Real estate is big business, and this business applies to viticulture as well as the housing industry. When it comes to viticulture, owning property in a prime location is a major key to success. Matching fruit to that property is another key. You’ve just inherited 10 billion dollars. After buying a Ferrari Hamann F430 Spider, you’ve decided to purchase land for your winery. What factors need to be considered for the purchase? This endeavor will take way more consideration than it took to buy that F430, and in the process, hopefully you’ll have a basic foundation for variety specific locations.
Latitude – angular distance north and south of the equator measured in degrees and minutes. The northern hemisphere region extends between 32 – 51 degrees north of the equator, and the southern hemisphere extends 28 – 42 degrees south of the equator. On average, vineyards in the northern hemisphere are warmer than vineyards in the southern hemisphere due to greater land mass, Gulf stream warming, and higher relative humidity, therefore, grapes grown in high latitudes tend to ripen more fully than grapes grown in low latitudes. This information is crucial in determining the type of variety to grow specific to location. For example, you wouldn’t want to plant varieties that grow well in cooler regions in latitudes of 51 degrees or 42 degrees, nor warm region varieties 32 degrees north or 28 degrees south of the equator. You’d be wasting your time and money, because weather conditions, as well as latitude are factors in crop production.
Terroir – A sense of place. A vineyards Terroir is said to be essential to its consistency and uniqueness. Taking this definition into account, I’ll briefly define the components as related to winemaking that make up what is known as Terroir.
Soil – Rock, mineral particles, and organic matter
Climate – Temperature, wind, and rainfall
Sunlight – Energy or isolation from energy
Geology - Soil characteristics both physical and chemical
Hydrology – Soil/water relations
Topography – The configuration of a surface and the relations among its man-made and natural features. Topography includes macroclimate (regional climate expressed in tens or hundreds of kilometers); mesoclimate (vineyard or potential vineyard site expressed in tens or hundreds of meters); microclimate (the defined and very restricted space or position between rows of vines, or distances above the ground); proximity to water masses, slope, and thermal zones.
Altitude – The effects of elevation are cooler temperatures, greater rainfall, and cloudiness resulting in limited ripening of fruit. On the other hand, high altitudes have higher levels of ultraviolet radiation, which can increase quality due to phenolic synthesis stimulation (color pigments, tannins, and flavor compounds found in stems, seeds, and skins).
Does Terroir matter? Considering the fact that winemakers adamantly (in some cases depending on the country, according to law) label wine bottles to inform consumers of its lot, block, AVA, AOC, DOCG, GI, QbA, IGT etc., yes, it does matter. Is this good for the consumer? Yes, if the information is factual, but no if it is used only as a means to manipulate the consumer into buying an inferior product based on classification (thank god for Robert M. Parker Jr.). However, designations and classifications are subjects for another article. Consumers are equipped with resources (the internet, libraries, wine merchants, magazines, books, and periodicals), to become knowledgeable about the wine industry. Knowing the classification system is one thing. Understanding what is known as Terroir is another.
Below is a listing of wine regions within the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, and the grape varieties that are grown within specific regions. The next time you shop for a bottle of wine, consider the regional aspect of your purchase. Enjoy!
New Zealand – North Island and northern part of the South Island: Sauvignon Blanc; Chardonnay; Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasmania – Southern coast: Riesling; Pinot Noir; Chardonnay
Australia – Southern coast: Chardonnay; Shiraz; Semillon; Cabernet Sauvignon; Pinot Noir; Riesling; Grenache Noir; Grenache Blanc
South Africa – Chenin Blanc; Sauvignon Blanc; Chardonnay; Pinotage; Cabernet Sauvignon
South America – Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Carmenere; Chardonnay; Malbec; Barbera; Sangiovese
Asia – Japan: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Chardonnay; Neo Muscat
Austria – Riesling; Veltliner; Pinot Blanc
Italy – NW Italy: Barbera; Nebbiolo. NE Italy: Pinot Grigio; Lambrusco; Chardonnay; Merlot. Central Italy: Sangiovese; Trebbiano. Southern Italy: Primitivo; Negroamaro
Germany – Riesling
France – Burgundy: Pinot noir; Chardonnay; Gamay; Aligote. Champagne: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier; Chardonnay. Bordeaux: Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Cabernet Franc; Semillon; Sauvignon Blanc; Muscadelle. Loire Valley: Bourgogne; Cabernet Franc; Chenin Blanc; Sauvignon Blanc; Pinot Noir. Alsace: Riesling; Gewurztraminer; Pinot Gris; Pinot Noir. Northern Rhone: Syrah; Viognier. Southern Rhone: Grenache Noir; Syrah; Carignan; Cinsault; Mourvedre. Languedoc: Carignan; Grenache Noir; Cinsault; Syrah; Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon. Roussillon: Carignan; Grenache Noir/Blanc; Muscat; Marsanne; Roussanne
Spain – Rias Baixas: Albarino. Ribera del Duero: Tempranillo. Rioja: Tempranillo; Grenache. Catalunya: Tempranillo; Cabernet Sauvignon. Jerez: Palomino Fino
USA – Mendocino: Chardonnay; Zinfandel; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot. North Sonoma: Chardonnay; Zinfandel; Pinot Noir. South Sonoma: Chardonnay; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot. Napa: Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Chardonnay. Santa Maria: Chardonnay; Pinot Noir. Modesto: Chardonnay; Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon. Washington: Chardonnay; Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Riesling. Oregon: Pinot Noir; Chardonnay; Pinot Gris. New York: Riesling; Cabernet Franc. Virginia: Cabernet Franc; Merlot. Canada: Chardonnay; Riesling
SOURCES
The Oxford Companion to Wine, Second Edition, Jancis Robinson
The World Atlas of Wine, Fifth Edition, Hugh Johnson
Professional Friends of Wine, www.winepros.org
Wilkipedia.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page