With the grape harvest between late August and September, the seasonal activities in the experimental and demonstrative vineyards managed in Italy came to an end. These activities were conducted by researchers from the Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental, and Animal Sciences (Di4A) at the University of Udine, in collaboration with ERSA operators, an associated partner in the project.
Two experimental irrigation trials and two soil management trials were conducted, aimed at strengthening the proposed irrigation protocols. These activities were carried out in Beano di Codroipo, where the vineyards were divided into trials to study the impact of water stress on the plants. Specifically, four trials focused on the glera variety and four trials on the pinot grigio variety.
Further experimental trials were conducted on the ribolla gialla variety in the vineyards of the Specogna company in Corno di Rosazzo, in collaboration with the Consortium for the Protection of Friuli Colli Orientali and Ramandolo Wines. Additional demonstrative activities involved the pinot grigio variety in the vineyards of the Servadei Agricultural Company in Udine.
Excessive heat and summer drought had a significant impact on the vines, which experienced severe water stress, particularly in August. By monitoring the situation with the DSS Vintel decision support system and conducting regular vineyard sampling, numerous data were collected and are currently being analyzed. The study will focus on the effects of stress on the plants and, subsequently, on the grapes and wine.
The collected data will be published on the updated online platform, available at www.irrigavit.eu. During the grape harvest, the grapes were weighed, divided, and sent to the winery of the Servadei Agricultural Company in Udine, where vinification is underway. Once the wine has matured, it is racked, filtered, and finally bottled. Related analyses are carried out in collaboration with the laboratory of the partner Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije.
