{"id":186,"date":"2023-12-01T16:39:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T15:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/hydrology\/?page_id=186"},"modified":"2026-02-11T12:27:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:27:03","slug":"experimental-vineyards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/hydrology\/field-sites\/experimental-vineyards\/","title":{"rendered":"Experimental Vineyards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are interested in understanding water circulation in vineyards and quantifying grapevine water sources, especially during periods of stress. We have been working at these sites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grignanello (Chianti region, Italy)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montepaldi (Chianti region, Italy)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grignanello<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Figure 1: views of the experimental vineyard and location of the instrumentation. a) satellite image; b) picture taken from the top of the hill; c) Soil moisture, soil matric potential and sapflow stations (x2); d) Eddy Covariance Tower; e) Weather station and precipitation collector<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Grignanello experimental vineyard (link Google Map<\/a>) is a field of 1 hectar in the middle of the Chianti region, Tuscany, Italy. The site is part of the Azienda Agricola Grignanello, which kindly hosts our activities. The grape vines are mainly the local Sangiovese and Canaiolo varieties. They were planted in 1977 and are characterised by a low density (3000 plant\/hectar against the 6000 plants\/hectar of typical modern vineyards). No pesticides are used and, following DOC regulation, no irrigation is provided. Climate in the area is Mediterranean, with typically 800 mm of rainfall per year, mainly distributed over the winter season. The vineyard\u2019s slope is mild (<5%). The soil has a large percentage of clay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The instrumentation was on site between 2022 and 2025, and included (see Figure 1): 2 networks of soil moisture, soil tension and sapflow sensors; an Eddy Covariance Tower; a Weather station with precipitation collector; 2 time-lapse cameras for the daily evolution of the vineyard. Thermal and multispectral images were occasionally collected through drone flights. Samples of precipitation, bulk soil and plant material for water isotope analysis were collected regularly and during intense summer campaigns between 2022 and 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 2: Experimental work. a) drone flight; b) grapevine with skin sapflow sensors on the two lower canes; c) sampling of shoots and leaves; d) digging of a trench for the deployment of soil sensors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Partners and collaborators<\/p>\n\n\n\n