Introduction to the Geographical Study of Viticulture and Wine Production

Abstract

The study of viticulture and the geography of wine have intrigued humans from ancient civilizations to the modern world. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and other early cultures had a keen appreciation of the influence of geography upon the characteristics of wine produced within an area and an understanding of differences in wine coming from various regions. Throughout history, grape growing and wine production have been significant economic activities and have had a profound impact on culture and the resulting landscapes. The distribution of grapes and wine production are concentrated in certain areas where the “terroir” or ­geography is favorable. Because of the uneven geographical distribution, the geographer is uniquely qualified to study the spatial distribution as it relates to physical, cultural, and economic factors. In addition, the geographer is well equipped to provide the maps and the remote sensing imagery for the analysis of grape growing and wine production and, in turn, create the geographical information systems (GIS) that enable us to undertake applied research. This chapter investigates how the field of geography is ideally qualified to engage in these studies, and it presents examples of research carried out by geographers.