Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wind, as a component of the environment, contributes to the viticultural concept of terroir in the South Western Cape region of South Africa. Many other components also contribute to terroir (e.g. soil, altitude, direction of slope, etc.) and it is difficult to quantify the contribution of each. A good terroir promotes slow and complete ripening of the berries. A vineyard on such a terroir produces good quality crops over time and the effects of climatic extremes on the performance of the vine are limited by this terroir. Although grapevines in the South Western Cape are exposed to strong synoptic southerly and southeasterly winds during the growing season and sea breezes add to the effect of wind in coastal areas, little is known about the effect of wind on grapevine performance. This preliminary study was undertaken to obtain more information on the effect of wind on some morphological and reproductive characteristics of Merlot nair. The aim was to obtain preliminary data which can serve as a basis for future studies on the effect of wind on grapevine performance. Important differences .in wind speed were measured spatially in a selected vineyard and exposure to wind was observed to result in essential viticultural differences. The effect of wind on vegetative parameters, canopy density, yield, berry composition and wine quality was investigated. Wind caused leaves on primary shoots of exposed vines to be smaller, but increased lateral growth in their fruiting zones. Sheltered vines had longer shoots but no significant differences were measured concerning cane diameter and pruning mass. Although it was expected that sheltered vines would have denser canopies, similar canopy densities were measured for both treatments. Vines exposed to wind responded with decreased stomatal conductance. As a result, leaf temperature was affected, showing differences between sheltered and exposed vines. Sheltered vines had more bunches per vine but fewer berries per bunch. As a result, bunches of sheltered vines were smaller than those of exposed vines. No significant difference was observed concerning the yield under the two treatments. The effect of wind on stomatal conductance had an essential impact on berry composition, thus directly influencing the quality of wine. Grapes from exposed vines showed a higher colour index. Berries from sheltered vines had significantly lower pH values and potassium concentrations and the malic acid content was lower than in berries from exposed vines. Wine from sheltered vines had more vegetative undertones in comparison with the stronger fruity character of exposed vines. A better acid balance, together with superior complexity (fullness/mouth feel), contributed to the better overall quality identified during the evaluation of wine produced from sheltered vines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wind as 'n omgewingsfaktor dra by tot die wingerdkundige konsep van terrair in die Suidwes-Kaap streek van Suid-Afrika. Baie ander komponente dra ook by tot terrair (bv. grond, hoogte bo seespieël, rigting van helling, ens.) en dit is moeilik om die bydrae van elk te kwantifiseer. 'n Goeie terrair bevorder stadige en volledige rypwording van die korrels. 'n Wingerd gevestig op so 'n terrair produseer jaarliks hoë kwaliteit oeste met goeie sapsamestellings en die terrair beperk die negatiewe invloed van uiterste klimaatsomstandighede op wingerdprestasie. Alhoewel wingerde in die Suidwes-Kaap gedurende die groeiseisoen aan sterk sinopties suidelike en suid-oostelike winde blootgestel is en seebriese 'n bykomstige effek in kusgebiede het, is daar beperkte kennis oor die effek wat wind op wingerdprestasie het. Hierdie voorlopige studie is onderneem om meer inligting oor die effek van wind op sommige morfologiese en reproduktiewe eienskappe van Merlot noir in te win. Die mikpunt was om verwysingsdata in te samel wat as 'n basis vir toekomstige studies oor die effek van wind op wingerdprestasie kan dien. Belangrike verskille in windspoed is gemeet in die geselekteerde wingerd en waarnemings het getoon dat blootstelling aan wind tot kenmerkende wingerdkundige verskille gelei het. Die effek van wind op vegetatiewe parameters, lowerdigtheid, oesgrootte, druifsamestelling en wynkwaliteit is ondersoek. Wind het kleiner blare op primêre lote van wind-blootgestelde stokke veroorsaak, maar het laterale groei in hul trossones verhoog. Wind-beskermde stokke het langer lote gehad maar geen noemenswaardige verskille is ten opsigte van lootdeursnee en snoeimassa gemeet nie. Die verwagting was dat beskermde stokke digter lower sal hê, maar soortgelyke lowerdigthede is vir beide beskermde en wind-blootgestelde stokke gemeet. Stokke blootgestel aan wind het met 'n verlaagde huidmondjiegeleiding gereageer. Gevolglik is blaartemperatuur beïnvloed, met verskille tussen beskermde en blootgestelde wingerde. Beskermde stokke het meer trosse per stok maar minder korrels per tros gehad. As gevolg hiervan was die trosse van beskermde stokke kleiner as die van blootgestelde wingerde. Geen noemenswaardige verskille in die oesgroottes is tussen die twee behandelings gemeet nie. Die effek van wind op huidmondjiegeleiding het 'n belangrike impak op druifsamestelling gehad en het daarom 'n direkte invloed op wynkwaliteit gehad. Druiwe van blootgestelde stokke het 'n hoër kleurindeks getoon. Die pH en kaliumkonsentrasie van druiwe van beskermde stokke was merkbaar laer en het minder appelsuur gehad as die van die blootgestelde stokke. Die wyn van beskermde stokke het meer vegetatiewe geure gehad in vergelyking met die sterker vrugtige karakter van blootgestelde stokke. 'n Beter suurbalans, tesame met goeie kompleksiteit (volheid/mondgevoel), het egter meegebring dat beskermde stokke 'n beter wyngehalte lewer.

Orientador: Marco Antonio Tecchio / Banca: Sarita Leonel / Banca: Giuseppina Pace Pereira Lima / Banca: Mara Fernandes Moura / Banca: Sergio Ruffo Roberto / Resumo: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a duração dos estádios fenológicos, as demandas térmicas (graus-dia) e o potencial produtivo das videiras, além de determinar o conteúdo de ácidos orgânicos, açúcares, compostos bioativos e a atividade antioxidante em uvas e sucos de uva de cultivares Vitis labrusca e híbridas cultivadas sobre diferentes porta-enxertos sob condições tropicais na região Sudeste do Brasil. O experimento foi realizado em vinhedo experimental do Instituto Agronômico, em Votuporanga, região Noroeste do estado de São Paulo. Foram avaliadas as cultivares Isabel Precoce, BRS Carmem, BRS Cora e IAC 138-22 Máximo enxertadas nos porta-enxertos 'IAC 766' e 'IAC 572'. As características fenológicas e produtivas das videiras foram avaliadas em três ciclos produtivos (2015/2016), dos quais, em um ciclo foram analisados os compostos bioativos (antocianinas, flavonóis, estilbenos, ácidos fenólicos e flavanóis) nas películas e polpas das uvas e nos sucos integrais de uva. Além das cultivares citadas anteriormente, os compostos bioativos das uvas foram analisados também na uva 'BRS Violeta'. Os resultados mostraram que a duração do ciclo produtivo das videiras 'Isabel Precoce', IAC 138-22 'Máximo', 'BRS Cora' e 'BRS Carmem' foi de, aproximadamente, 115, 117, 119 e 138 dias, respectivamente, variando em função das condições climáticas ocorridas durante o ciclo. O acúmulo de graus-dia foi proporcional ao número de dias necessários para as videiras atingirem cada estádio fenol... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the duration of the phenological stages, the thermal demands (degree-days) and the yield potential of the vines, besides determining the content of organic acids, sugars, bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity in grapes and grape juices of Vitis labrusca and hybrids cultivars grown onto different rootstocks under tropical conditions in the Southeast region of Brazil. The experiment was conducted in an experimental vineyard of the Instituto Agronômico (IAC), in Votuporanga, Northwest region of the São Paulo state. The cultivars Isabel Precoce, BRS Carmem, BRS Cora and IAC 138-22 Máximo grafted onto 'IAC 766' and 'IAC 572' rootstocks were evaluated. The phenological and productive characteristics were evaluated in three seasons (2015/2016), of which in the second season the bioactive compounds (anthocyanins, flavonols, stilbenes, phenolic acids and flavanols) were assessed in pulps and skins of the grapes and in the whole grapes juices. Additionally to the cultivars above mentioned, the bioactive compounds of the grapes were also assessed in the 'BRS Violeta' grape. The results showed that the duration of the productive cycle of Isabel Precoce, IAC 138-22 Máximo, BRS Cora and BRS Carmem cultivars was approximately 115, 117, 119 and 138 days, respectively, which might change according to the climatic conditions during the growing season. The summation of degree-days was proportional to the number of days demanded for the vines to reach each phenological stage. The cultivars Isabel Precoce, IAC 138-22 Máximo and BRS Cora were the most productive. The 'BRS Carmem' and 'Isabel Precoce' grapes presented balanced levels of soluble solids and acidity. By contrast, IAC 138-22 'Máximo' grapes presented limited potential in the accumulation of sugars. The rootstocks did not influence the phenology and summation of degree-days of the vines ... / Doutor

Este estudo teve como objetivo central identificar quais fatores locacionais influenciaram a tomada de decisão de expandir os investimentos da atividade vitivinícola por parte dos empresários atuantes na Serra Gaúcha - principal pólo vitivinícola do país. Observou-se um movimento de expansão territorial da atividade vitivinícola para novas regiões do Rio Grande do Sul (Serra do Sudeste e Campanha) e para o Vale do São Francisco (Bahia e Pernambuco), regiões em que, anteriormente, não havia a prática de tal cultura. As informações da presente pesquisa foram obtidas através de entrevista direta, orientada por um questionário, com representantes das vinícolas. A abrangência da pesquisa foi de 73,3% da população alvo e foi realizada nos meses de dezembro/2005 no Rio Grande do Sul e janeiro/2006 no Vale do São Francisco. Os dados das entrevistas foram tratados com aplicação da estatística descritiva, pois grande parte das perguntas foi de ordem qualitativa. A hipótese que circunda este estudo é de que na agroindústria, as variáveis que envolvem a matéria-prima (qualidade, local de fornecimento) são os principais fatores que influenciam a tomada de decisão do sítio de produção. Como referencial teórico, associou-se as teorias relacionadas aos fatores locacionais com a teoria de Bowersox (1978). Através da pesquisa, pode-se verificar que a atividade vitivinícola brasileira mostrou estar condicionada à distribuição espacial dos recursos produtivos, destacando-se os fatores edafoclimáticos, qualidade da matéria-prima, fator comportamental do empresário e disponibilidade de terras. A pesquisa revelou que as empresas estão preocupadas com a qualidade final do produto (vinho), a qual é otimizada pela qualidade da matéria-prima (uva) que, por sua vez, depende das condições edafoclimáticas da região produtiva. Tal preocupação e/ou necessidade provocou esta expansão geográfica da atividade para a Serra do Sudeste e Campanha (no estado do Rio Grande do Sul) e no Vale do São Francisco. Esta última região também se mostrou alvo de investimentos estrangeiros e tornou-se (e ainda se torna) atrativa por apresentar excelentes condições edafoclimáticas, capacidade de duas safras por ano e produção constante no decorrer do ano, além de instalações processadoras de menor porte. / The purpose of this work is to identify which locational variables influenced the decision made by producers from the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), main viticulturist state in Brasil, to expand investments on the wine industry. There was a movement of territorial expansion of wine production to new regions in RS (Serra do Sudeste and Campanha) and to Vale do São Francisco, in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, regions in which he grape agriculture hadrit started yet. The direct-interview with viticulturists was the main source of information used by this work. This research embraced 73,3% of the producers investing in those new regions, and it was conducted during December/2005, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, and January/2006, in Vale do São Francisco. Descriptive statistic has been applied to summarize the data obtained with the interviews, due to qualitative variables representing most of the questions. The main hypothesis of this work suggests that in the agroindustry, variables involving raw material (quality, supplier) are the main factors in making the decision as to production area. A review of Bowersox Theory (1978) associated with the theory of locational factors was employed as theoretical referential. As for results, it was possible to validate that Brazilian viticulture was conditioned to the place distribution of productive resources, standing out the following factors: edaphoclimatics, raw material quality, manager behavior and land availability. Thus, the research revealed that companies have been concerned regarding the quality of the final product (wine), which is optimized through raw material quality (grape) that depends on edaphoclimatic conditions of the productive area. Indeed, the need to achieve a higher level of quality forced the viticulture to expand its production area to Serra do Sudeste and Campanha (RS) and Vale do São Francisco, which has recently turned into an attractive area to foreign investment, because of its excellent edaphoclimatic conditions, two harvests a year, continuous output year round and a small agroindustry.

O setor agrícola brasileiro gera saldos positivos à balança comercial do Brasil, e a fruticultura segue no mesmo ritmo. Dentre as frutas produzidas no Brasil, a uva é uma das que mais impactam na balança comercial, tendo em vista que é amplamente exportada e importada. Este cenário só se tornou possível com a abertura de mercado na década de 90, e, assim, o Brasil pôde se tornar mais competitivo no mercado nacional e internacional. A competitividade é importante para a economia, seja de um país, de um setor ou de uma empresa. No presente trabalho, então, foi realizada uma análise setorial da competitividade da viticultura, fundamentada na produtividade, nos aspectos tecnológicos e no ambiente institucional. Para a análise regional brasileira foi utilizada a técnica de triangulação na metodologia deste trabalho: pesquisa qualitativa (entrevista com produtores das principais regiões produtoras de uva de mesa do Brasil); análise estatística por meio de Modelos Lineares Generalizados de dados secundários (preço nas regiões produtoras de uva de mesa) obtidos no banco de dados do Cepea; e análise documental (com base nas legislações, regras e outros documentos disponíveis). A partir disso foi constatado que o Vale do São Francisco (BA/PE) é a região brasileira mais competitiva, visto que investe mais em tecnologia, tem gestão empresarial (enquanto as outras são marcadas pela agricultura familiar) e consegue se sobressair nas questões de comercialização. Além disso, no Brasil, o ambiente institucional, de um modo geral, não gera grandes vantagens competitivas para nenhum produtor de uva - a exceção são as fortes cooperativas do Nordeste. Para a análise da competitividade internacional, além da análise documental com vistas ao comércio internacional, foram feitas estatísticas descritivas com dados de preço, produção, produtividade, exportação, importação e consumo aparente de uva de mesa do Brasil, Chile e Itália. Os dados foram obtidos nos bancos de dados do IBGE, MDIC, Odepa, Eurostat e USDA. No geral, Chile e Itália têm ambiente institucional mais forte que o Brasil para o comércio internacional de uva de mesa. Mesmo assim, a competitividade internacional brasileira cresceu nos últimos anos frente a Chile e Itália. Assim, pode-se concluir que mesmo com ambiente institucional desfavorável, tanto no mercado interno quanto no externo, o Brasil conseguiu avançar na competitividade entre os anos analisados neste trabalho. Isso se deve, sobretudo, aos investimentos ocorridos na principal região brasileira - o Vale do São Francisco. / The Brazilian agribusiness generates profits to the trade balance of Brazil, and the fruit sector follows the same rhythm. The table grape is one of the fruits that impact the trade balance, because it is widely exported and imported. This scenario was only possible to the market opening in the 90s, and thus Brazil was able to become more competitive in domestic and international markets. Competitiveness is important to the economy, whether of a country, of a sector or a company. Thus, a sectorial analysis of the viticulture competitiveness was conducted, based on productivity, technological and institutional environment. In this research, it was used triangulation technique in the methodology to conduct the Brazilian regional analysis: qualitative research (interview with producers of the main producing regions of table grape of Brazil); statistical analysis using Generalized Linear Models of secondary data (price of table grape) obtained in Cepea database; and documental analysis (based on the laws, rules and other documents available). Based on this, it was found that the São Francisco Valley (BA/PE) is the most competitive region in Brazil. This region invests more in technology, has business management (while the others regions are tagged by family farmers) and stands out in the marketing. In addition, in Brazil, the institutional environment, in general, does not generate competitive advantages for grape growers - the exception is the strong cooperatives located in Northeast. The international competitiveness was conducted by descriptive analysis of statistics - price, production, productivity, export, import and apparent consumption of table grape in Brazil, Chile and Italy. Also, a documental analysis of international trade was conducted. Data were obtained from the IBGE, MDIC, Odepa, Eurostat and USDA databases. Overall, Chile and Italy have a stronger institutional environment to international trade of table grapes than Brazil. Anyway, the Brazilian international competitiveness has increased in recent years compared to Chile and Italy. Thus, it can be concluded that even with unfavorable institutional environment, both domestically and external, Brazil was able to advance in competitiveness during the years analyzed in this work. This is mainly attributed to the investments occurred in the main Brazilian table grape region - São Francisco Valley.

A three-year study was conducted at a commercial vineyard site in California’s Edna Valley AVA to evaluate the physiological and agronomical effects of the timing of cluster thinning on Pinot noir (clone 115) grapevines. Vines were thinned to one cluster per shoot at three selected time-points during the growing season (bloom, bloom + 4 weeks, bloom + 8 weeks), and fruit from each treatment was harvested and made into wine. Across all growing seasons, yield decreased 43% in thinned vines relative to un-thinned control vines. No effect of cluster thinning or interaction with growing season was found in vine shoot diameter, internode length, fruit zone light level, or cluster weight. Growing season significantly affected more fruit and wine parameters than did cluster thinning treatment, with interactions between treatment and growing season found in fruit Brix, titratable acidity, and anthocyanins, as well as wine anthocyanins and wine b* (yellow component). For example, bloom + 8 and bloom + 12 thinning treatments advanced Brix in 2017 but had no effect in 2018. Cluster thinning treatments increased berry anthocyanins by 43% in 2017 and by 103% in 2018 relative to the control. Similarly, cluster thinning increased berry total phenolics by 87% in 2017 and by 140% in 2018 relative to the control, with no significant differences found between the different thinning treatments. However, the levels of anthocyanins and total phenolics were generally not affected by cluster thinning treatment in the resulting wines. The fact that different cluster thinning treatments resulted in nil or minor effects on fruit and wine suggests that the vines tested were at or below a balanced crop load prior to the application of cluster thinning. Edna Valley AVA could likely support higher crop loads than 3.2 on the Ravaz index without negatively impacting fruit or wine composition and reducing crop load below that level is unlikely to increase fruit or wine quality.

The building, combining the production of wine, accommodation and restaurant is surrounded by vineyards overlooking the Novomlýnské reservoir and Palava Hills. Part of the proposal are too small constructions in the landscape, which offers its users an added value in the perception of the cultural landscape. The basic idea itself winery is an intersection that connects the four routes, each of which is determined by another user.

Viniculture and wine-making from a legal viewpoint Abstract This thesis is primarily a theoretical treatise on the legal regulation of viticulture and wine-making in the Czech Republic. It aims to provide an overview of the current legal regulation of the most important institutes of both aforementioned fields, focusing on the Act No. 321/2004 Coll. on viniculture and winemaking, but also other laws and sources of law with regard to EU legislation. Emphasis is placed on the individual aspects of viticultural activity and the subsequent manufacturing of wine products and the conditions for their marketing. This thesis is divided into 8 chapters, including an introduction and a conclusion. The introductory chapters are focused on defining the position of the wine law in the legal system of the Czech Republic and clarifying the relations between the sources of law of viticulture and wine-making in the context of EU legislation. The main body of this thesis is included in chapters No. 3 and No. 4. These chapters are devoted to the current legislation in the field of viticulture and wine-making. The viticultural part of the work is focused mainly on the regulation of vine planting and some aspects which are closely related to viticultural activity, such as phytosanitary care and fertilization. In the wine-making...

Wine vineyards in humid environments like the mid-Atlantic United States are characterized by vines that develop too much vegetative growth for optimum quality wine production. Cover crops, rootstocks and rootzone restriction were evaluated for their effect on vegetative and reproductive growth on Cabernet Sauvignon. Treatments were arranged in a strip-split-split plot arrangement with under-trellis cover crops (UTCC) compared to row-middle only cover crop combined with 1-m weed-free strips in the vine row as main plots. Rootstocks riparia Gloire, 420-A, and 101-14 were sub-plots, while sub-sub-plots comprised two treatments: vines were either planted in root-restrictive (RR), fabric bags (0.016 m3) at vineyard establishment (2006), or were planted without root restriction. All three factors were effective in suppressing vegetative development as measured by rate and extent of shoot growth, lateral shoot development, trunk circumference, and dormant pruning weights. Canopies of vines with UTCC and RR had reduced leaf layer values by approximately 21% and 23% compared to conventional controls. The principal effect of the UTCC and the RR treatments was a sustained reduction in stem (xylem) water potential. UTCC and RR caused significant 7 and 10% reductions in berry weight, compared to their conventional controls. Berry weights of vines grafted to riparia were greater than those of vines grafted to other rootstocks. Wine made from UTCC and RR treatments increased red wine color compared to herbicide UTGC and NRR, respectively. This study identified treatments that improve vine balance while simultaneously improving grape composition and potential wine quality. / Master of Science

The state of Virginia was analyzed to establish its suitability for grape culture. This investigation occurred in two phases: a small scale analysis that encompassed the entire state, and a large scale analysis which focused on site selection at the local level. After identifying regions across the state in terms of their viticulture potential, a study area was chosen from within the highest ranking region. This study area was the focus for the local-scale site potential analysis. First, to delineate regions across Virginia that had greater or lesser viticulture potential from a physical and climatological basis, weather station data were collected for minimum winter temperatures, maximum summer temperatures, precipitation, length of growing season, and day versus night temperature differentials. In addition, elevation and slope models were constructed to complement the climatic variables in identifying areas that contained factors most conducive to grape production. To validate this regional assessment, the history of fruit industries within the state are outlined geographically to display the evolution of the fruit industries, and to establish the factors which have shaped the current fruit landscape. Secondly, at the local scale, a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach was used to identify sites at the county scale that had greater or lesser viticulture potential from a physical basis. Composite maps, constructed by individual counties in the state, were produced from a series of physical databases. The individual databases (sources and resolution in parentheses) included land-use (Virginia Gap Analysis; 30meter² resolution), slope, aspect, and elevation (USGS 1:24,000 Digital Elevation Model; 30meter²), and soils data (USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG-3)). Each physical feature layer was given a numerical classification, then all layers were combined to produce a 0 to 100 scale in the final, composite image. Given this model of potential vineyard suitability, existing fruit operations in select counties were geo-located on each feature layer using a Global Positioning System (GPS: 1-2meter accuracy). Actual data on occurrences of frosts, minimum winter temperatures, and other site variables were collected from these fruit operations and surrounding weather stations as a sample to validate the model. A strong correlation between areas containing characteristics of current fruit acreage--namely apple--and sites high in potential for viticulture according to the model. Studying the history of geographic distribution of apple and grape industries across the state reinforces the regional assessment of viticulture potential, formulated by the climatic and topographic analysis. Employment of GIS approach at the local site scale was shown to be an effective tool for site selection at the local scale with certain caveats. In addition, the evaluation procedure integrating GIS and GPS technologies allows us to visually assess the distribution pattern of each of the factors employed individually; and, in turn, physically identify and locate areas of viticulture potential created from the combination of those factors. / Master of Science

Thesis (PhD(Agric))--Stellenbosch University, 2012 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Field spectroscopy was used to study leaf composition and selected factors (including canopy growth manipulation and water status changes) that may impact on it in a Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz vineyard, showing considerable variability in vigour. Temporal and spatial variability in leaf composition were incorporated into measurements by analysing leaves in different shoot positions and at different developmental stages during three different growing seasons. Irrigation and canopy manipulation treatments were also imposed in order to provide new insights into assessing the grapevine leaf and possibly also the canopy growth and ageing dynamics as well as pigment content, as a basis of executing a generally non-destructive measurement approach. Despite large climatic differences between the seasons, canopy size seemed of crucial importance in determining grapevine water relations in the grapevines from the different canopy manipulation treatments. Drastic compensation effects in terms of secondary shoot growth also followed the canopy reduction treatment. Despite this, canopy microclimate was apparently improved, considering the results from light measurements as well as the ripening dynamics in the reduced canopies. Reduced canopies also seemed to display a different canopy composition, in favour of secondary growth. This could have impacted positively on water use efficiency as well as ripening, due to higher photosynthetic efficiency of these leaves during the ripening stages. The reduced canopy treatments offered the possibility of attaining technological ripeness at an earlier stage and at comparatively lower potential alcohol levels. This study illustrated the relevance of considering the vegetative development of the grapevine, along with leaf ageing in the canopy, when conducting calibrated non-destructive measurements of leaf pigments, structure and water content. The relevance of using multivariate techniques in leaf spectroscopy was shown. This can be applied and simplified to aid in non-destructive leaf pigment, structure and water content estimation in future studies. Even with the general variation encountered in this vineyard, predictions of the major pigments in grapevine leaves were within acceptable error margins. Further work is required to improve the modelling of xanthophylls, which may require non-linear multivariate techniques. Logistical shoot growth modelling was used in leaf age estimation and classification, which made it possible to simplify statistical analysis of the leaf parameters mentioned. Practical application of the modelled and predicted parameters was shown for a specific period in season two by comparing the reaction of different treatments to developing water deficits. The results indicated that several parameters, with special mention of the carotenoid:chlorophyll ratio and chlorophyll a:b ratio, can be monitored on young and old leaves in the canopy in order to monitor developing water deficit stress. The modelled parameters, however, did not seem to be sensitive enough to allow specific prediction of predawn leaf water potential values. Specific leaf mass, equivalent water thickness, total specific leaf mass as well as leaf chronological age were successfully predicted from leaf spectral absorbance data, and this may be useful in future work on quantifying leaf adaptation to the micro-environment within the canopy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Veldspektroskopie is gebruik om blaarsamestelling en spesifieke faktore (insluitend lowergroei manipulasie en waterstatus veranderinge) wat ‘n impak kan hê in ‘n Vitis vinifera cv. Shiraz wingerd, met beduidende variasie in groeikrag, te ondersoek. Ruimtelike, asook tydsgebonde, variasie in blaarsamestelling is geïnkorporeer in die metings deur blare van verskillende lootposisies en vir verskillende ontwikkelingstadia gedurende drie verskillende groeiseisoene te meet. Besproeiings- en lowermanipulasie behandelings is ook uitgevoer om die dinamiek van blaar- en lowergroei, veroudering, asook pigmentinhoud te bestudeer binne die konteks van die uitvoering van ‘n nie-destruktiewe meetstrategie. Ondanks groot klimaatsverskille tussen die seisoene, blyk lowergrootteverskille belangrik te wees in die bepaling van wingerdstok-waterverhoudings in die verskillende lowermanipulasie behandelings. Drastiese kompensasiereaksies ten opsigte van sylootgroei is waargeneem in reaksie op die gereduseerde lowerbehandeling. Indien die resultate van ligmetings en druifrypwording in die gereduseerde lowerbehandeling in ag geneem word, is lowermikroklimaat egter steeds verbeter. Hierdie behandeling het oënskynlik ook veranderde lowersamestelling gehad, tot voordeel van sylootgroei. Dit kon moontlik ‘n positiewe invloed gehad het op waterverbruikseffektiwiteit asook druifrypwording, as gevolg van moontlike hoër fotosintetiese effektiwiteit van die blare gedurende die rypwordingstadia. Die gereduseerde lowerbehandeling het die moontlikheid gebied om tegnologiese rypheid by ‘n vroeër datum te bereik, met moontlike laer alkoholvlakke in die wyn. Hierdie studie het die belangrikheid beklemtoon om die vegetatiewe ontwikkeling van die wingerdstok in ag te neem wanneer gekalibreerde nie-destruktiewe metings van blaarpigmente, blaarstruktuur asook waterinhoud onderneem word. Die belang van multi-variant meettegnieke in blaarspektroskopie is aangetoon. Dit kan verder vereenvoudig word ter ondersteuning van niedestruktiewe meting van blaarpigment, -struktuur en -waterinhoudsbepaling in toekomstige studies. Selfs met die variasie wat in die wingerd voorgekom het, was die voorspellings van die vlakke van die belangrikste pigmente wat in wingerdblare aangetref word binne aanvaanbare foutgrense. Opvolgwerk is nodig om die modellering van xanthofil te verbeter, aangesien dit moontlik nielineêre multi-variant analise mag benodig. Logistiese groeimodellering is gebruik om blaarouderdom te bepaal en te klassifiseer, wat dit moontlik gemaak het om statistiese analise te vereenvoudig vir die genoemde blaarparameters. Die praktiese toepassing van die gemodelleerde en voorspelde parameters is aangetoon vir ‘n spesifieke gedeelte in seisoen twee, deur die reaksie van verskillende behandelings op toenemende watertekorte te bestudeer. Resultate het aangetoon dat verskeie parameters, met spesifieke klem op die karotenoïed:chlorofil verhouding, asook die chlorofil a:b verhouding, gemoniteer kan word op jong en ouer blare in die lower ten einde ontwikkelende waterstrestoestande te identifiseer. Die gemodelleerde parameters was egter klaarblyklik nie sensitief genoeg vir akkurate voorspelling van voorsonsopkoms-waterpotensiaalvlakke nie. Spesifieke blaarmassa, ekwivalente waterdikte, totale spesifieke blaarmassa, sowel as blaarouderdom kon suksesvol voorspel word deur gebruik te maak van absorpsieblaarspektroskopie, wat nuttig kan wees in toekomstige studies wat handel oor die kwantifisering van blaaraanpassing by die mikro-omgewing binne ‘n wingerdlower.