costaricardo modellingtheterroirofthedourodemarcatedregionportugal
AT santosjoao modellingtheterroirofthedourodemarcatedregionportugal