12 - Precision Viticulture: Managing vineyard variability for improved quality outcomes

Abstract

Vineyards are variable. In spite of this, conventional approaches to winegrape production infer that the optimal practice is to apply uniform management strategies in vineyards on the assumption of homogeneity. The availability of a suite of technologies, which have collectively become known as Precision Viticulture, provides grapegrowers and winemakers with the means to move away from this “one-size-fits all” approach. Instead, management may be targeted within vineyards according to variation in their inherent characteristics and particular goals in terms of grape yield and quality. Thus, better patches can be exploited while weaker areas may be improved. This chapter provides a summary and review of recent research into vineyard variability and the development and adoption of Precision Viticulture. A particular feature of this work has been its focus on improved fruit quality and wine flavor and aroma outcomes.