Spatial Aspects of Vineyard Management and Wine Grape Production

Grapes and wine are natural products whose special characteristics rely on both environmental conditions and the skills of the grapegrower & winemaker. Viticulture has a strong association of place (e.g. region, Marlborough) and time (vintage). This paper demonstrates that the spatial and temporal variables associated with the growth of grape vines and management of vineyards are ideally suited to the application of spatial information systems. This is clear by recognising that the key factors influencing results vary from regional to intra-vineyard scales. Precision agriculture and site-specific farming have demonstrated the successful application of spatial information systems in primary production, crops from the land, and management & use of resources. The paper highlights those aspects distinctive to viticulture that are amenable to support from spatial systems. Issues that are addressed include scale variation, significance of location, factors which affect production & quality, vintage, the annual cycle of the vine and harvest of fruit, extreme events, risks (eg. frost, pests, diseases), trans-seasonal & intra-seasonal cycles, sustainability, quality & integrity of the final product, traceability and the reputation and value of the final product