Water conditions, influenced also by the soil type, determine the vegetative growth and plant development and have important effects on wine quality. In the present study, the influence of three soil types (Grayish Brown Argisol, Haplic Planosol and Regolitic Neosol) on quantitative and qualitative traits of grape production and vinification. The experiment was performed in the 2008/2009 season in vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon cultivar (Vitis vinifera L.), in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil. The soil water availability (gravimetric basis) at ripening, leaf water potential, plant growth, yield components and phenolic compounds were evaluated. As compared to the Regolitic Neosol, the Grayish Brown Argisol caused higher vegetative growth, mainly in branch mass, length of internodes and leaf area, as well as promoted clusters with more berries. Haplic Planosols provided the highest water availability, causing high grape yield. There was lower water availability in Regolitic Neosols, which lead to decreases in leaf water potential. In this stressful condition the grapevines had reduced the vegetative growth and yield and increased the tannin content and index of total phenolic compounds. In general, Regolitic Neosols could be considered the most promising soil for producing wines of high quality.
leaf water potential; productivity; enological quality; enological identity
