Scale effect of viticultural zoning under three contrasting vintages in Chianti Classico area (Tuscany, Italy)

The present study, performed in one of the largest farm of “Chianti Classico” wine district (Tuscany, Italy), focused on the effect of terroir on the peculiarities of the wine at two different scale of zoning. At a broader scale, the experimental vineyards were selected on the basis of lithology, soil type, morphology and climate and these were called macro-terroir (MT). Each vineyard was subdivided into a couple of homogeneous zones (Unite Terroir de Base, UTB), differentiated on the basis of soil proximal sensing, and then, high-detailed soil mapping. The study was conducted during three consecutive vintages (2012, '13 and '14), on four different vineyards MT, which are representative of the Chianti Classico wine district. Grape harvest, wine-making and six-month ageing were carried out separately for each UTB, using the same methodology. This study demonstrates that characteristics of geopedological landscapes can be used for a wine district zoning, while a more detailed soil mapping, leading to UTB identification, is needed to highlight some wine peculiarities.