Geography & Climate
Climate is an indispensable part of the site where the vineyard is located. It is the single most vital factor that influences the quality of wine grapes and how it is preserved. Hot and cold climates can affect wine quality to the point of spoilage and outright disaster. You must be sure to select grape varieties that ripen during the growing season. As much as possible, you should avoid growing grape varieties that mature during the hot summer months.
The likelihood of dangerously low spring or winter temperatures should be one vital element to be considered for site suitability. You should avoid areas known for excessive or frequent temperature shifts, such as those with early spring/fall frost and sustained low winter temperatures. The same factors should also be considered when deciding on the altitude of the site, as frost settles in low-lying areas first and for a longer duration. A slope oriented towards the south is warmer, as it gets more sun and, thus, usually yields better results. A vineyard on an eastern- facing slope dries quicker in the morning following dew or rain. This could reduce disease problems. North facing slopes have vines whose buds break in the spring but will be colder in the fall.
There are three climatic factors that should be considered essential:
1. Climate of the region – the macro climate – refers to the regional minimum winter temperatures and summer temperatures range and humidity.
2. Climate of the site in question – the meso climate – refers to the specific location– the slope and the moderating effect of body of water.
3. Climate of the grapevine itself – the micro climate – refers to the specific area, like area inside a canopy or around a cluster
The growing season at the determined site should be long enough for the vine to mature. Ensuring that enough sunlight is available all through out the season will help ripen the fruit and the vine itself. The rooting zone must provide right amounts of essential mineral elements in order to produce healthy vines. Non-essential mineral elements may pose problems if they are toxic, both to the plants and the people surrounding them. Sufficient water supply should also be present, neither lacking nor in over-supply, as the grapevine roots will suffer root rot. Where vines are not irrigated, the soil must be able to retain enough moisture in the root zone to provide what the vines need between rains.
