1. History

Top Ten Grape Wine Producing Countries*	Tons/Thousands	Worldwide production (%)
Italy	8,620	13
France	6,771	10
USA	6,327	9.6
Spain	5,926	9.0
China	5,600	8.5
Turkey	3,650	5.5
Argentina	2,830	4.3
Iran	2,800	4.3
Chile	2,250	3.4
Australia	2,026	3.0

* FAO, 2005

Wine production integrates a wide range of factors, including grape variety, elevation, topography, direction of slope, soil type, climatic seasonal conditions and local yeast. These characteristics form what is knows as terroir, loosely translated as ‘a sense of place’

2. Irrigation of Wine Grapes

Most wine-producing vineyards are rain-fed. The response of grapevines to water is well known. Irrigation contributes to higher yields, wider leaf area, stronger vegetative growth and larger berries.

Opinions differ concerning the impact of watering on wine quality, especially on red wines. The common opinion is that striving for higher yields has an adverse effect on wine quality.

Another opinion is that there is a yield limit for a high-quality wine. (Figure 1a and Figure 1b)

Other experts claim that higher yields will have no affect whatsoever on wine quality. (Figure 2)

According to NaanDan Jain professionals, irrigation is the best tool for maintaining wine quality and yield, even under deficit hydric conditions.

3. Irrigation Management

Accepting the concept that irrigating quality wine is no longer taboo has opened up the field for experimentation and for irrigation in wine grapes. Subsequently, new and efficient irrigation technologies have been developed and new irrigation management methods that do not have an adverse effect on wine quality are being tested. These new technologies, combined with new management methods, have demonstrated very good results.

3.1 Full Irrigation (FI)

Vines need to be supplied with water during the whole growing season.

.this can be done;

3.2 Controlled Irrigation (CI)

Water is applied according to the excepted seasonal Crop Coefficient (Ck) in the region.

3.3. Controlled stress irrigation (CSI)

CSI, also known as deficit irrigation: during the phenological stage from veraison (transition period from berry growth to berry ripening) to ripening the plant is stressed by giving it less water than according to the ETo x Ck.. The irrigation during this stage is strictly controlled. Deficit irrigation uses less water; it produces a smaller canopy, which in turn has many advantages in obtaining a better quality wine.

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3.4 Partial root zone drying (PRD):

Water is alternately applied each time to only one-half of the root zone in a two weeks sequence. The ETo xCk is periodically supplied alternately to one side of the root zone only, whereas the other side is allowed to dry. PRD strategies were developed in Australia to inhance wine quality.

4. Supplemantary irrigation (SI)

Vines need to be supplied with water only during short and critical phenological stages. Under a supplementary irrigation conditions, water will be applied only during well selected phenological stages in limited amounts.and for limited times. The optimal technology and the right amount of water are the key factors for the best results.

Irrigation Management Facts

• Although CSI and PRD management methods use reduced amounts of the water compared to CI , no adverse affects on production or quality are reported in promoting water use efficiency.
• Irrigation strategy should be adapted to terroir.
• Well applied and well managed deficit irrigation can simultaneously conserve water, enhance cold acclimation, control vigor and improve fruit quality.
• In general, for efficient CSI or PRD deficit irrigation methods, the root zone should be carefully monitored with tensiometers (soil moisture sensors).

NaanDan Jain professionals have extensive experience in irrigation management techniques and are available to recommend the optimum water management method for your vineyard.

5. Irrigation Technology

The growing market demand for higher quality and quantity emphasizes the importance of irrigation to achieve these goals. There are a number of irrigation methods for grapevines, including surface, sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. These irrigation techniques differ not only in cost, but mainly in water use efficiency. As irrigation water becomes scarcer worldwide, water-efficient drippers and micro-sprinklers are gaining ground in grapevine irrigation.

The amount of available water is but one of the main issues. Water quality (increased salinity) is a major problem to be taken into account and controlled. Each of the above mentioned techniques, namely surface irrigation, sprinkler and drip irrigation address salinity control in a different way.

Again, NaanDan Jain field experts are on the spot to help you choose the most suitable emitter. This is not only a matter of price tag. The choice requires consideration of all short- and long-term factors confronting you and your vineyard.

6. NaanDan Jain Irrigation solutions for wine grapes

6.1 Drip system products

There is a range of solutions according to the local conditions:

Basic design: single lateral 1-2 drippers per vine

1. Integrated PC drippers 3.8, 2.1 l/h for undulating field conditions and modern intensive cultivation
2. Traditional labyrinth integral drippers 20, 22 mm diameter for longer rows
3. Button PC drippers (4.0 l/h) for existing mature vineyards with wider spacing
4. SDI-Sub surface drip irrigation, is an alternative for the modern type of cultivation

6.2 Sprinkler systems

1. In specific areas with limited budgets and high frost risks, overhead sprinkler systems are the most economical solution. The 3/4" sprinkler is the popular choice.
2. The double system design combines drippers for irrigation and sprinklers for frost control.

7. Fertigation

Fertigation is the practice of applying fertilizers with the irrigation water, and is part of the general concept of chemigation. In today’s advanced agriculture, irrigation is synonymous to fertigation.

In grapevines, mineral nutrition is of great value for the control of vegetative growth and yield, and also for the quality of the end product – the wine. Fertigation is the optimum method for managing this important tool.

A range of fertilizers injection methods is available
through NaanDan Jain.

8. Special Uses of Irrigation Systems

Worldwide climatic changes, primarily due to global warming, have already affected terroir in various parts of the globe. Modified terroir affects the distinguishing regional qualities of wine. A more drastic consequence of global climatic change, which can destroy your entire yield, is early spring frost, which occurs mostly during flowering and fruit setting. Early spring frost is becoming more frequent and affecting regions which were previously frost-free.

There are various frost protection methods, but today the most accepted, efficient and environment-friendly method is timely irrigation.

NaanDan Jain has a wide variety of emitters especially designed for frost protection.

Flipper is uniquely designed for vineyard frost protection. It spreads water in a long, narrow strip to enable watering the vine rows only without wetting in between the rows. Flipper is the only emitter providing frost protection by using 15-20 cubic. meter per hectare per hour of water as opposed to the traditional 40 cubic.meter per hectare per hour.

This means that you can double the protected area using the same quantity of water.

The water distribution pattern and droplet size are the key factors to ensure highly efficient water use for frost protection.

 Click on the pictures to enlarge

Fig. 1a Accepted theory

Fig. 1b Experimental model - Dr. Freeman

Fig. 2 Theory of G. Spieler