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Grape quality is essential in achieving a wine of exceptional quality.
This is the main motivation that led Viña Undurraga to the Chilean wine grape cultivation project known as “Precision Viticulture". Francisco Valdivieso, Agricultural Manager of Undurraga is in charge of research and application of this initiative, with the cooperation of INIA - National Institute of Agricultural Research (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias). The project consists of a series of photographs taken from a high altitude to obtain broad-spectrum images that can be used to identify important information resulting in benefits such as detecting the areas of different vigor within key vineyards for differentiated management and harvesting, thus selecting the best grapes from each vineyards. It also locates directed monitoring points marked by a GPS system to provide further information on the real status of the vineyards and their foliage. Some of the results that can be compiled from this new method include the creation of new parameters, such as ratio between the foliage and the grape quantity, thus locating specific sectors with greater balance and therefore better quality.
This technology clearly enables the agronomist to establish management priorities and identify areas that require specific operations. In addition, it provides the creation of areas based on the different levels of grape ripeness, which is of utmost importance during harvesting.
This information has been used to better incorporate the investments made in the agricultural area of Viña Undurraga:
- Drip irrigation per sector, installed in over 300 hectares.
- Plantations of clone vineyards over grafted rootstock based on climate and soil.
- Designation of specific sectors for the production of high quality wines, based on the balance between foliage and the number of clusters.
