Identification of a climatic region for good quality dry table wine production in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The main objective of this paper was the identification of a climatic region for the production of dry table wines of good quality in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Based on the monthly average data of sunshine, rainfall, relative humidity, chilling hours below 7°C and mean temperature from 18 agrometeorological stations well distributed over the entire State area for the period 1967/86 the following agrometeorological indexes required for the production of dry table wines of good quality were stablished: heliopluviometric index of maturation (the quotient of total sunshine by total rainfall in Summer); mean relative humidity in Summer; chilling hours below 7°C; and mean temperature of the warmest month. The localities of Santana do Livramento and Bagé indicated the West-central border region with Uruguay as the best of Rio Grande do Sul State for the production of dry table wines of good quality with the heliopluviometric index above 2.0, Summer relative humidity below 73%, mean temperature of the warmest month below 24°C and a satisfactory number of chilling hours below 7°C. As a consequence of this research work several vineyard and wine industries were stablished in this region, some of them already producing very good quality dry table wine with a successful marketing.