Grape winemaking zoning and allocation of terroirs: a case study of the Ust-Donetsk sandy massif
In recent years, Russia has intensified research on the allocation of viticultural zones and terroirs. The adopted legal acts are aimed at facilitating the country’s accession to the European system of formation of wine appellations by place of origin. The use of the names of grape winemaking zones, microzones, and terroirs in the names of finished products is associated, first of all, with the desire to protect the high quality of wines. The purpose of the study was to substantiate and identify terroirs in one of the viticultural zones of the Rostov region - the Ust-Donetsk sandy massif. We studied the geological, hydrogeological, and edaphic conditions of the sandy massif and discussed international and Russian methodological approaches and experience of zoning of viticultural lands. The study was conducted by the method of key sites. The vineyards of the Nizhnekundryuchensky branch of the experimental field of the Potapenko All-Russian Research Institute for Viticulture and Winemaking located on a sandy massif were chosen as a key plot. The sandy lands were characterized by a great variety of edaphic conditions. The area of the Ust-Donetsk sandy massif is small - approximately 15 thousand hectares. Therefore, when identifying terroirs on it, the contrast of edaphic conditions was a more significant factor than their climatic differences. Differences in conditions require adjustments in the technology of grape cultivation; otherwise, they will not be optimal for each terroir. In this, the idea of terroir in viticulture is similar to the concept of precision farming. Soils and ground conditions revealed during the survey of the Ust-Donetsk sandy massif were grouped into five types. The main criterion for the grouping was the state of the grape plant in certain areas. The vigour and productivity of vines on different terroirs were very different. The average length of one-year growth on the first terroir was 89 cm; on the second terroir it was 94 cm; on the third terroir, it was 78 cm. The yield was 18.3 t/ha, 10.8 t/ha, and 2.2 t/ha, respectively.