In the framework of the IRRIGAVIT project a team of researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, in collaboration with the Universities of Trieste and Udine, is studying how grapevines absorb and use water under changing climatic conditions. Using ecohydrology and stable isotope analysis, the researchers are tracking water from rainfall to vine sap, helping to understand when and where vines access water in the soil. Over 250 soil samples, 50 xylem sap samples, and dozens of rainfall events have been analyzed through advanced laboratory techniques such as cryogenic vacuum distillation and laser spectroscopy.
This data is key to optimizing irrigation strategies and improving drought resilience in vineyards, reducing water stress and safeguarding grape quality and production. The approach developed in IRRIGAVIT provides a replicable model for sustainable water management in viticulture
Who’s behind the cutting-edge isotope research of the Interreg Italy–Slovenia IRRIGAVIT project?
At the core is a dedicated team from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, combining scientific expertise and field passion to decode the water cycle in vineyards:
- Barbara Stenni – WP3 Coordinator and Full Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics. A specialist in paleoclimatology, she is also part of major international projects like BEYOND EPICA – The Oldest Ice.
- Vittoria Posocco – Environmental Science graduate and research fellow. A mountain and birdlife enthusiast, she brings energy and precision to both fieldwork and lab activities.
- Mirco Peschiutta – PhD student in Environmental Sciences with a focus on ecohydrology. He studies the interactions between water, soil, and vegetation.
- Giuliano Dreossi – Laboratory technician and a key figure in the management of technical operations and analytical procedures.
- Mauro Masiol – Associate Professor in the same department, expert in isotope geochemistry, atmospheric chemistry, and environmental analysis.
This is our team: a multidisciplinary group driven by research and environmental commitment, working in synergy to advance the goals of IRRIGAVIT.
