The Columbia Gorge Wine Region (CGWR) is an emerging wine producing area that extends for about 100km along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington State in which the number of vineyards, wineries and physical terroir conditions have yet to be defined. To better understand the physical factors affecting Oregon and Washington wine, this project analyzes climate, topography, geology and soil at vineyards in the CGWR. This was accomplished using Geographic Information Systems, existing earth science databases and field work. The region, which includes the Columbia Gorge American Viticulture Area (AVA) and the southwest portion of the Columbia Valley AVA, is home to 82 vineyards, 513 hectares (1268 acres), 37 wineries and 41 different varieties of Vitus Vinifera. Vineyards range in elevation from 29 to 548 meters (95 to 1799 feet). Vintner responses to a grower's survey suggest that twenty-eight grape varieties account for 98% of the estimated grape variety acreage, with Pinot Noir being the most widely planted grape variety in both AVAs. The boundaries of each climatic regime were mapped based on 1981-2010 PRISM data, the Winkler Index (Amerine and Winkler, 1944) updated by Jones et al. (2010) and climatic maturity groupings designed for Oregon (Jones et al., 2002; Jones et al., 2010). Three Winkler climate regimes are represented within the CGWR, including regions Ia, Ib, and II from the Winkler Index (Jones et al., 2010). The diversity in regimes allows for a diversity of grape varieties to be planted within the regime. The average growing season temperatures and growing degree days, respectively, from 1981-2010 calculated for vineyards ranges from 13.7°C (55.7°F) to 17.7°C (63.9°F) and 871 for °C (1567 for °F) to 1664 for °C (2994 for °F) respectively. 58% of the vineyards are characterized in an intermediate climatic regime, 29% are within a cool climatic regime, 9% are within a warm climatic regime and 4% are on the boundaries between a cool, intermediate or warm regime. 80% of the vineyards are within Regions Ia and Ib characterized by the Winkler Index, and 20% are within Region II. The growing degrees days calculated for the CGWR are similar those measured in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, Burgundy, France, Umpqua Valley AVA in Oregon and Bordeaux wine region in France. All of the soils currently being used to grow grapes are well-drained and within a xeric moisture regime, which are favorable conditions for viticulture. 30 soil series are represented among the vineyard sites, with the Chemawa Series (Underwood Mountain) and Walla Walla Series (eastern portions) being the dominant soil series used to grow grapes. Majority of the soils contain a silt loam texture. Soil Survey data for Oregon and Washington suggest that loess is extensive in the CGWR, with 46.5% of the total vineyard acreage planted on soils formed in loess. The Missoula Floods also greatly influenced the texture and age of the soil in this region, with skeletal textures being close to the Columbia River. Other common geological deposits at vineyards in the CGWR include, Quaternary Basalt (19.6%), Missoula Flood deposits (9.1%), The Dalles Formation (8.0%), Columbia River Basalt Group (7.5%), Pliocene Basalt (3.0%), Quaternary Surficial deposits (3.0%), lahars (2.3%) and Quaternary Basaltic Andesite and Andesite (0.9%). Common geological deposits, soil series, and climate conditions at vineyard sites vary spatially in the region, and therefore it is suggested that future work focus on separating the region into separate climatic sub-AVA regimes to better reflect the diversity in terroir conditions.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wes-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika beskik oor ’n diverse kapasiteit wat landbouproduksie betref en dit dra tot die sektor se algemene stabiliteit by; vandaar die bevordering van die Wes-Kaap as ’n aantreklike beleggingsektor. Die wynbedryf, wat ’n belangrike integrerende deel van die landbousektor in die Wes-Kaap uitmaak, speel ’n baie belangrike rol in die ekonomie van die Provinsie en bied ontsaglike geleenthede met betrekking tot landboukundige beleggings in die Provinsie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf is bekend vir sy produkte van hoë gehalte. Tans word indirekte aanwysers soos die inkomste van produsente, die aantal nuwe wynkelders, asook die ouderdomsamestelling van wingerdstokke in Suid-Afrika, gebruik om die beleggings- netto toevloeiing in die wynbedryf te bereken. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie is om die mees algemene bronne van kapitaal van wynplase en die mees algemene doelwitte wat wynboere in die Wes-Kaap probeer om te bereik, te identifiseer. Nog ’n doelwit is om daardie wynplaas- en eienaarskenmerke te identifiseer wat die prestasie van wynplase in die Wes-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika beïnvloed. Om die ontleding te vergemaklik is die hoofprobleem in drie spesifieke doelwitte of subprobleme verdeel. Die studie het van verskeie metodes en tegnieke gebruik gemaak in ’n poging om relevante en akkurate data te verkry. Die verskillende bronne wat geraadpleeg is het persoonlike beraadslaging met deskundiges in die bedryf, artikels wat in verskeie akademiese vaktydskrifte en boeke gepubliseer is, referate wat by konferensies gelewer is, verhandelings van nagraadse studente, en ander artikels op die Internet ingesluit. Data-ontledings wat met die eerste en tweede subprobleme verband gehou het is met die gebruik van statistiese pakkette soos Excel en Stata in die vorm van veelvoudige kruistabulerings uitgevoer. In die derde probleem, naamlik om wynplaas- en eienaarskenmerke te identifiseer wat die prestasie van wynplase in die Wes-Kaap beïnvloed, is ’n intervalregressiegelykstelling bereken deur van die Stata- statistiese sagtewarepakket gebruik te maak. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Western Cape Province of South Africa has a diverse agricultural production capacity and this contributes to the sector’s general stability, hence its promotion as an attractive investment sector. The wine industry, a significant component of the agricultural sector in the Western Cape, plays a very important role in the economy of the Province and presents enormous opportunities in terms of agricultural investments in the Province. The South Africa’s wine industry is renowned for its high quality products. Currently, indirect indicators such as producer income, the number of new wine cellars, as well as the age composition of vines in South Africa, are used to estimate investment net flows into the wine industry. The main objectives of this study are to identify the most common sources of capital in wine farms and the most common objectives that wine farm owners are trying to achieve in the Western Cape Province. Another objective is to identify those wine farm and owner characteristics that affect the performance of wine farms in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. For ease of analysis, the main problem was divided into three specific objectives or sub-problems. The study employed a number of methods and techniques in an effort to obtain relevant and accurate data. The different sources consulted include personal communications with industry experts, articles published in different academic journals and books, conference papers, postgraduate students’ theses, and other articles from the internet. Data analyses relating to the first and second sub-problems were carried out using Excel and Stata statistical packages and took the form of multiple cross-tabulations. In the third subproblem i.e., to identify wine farm and owner characteristics that affect the performance of wine farms in the Western Cape, an interval regression equation was estimated using Stata statistical software package.

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 1973 / See Item for full text / Voorwoord: Omdat daar in die Suid-Afrikaanse Geskiedskrywing 'n groot leemte aan werke oor die ekonomiese geskiedenis bestaan, ek persoonlik baie in die geskiedenis van landbou in Suid-Afrika belangstel en daar nog feitlik geen argivale navorsing oor die geskiedenis van wynbou en wynhandel na 1795 gedoen is nie, het ek besluit om 'n verdere studie van laasgenoemde onderwerp te maak tot 1860. In hierdie jaar is die vryhandelsooreenkoms tussen Brittanje en Frankryk gesluit, wat meegebring het dat die voorkeurtariewe wat Brittanje in 1813 op Kaapse wyn ingestel he+, beeindig is. Die beeindiging van die voorkeurtariewe het tot 'n ineenstorting van die Britse mark vir Kaapse wyn, en daarmee ook die totale wynuitvoerhandel van die Kaapkolonie, gelei. Hiermee het die Kaapse wynboubedryf 'n kruispad bereik. Om hierdie redes vorm die jaar 1860 'n logiese afsluitingsdatum vir hierdie proefskrif.

Thesis (MScAgric (Soil Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / This thesis forms part of a research program that is investigated by ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij and the University of Stellenbosch. The aim of this program is to quantify the effect of soil and climate on wine quality and character as a basis for scientific demarcation of production regions. Natural factors are first quantified and characterised so that relative homogeneous natural terroir units (NTU) can be identified. Thereafter wines made from these different localities are assessed for similarities which permit grouping of localities into viticultural terroirs. The present study involved seven research plots in the Robertson district, making use of initial measurements by ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij in the 2000/01 and 2001/02 seasons together with more intensive measurements in the 2002/03 and 2003/04. The seven plots are located in two wards, Le Chasseur and Vinkrivier. Sauvignon blanc plots were marked at two localities, each with two sub-plots occurring in one block. Three Cabernet Sauvignon plots were marked out. Two plots occurred in one block in Le Chasseur and one plot in Vinkrivier. Plots within the same block were located on different soil types so that the effect of soil type on wine quality and character could be monitored. Morphological examination of soil profiles at each plot was carried out together with physical and chemical analysis of samples taken at 30cm depth intervals. Soil water content was measured at regular intervals to assess soil water tension. Vineyard performance was assessed in terms of phenology, root system studies, leafwaterpotential measurements, canopy quality assessment, leaf analysis, shoot growth, and data relating to ripening, harvest and pruning. Wines were made from each plot by ARC Infruitec- Nietvoorbij and evaluated by a tasting panel after six months and then again after eighteen months. Meteorological data were collected in each ward.

Thesis (MSc(Agric)) -- Stellenbosch University, 1966. / INLEIDING: Die ontstaan van kooperasiewese kan teruggevoer word na die jaar 1844 toe 28 wewers van Rochdale in Engeland 'n suksesvolle koöperatiewe verbruikswinkel geloods het. Die sogenaamde Rochdale-pioniers word veral onthou vanweë die feit dat hulle die beginsels van koöperasiewese duidelik geformuleer het. In Suid-Afrika speel landboukoöperasie vandag 'n belangrike rol in die bemarking van landbouprodukte, die verskaffing van boerderybenodighede en die lewering van dienste aan boere. Koöperasies is, veral in die beginjare, meesal gestig met die doel om gebreke in die bemarking en verwerking van landbouprodukte te oorbrug. In Suid-Afrika het koöperasiewese ontwikkel sedert die twintigste eeu toe 'n Ier, Mnr. P.J. Hannon na die land gebring is om te dien as superintendent van landboukoöperasies. Vandaar het dit ontwikkel tot feitlik al die sektore van die landboubedryf in Suid-Afrika.

Le Comité National des Appellations d'Origine (CNAO), forme première de l'Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), voit officiellement le jour avec le décret-loi du 30 juillet 1935. Sa création coïncide avec l'établissement d'un nouveau régime, d'une nouvelle norme de qualité pour les vins fins, l'Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC). L'objectif de cette recherche, en prenant pour terrain d'étude cette institution, est de comprendre les caractéristiques de la normalisation des vins fins entre 1935 et la fin des années 1960, ainsi que les interactions à l'oeuvre entre la sphère publique, l'Etat, et un secteur professionnel, une filière économique, constitué par définition d'acteurs privés. Pour atteindre le but fixé, le propos se structure autour de trois parties, établies selon une logique chronologique. La première partie présente la période originelle de l'institution, c'est-à-dire celle du Comité National des Appellations d'Origine durant l'Entre-deux-guerres. Elle correspond au temps de fondation de l'organisme, d'invention et de développement du système des AOC. Dans un contexte de crises aussi bien politique, économique, sociale que viti-vinicole, le modèle fixe ses règles et se déploie avec rapidité sur le territoire. Au-delà du cadre élaboré, l'affirmation au sein de la profession, en dehors de ses tenants, est en revanche plus progressive et procède par étapes, en raison notamment des foyers de scepticisme, voire de réticences, à son endroit. L'absence de consensus et la multiplicité des configurations locales, en particulier du point de vue des éléments anciens d'expertise et des rapports de force entre producteurs et négociants, participent d'une inscription protéiforme de la norme et de l'élaboration d'ajustements dès ces premières années. Le second moment de l'étude, en focalisant son attention sur la période 1939-1945, est lui aussi marqué par la notion de crise.L'entrée en guerre de la France puis la mise en place du Régime de Vichy, d'un circuit du Ravitaillement et la période d'Occupation bouleversent ainsi largement l'équilibre conçu dans les dernières années de la IIIème République.L'inversion historique de la conjoncture économique de la viti-viniculture, passant d'une surproduction endémique à la pénurie, résume les bouleversements à l'œuvre. Cette période voit également le problème de la fraude rejaillir avec force et prendre une nouvelle dimension. Un mouvement s'affirme donc, de fermeture et de durcissement des règles de la norme. En parallèle, l'assise des AOC est renforcée aux dépens des AOS. Sur le plan institutionnel, le CNAO est confronté à une redéfinition globale de ses rapports à l'État et des cadres de l'organisation de la viti-viniculture. L'analyse s'interrompt en 1945, avec la Libération, afin d'établir le strict bilan de l'organisme et du régime au lendemain de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale. La troisième partie de l'étude débute une nouvelle fois par une période difficile.Marquées par un redémarrage compliqué de l'économie viti-vinicole, le décès de Joseph Capus et sa succession par le baron Le Roy, le passage du CNAO à l'INAO, les années 1945 à 1950 constituent une période charnière de l'histoire de l'institution. Du point de vue chronologique, ce dernier temps de la recherche est de loin le plus long puisqu'il s'étend, pour certains éléments de réflexion jusqu'en 1967, pour d'autre à l'horizon 1970.Des phénomènes de fonds transforment le visage de l'Institut au cours de ces vingt ans. Il s'agit notamment de la réforme de son organisation, de la réflexion sur son statut, du renouvellement de son incarnation ou de la mise en place progressive de l'Organisation Commune du Marché du vin au niveau européen.

Terroir is determined by a combination of factors in the vineyard including the grape varietal, geology and soil, soil hydrology, physiography, and climate. Although most studies have examined regional differences in wine flavors and associated provenance of wine based on chemistry, few have examined the chemistry of the soil and the ability to trace that chemistry to grape juice and, finally, to the wine. This dissertation examines what soil physical and chemical differences specific to this region might influence grape juice chemistry and wine chemistry. Wine-grapes in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, are grown on three major soil parent materials: volcanic, marine sediments, and loess/volcanic. Winemakers have observed differences in the flavor of Pinot Noir wine made from grapes grown on these different parent materials. This dissertation examines differences in the soil properties and elemental chemistry of the soil parent materials at various vineyards to document their effect on wine chemistry as a step towards understanding differences in flavor. All aspects of the terroir are controlled by carefully selecting vineyards with similar exposure and elevation, the same grape varietal and wine making techniques, and only the soils vary. The hypothesis is that the chemistry of the grape juice and wine reflect the soil in which the grapes were grown and that the three parent materials have soils that can be distinguished by their physical and chemical characteristics. Soil pits were excavated in 20 vineyards, soil properties were described in the field, and soil samples were later analyzed in the laboratory particle size, organic matter, color, pH, cation exchange capacity (ammonium acetate method), clay mineralogy (x-ray diffraction), and elemental chemistry (ICP-MS/AES). X-ray fluorescence was used to examine the pisolites. ICP-MS/AES was used for elemental analysis of grape juice and wines produced from these vineyards. Principal component analysis was used to compare soil physical and chemical characteristics, grape juice and wine chemistry. The physical characteristics of soils from all the three parent materials indicate: they are old (>50,000 years) based on their high clay content, low cation exchange capacity, red colors, and high Fe and Al content. These features indicate enough time has passed to reduce organic matter and other cations at depth, leave behind insoluble Fe and Al, and develop pedogenic clays. In my study region, volcanic and marine sediment soils are more developed with slightly lower acidity than the loess/volcanic soils. A new finding for this region is the presence of pisolites (Fe/Mg concretions) in the volcanic and the loess/volcanic soils, but absent in the marine sediment soils. Winemakers hypothesized that pisolites were present only in loess soils and influenced wine flavor in some way. Volcanic soils have the highest P, S, Fe, Co, Mn, and V concentrations and the lowest As and Sr values. Marine sediment soils have higher Cl and Sr and lower P, Co, Mn, Ba, and V concentrations than volcanic soils. Loess soils have the highest values of K and Mg and are similar to volcanic soils with higher P and V values and similar to marine sediment soils with higher Sr values. The main elements found to be significant in determining one parent material from another are V and Mn (volcanic soils), Mg and K (loess soils), and Sr (marine sediment or loess soils). Sr is slightly higher in grape juice and wine from vines grown on marine sediment parent material compared to volcanic and loess parent material, whereas Mn is higher in the juice and wine from grapes grown in volcanic parent material. P, S, Fe, Co, V, Cl, Ba, Mg, and K did not maintain their relative concentration levels from soil to grape juice to wine. The principal component analysis shows that soil and wine chemistry differs between parent material, but is inconclusive for grape juice chemistry.

The influence of rootstock and canopy density on grape berry composition was investigated over the summer of 2003-2004 on a commercial vineyard at Waipara, North Canterbury. This experiment was designed to investigate the influence of rootstock and canopy density on the acid composition, potassium (K) content and final pH of harvested fruit (Pinot Noir AM 10/5 Lincoln Selection). The trial block consisted of eight rootstocks laid out to an 8 x 8 latin square, each plot consisting of five vines of the same rootstock. Two canopy treatments were overlaid the block (down whole rows, assigned randomly, four rows to each treatment); one treatment allowed to grow naturally, in the other treatment the canopy was thinned removing double burst shoots and laterals. The bunch numbers were adjusted in the Unthinned canopy treatment (UCT) to match the Thinned canopy treatment (TCT). Information was gathered to assess: the canopy size and density (Pinot Quadrat Leaf Layer and Percent Gaps and canopy porosity), the plant yield (and berry size, berries per cluster, cluster weight, clusters per plant), plant K levels at flowering and veraison (from petioles and leaf blades) and berry composition at harvest (soluble solids (as brix), K, titratable acidity (TA), tartaric acid concentration, malic acid concentration and pH). The trial area was non-irrigated on clay loam soils and viticultural management was to best commercial practice. It was found that although rootstock influenced the levels of K in the plant and in the juice at harvest, the level of K in the juice did not influence pH in this experiment (range of rootstock juice K: 808 ppm to 928 ppm, l.s.d. = 75 ppm). The level of tartaric acid concentration in the juice was found to be the dominant influence on the level of pH in this experiment (rootstock pH range: 3.21 to 3.39, l.s.d. = 0.05). The juice concentration of tartaric acid was influenced by both rootstock (rootstock range 4.0 to 4.7 g/L, l.s.d = 0.4) and canopy density (UCT = 4.1, TCT = 4.7, l.s.d. = 0.4), decreased shading positively increasing the level of tartaric acid. The malic acid concentration in the juice was positively influenced by increasing canopy density (UCT = 4.7 g/L, TCT = 4.1 g/L, l.s.d = 0.4) and this played a minor role in the determination of pH in this experiment; an influence of rootstock on the level of malic acid concentration was found. The malic acid concentration strongly influenced the determination of TA (UCT = 11.0 g/L, TCT = 10.2 g/L, l.s.d = 0.5); tartaric acid concentration had a minor influence on the recorded TA. Attempts to characterise the influence of rootstock on malic acid, tartaric acid and pH were inconclusive. Rootstock was found to influence the canopy variables measured in this experiment and the recorded average plant yield. Crosses of Vitis rupestris were found to exhibit the most canopy vigour and those derived from Vitis berlandieri and Vitis riparia the least. The Canopy treatment did not show an influence over yield but the rootstock was found to influence plant yield, through the numbers of berries set in a cluster and the final harvest cluster weight. The influence of rootstock on pH may be described by the influence it exerts on canopy growth and yield but this was thought unlikely. Further research is required to describe the nature of the rootstock influence on K, malic acid, tartaric acid and pH.

The effects of crop load and berry exposure on the composition of Marlborough Sauvignon blanc grapes and wine from the Brancott vineyard, Blenheim, were explored. Commercially grown, 2-cane and 4-cane Sauvignon blanc vines were used with a row orientation of north-south. Two exposure treatments were imposed in the following manner: complete leaf removal was undertaken in the fruit zone and 50% shade cloth was erected to give a uniform shading treatment to half the trial vines. Weekly thirty-berry and whole bunch samples were taken from each of the 32 plots with the exception of the veraison period when two samples per week were taken. Vine vigour was assessed using pruning and leaf area per vine data. Harvest occurred on different dates for 2-cane and 4-cane pruned vines so that fruit attained from both treatments had similar °Brix. Fruit was processed at the Lincoln University winery. Must analysis and wine analysis were undertaken. As expected, 4-cane vines had almost double the yield of 2-cane vines. Higher crop load significantly reduced leaf area per shoot and shoot thickness. Lower leaf area to fruit ratio for 4-cane berries resulted in delayed onset of veraison and slowed the rate of sugar accumulation. Crop load, which limited leaf area to fruit ratio, appeared to be the dominant factor in determining timing of grape physiological ripeness as expressed by °Brix over other factors such as fruit exposure. Malic acid, tartaric acid, IPMP (iso-propylmethoxypyrazine) and IBMP (iso-butyl-methoxypyrazine) were lower at equivalent °Brix in 4-cane compared with 2-cane berries. Significantly higher concentrations of quercetin were found in exposed compared to shaded berries. Must analysis showed a significant influence of crop load on berry titratable acidity and pH, reflecting berry ripening results. Exposure significantly increased the concentrations of nitrogenous compounds in 4-cane must yet showed no influence on 2-cane must. After wine processing lower malic acid concentrations in wines made from 100% exposed fruit became evident in lower wine titratable acidity but showed no influence on wine pH. Bentonite addition to wines had a small but statistically significant influence on wine by reducing pH, titratable acidity and alcohol. Bound sulphur concentrations were significantly higher in 4-cane versus 2-cane wines. At harvest, methoxypyrazine levels in grapes and wines were very low; IBMP concentrations where significantly lower than those normally found in Sauvignon blanc wines from Marlborough. This was attributed to the absence of basal leaves from the shoots of ripening berries. The results suggest that leaf area to fruit ratio is a powerful determinant of grape and wine quality.

Birds are a major pest in vineyards both in New Zealand and overseas. There is a need for new behavioural research on birds' foraging habits and feeding preferences in vineyards, as much of the literature to date is anecdotal. Research on cues to birds' feeding will provide a basis on which new deterrent and control strategies can be devised. Spatial-and temporal bird damage in a small vineyard block was mapped to find if damage was correlated with grape maturity and environmental factors. Vineyard and field observations of bird behaviour using video technology combined with preference experiments aimed to establish the relative roles of grape sugar concentration and colour in avian selection. Proximity of vineyards to bird roosts affects damage levels, regardless of differing maturity between locations. The rate of damage tends to increase exponentially once grape maturity has passed a threshold of 13 °Brix. Bunches positioned closest to the ground receive more damage if blackbirds or song thrushes are the predominant pests. Both sugar concentration and grape colour were found to affect birds' feeding preference, but the importance of the two factors varied between years. Black and green grape varieties were differentially preferred by blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) while silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) appeared to have no strong colour preference. It was apparent that there were other, not assessed, grape factors that also affect selection. In small unprotected vineyards that are adjacent to bird roosts the entire grape crop can be taken by bird pests. Besides removing the roosts, which can be beneficial shelterbelts in regions exposed to high winds, growers currently may have no alternative other than to use exclusion netting to keep crops intact. The differential preferences between bird species for variety characteristics suggest that any new deterrents and other strategies to deflect birds from grape crops may need to be species-specific.