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master thesis

Analysis of Topography, Climate, Soil and Viticulture in Switzerland and Europe

Chun, Chang
October 7, 2023

Viticulture has both socio-economic and environmental impacts, and the cultivation of grapevines is influenced by various environmental factors such as climate, topography, and soil properties. Therefore, there is a growing interest in analyzing the spatial distribution of vineyards and their relationship with these characteristics. European countries are major contributors to the global viticulture industry. Switzerland also has a long history of viticulture and is famous for stunning vineyard landscapes. This study aimed to provide an integrated analysis of topography, climate, soil, and vineyard areas in Switzerland and Europe. Official websites of Switzerland and Europe were used as the sources of data for this study. The analysis began by examining the distributions of various variables to gain insights into the growth conditions of grapevines. Subsequently, relationships between different environmental variables were explored to understand their mutual influences. The results of the study indicate that environmental factors have a significant impact on vine growth. In Switzerland, grapevines are predominantly cultivated at elevations ranging from 400 m to 600 m, with slopes of less than 20◦ and facing south. The dominant climate type for Swiss vineyards is Cfb, characterized by temperate conditions with warm summers and abundant precipitation throughout the year. In other European countries with prominent vineyard regions, the climate tends to be drier and hotter, and the elevations and slopes are generally lower compared to Switzerland. Deep soils with moderate gravel content and adequate water and nutrient storage capacity are favorable for grapevine growth. Among these factors, elevations and slopes play a crucial role in shaping climatic conditions and soil properties. Compared to other crops, grapevines can thrive on steeper slopes and exhibit high drought tolerance. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental conditions affect viticulture. Further analysis can be conducted on other countries to examine their specific viticultural characteristics. Additionally, an assessment of land suitability for viticulture in non-vineyard areas would provide valuable insights into expanding viticultural activities.

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Type
master thesis
Author(s)
Chun, Chang
Advisors
Benettin, Paolo  
•
Rinaldo, Andrea  
Date Issued

2023-10-07

Publisher

EPFL

Publisher place

Lausanne

Total of pages

47

Subjects

viticulture

•

vineyard distribution

•

climate

•

topography

•

soil properties

•

integrated analysis

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
ECHO  
Faculty
ENAC  
Section
SIE-S  
Available on Infoscience
September 12, 2024
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/241107
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