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Application of climatic indices to analyse viticultural suitability in Extremadura, south-western Spain

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Abstract

Although climate is recognised as one of the main drivers of viticulture success, its main features have not been sufficiently described in many viticultural regions, including Extremadura, which contains one of the largest grapevine-growing areas in Europe. Using climatic data from 80 weather stations located throughout Extremadura, seven bioclimatic indices were calculated to estimate heat accumulation and potential water balance during the growing season and the thermal regime during the ripening of grapes. Differences in some climatic indices were found, and after a multivariate geographic analysis, four groups were delimited containing weather stations with similar climatic features, with variability between groups explained by heat accumulation and tempearture and thermal amplitude during the ripening season. Suitability for cultivation of grapevines without thermal restriction and temperate nights during the ripening period are the main characteristics of the weather stations studied, but spatial variability found in climatic potential denotes the importance of differentiating locations to properly relate the viticultural climate to grape quality factors and the style of wines produced. The climatic features of the four groups are very similar to those described in other viticultural regions, including those in close proximity to Extremadura and others worldwide, but few studies have used broad and updated temporal climate data for computing bioclimatic indices as in this case study. Finally, trends in climate indices were analysed. Results revealed that all groups have experienced warmer growing seasons, driven mainly by changes in minimum temperatures. This fact has numerous potential impacts, including changes in grapevine phenological timing, disruption of balanced composition in grapes (ultimately affecting wine characteristics), alterations in varieties grown and spatial changes in viable winegrape-growing zones.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Gobierno de Extremadura for financing this work through grants to the research groups Alcántara (TIC008) and Ingeniería Aplicada en Hortofruticultura y Jardinería (TPR009), both co-financed by European FEDER funds. The authors are also very grateful to the reviewers of this paper for providing constructive comments which have contributed to improve the final version.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Expresión Gráfica, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas, s/n. 06006, Badajoz, Spain

    Francisco J. Moral & Enrique Martínez de Salazar

  2. Departamento de Expresión Gráfica, Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Adolfo Suárez, s/n. 06007, Badajoz, Spain

    Francisco J. Rebollo

  3. Departamento de Ingeniería del Medio Agronómico y Forestal, Escuela de Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. Adolfo Suárez, s/n. 06007, Badajoz, Spain

    Luis L. Paniagua & Abelardo García

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  1. Francisco J. Moral
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  2. Francisco J. Rebollo
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  3. Luis L. Paniagua
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  4. Abelardo García
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  5. Enrique Martínez de Salazar
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Correspondence to Francisco J. Moral.

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Moral, F.J., Rebollo, F.J., Paniagua, L.L. et al. Application of climatic indices to analyse viticultural suitability in Extremadura, south-western Spain. Theor Appl Climatol 123, 277–289 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-014-1363-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-014-1363-0

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