Suggestions for the development of a quantitative framework of Terroir Analysis in Swedish Vineyards

Abstract: Wine is an important cultural crop and is grown in vineyards that sometimes claim to have a unique "terroir" - a specific taste and character based on their physical attributes and location. Regulations and previously published work are not easily available, into how to measure and assess this terroir. It is important for countries such as Sweden to have a terroir assessment system, which would enable them to sell "quality" wine under EU law. To provide a possible solution for this, literature was reviewed and a framework found and developed for use in vineyard quality assessment. The framework involves 3 categories (Geology, Terrain and Climate) and 12 sub-parameters, that assess different elements of a vineyards location, with each element given a score of good, intermediate or bad. These scores are then statistically analysed, to give a final score using a choice of 7 different weighting options. These different options allow various focuses of viticulture to be expressed. The framework was test run using Kullabergs Vingård in Skåne, Sweden as an example, both in a spatial (regional differences) and temporal (climatic change) context. This framework is expected to provide, an easy to use but in depth suggestion for terroir analysis, which is especially useful for the wine industry in Sweden.