Effect of different irrigation strategies on vine physiology, yield, grape composition and sensory profile of Sauvignon Blanc (<em>Vitis vinifera</em> L.) in a cool climate area

Aim: The impacts of partial root zone drying (PRD) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) on soil moisture, vine water status, yield components, fruit composition and wine sensory profile of Sauvignon blanc were studied in a cool climate region. Methods and results: Field experiments were conducted in a commercial Sauvignon blanc block in Ontario, Canada between 2006 and 2008. Treatments were: non-irrigated control, PRD, full irrigation [100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)] and one level of RDI (25% ETc). Treatments began immediately after fruit set and continued until the beginning of September. Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was calculated using the Penman–Monteith equation. Soil moisture and vine water status (leaf water potential and transpiration rate) in the PRD treatments were generally less than in 100% ETc but higher than in non-irrigated and 25% ETc treatments. Almost all treatments were different than non-irrigated vines in fruit composition and wine sensory attributes. RDI strategies were more consistent across vintages than the PRD treatments in their effect on vine water status, grape composition and sensory profiles. Conclusions: Use of RDI or PRD in cool climates during dry and warm years can improve grape composition. In very dry and hot seasons, like that of 2007, irrigation improved grape composition and wine aroma typicity. RDI enhanced fruity aroma attributes, which suggests that this could be a viable strategy to improve grape and wine quality in cool areas. However, due to high climatic variation over the period studied, no consistent pattern of irrigation effects was found for berry composition, suggesting that plant water status was not the only factor that controlled fruit and wine quality. Significance and impact of the study: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first evaluation of PRD in a cool, humid climate, and highlights the potential value of both RDI and PRD irrigation techniques in cool climate regions, particularly during dry growing seasons.