"La Viarte" project: The knowledge of whole surface variability within a precision viticulture approach

The knowledge of spatial variability is particularly important and several studies were carried out around the world, since it has been speculated that the overall grape quality is negatively affected by the vineyard heterogeneity. Based on this, a project was carried out in "LA VIARTE" (one important winery in the Friuli Colli Orientali D.O.C, area) with the aim to examine the spatial variability of the whole viticultural surface in order to make thereafter decisions about possible applications of variable-rate technologies or selected harvest. During 2009 and 2010 several soil parameters (texture, moisture, organic matter, etc.), NDVI, stem water potential, yield and grape quality parameters were collected in more than 100 plots well distributed in the different vineyards in several timings along the season. Data were coupled with GPS position and processed into maps that were overlaid in order to distinguish the overall variability of the vineyards. Correlations among yield, quality parameters and vigour were then evaluated for each cultivar, and based on vigour, selected areas were divided within the vineyards to ascertain the grape performance. In 2010 wines were made from 'Friulano', 'Sauvignon', 'Schioppettino' and 'Pignolo' vineyards keeping separated the opposite vigour areas, and they were tasted by an expert panel. The results of the sensory coupled with the chemical analysis of wines highlighted the possibility to separate grapes in order to obtain basic and premium wines within the same vineyard. The decision between keeping or reducing the intra-vineyard variability throughout the application of VRT, will be a decision of LA VIARTE owners, based on the requests of the future wine market.