How can remote sensing techniques help monitoring the vine and maximize the terroir potential?

Abstract

In each winegrowing region, the winegrower tries to value its terroir and the oenologists do their best to produce the best wine. Thanks to new remote sensing techniques, it is possible to implement a segmentation of the vineyard according to the qualitative potential of the vine stocks and make the most of each terroir to improve wine quality. High resolution satellite images are processed in several spectral bands and algorithms set-up specifically for the Oenoview service allow to estimate vine vigour and a heterogeneity index that, used together, directly reflect the vineyard oenological potential. This service is used in different terroirs in France (Burgundy, Languedoc, Bordeaux, Anjou) and in other countries (Chile, Spain, Hungary and China). From this experience, we will show how remote sensing can help managing vine and wine production in all covered terroirs. Depending on the winegrowing region and its specificities, its use and results present some differences and similarities that we will highlight. We will give an overview of the method used, the advantage of implementing field intra-or inter-selection and how to optimize the use of amendment and sampling strategy as well as how to anticipate the whole vineyard management.