An example of a vine-physiology based fine-scale terroir study in the AOC Lavaux-region in Switzerland

A vine-physiology based study on the Lavaux vineyard terraces, Switzerland, reveals significant small-scale terroir variations in Chasselas grape cultivation. The research found that altitude was a key driver of budburst and flowering timing, with higher-altitude plots showing earlier phenological development. Notably, while these plots exhibited lower sugar concentrations at maturity (70-84° Oechsle), they accumulated the highest sugar quantities per berry, up to 26% variation. Individual berry weight varied by 35%, highlighting substantial differences in ripening patterns across the 140-ha terraced landscape. This ongoing study demonstrates the potential of vine physiology measurements to characterize terroir at a fine scale, offering insights into grape quality and viticultural practices.

RIENTH, M., LAMY, F., NOLL, D., LORENZINI, F., VIRET, O., & ZUFFEREY, V. (2018). An example of a vine-physiology based fine-scale terroir study in the AOC Lavaux-region in Switzerland. E3S Web of Conferences, 50, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20185002011