Saumur Champigny
Location & characteristics
The demonstration site of Saumur Champigny covers 900 hectares on the municipalities of Dampierre-sur-Loire and Souzay-Champigny, in the Saumur Champigny appellation. The production of quality red wines, from the grape variety Cabernet franc, is due to the richness of the natural environment, the subtleties of which are expressed by the craftsmanship of the wine producers. This is the warmest region of the Loire Valley, and the one which has shown the greatest increase in temperature over the last few decades. Its topographic and climatic diversity at the terroir scales makes it a privileged area to study the adaptation of viticulture to climate change in the framework of the European project LIFE-ADVICLIM.
On this area, 4 weather stations, 3 rain gauges and 20 temperature sensors, are positioned according to altitude, slope, orientation, Loire river distance, and the type of soil. In these areas, the vegetative development of the vine and the grape maturation are followed and analysed.
The aim of this research is to know accurately the climatic variability and the vine behaviour in order to anticipate climate change consequences on the berry quality. Thus, it will be possible to target, at best, the wine growing practices to implement (vine training, soil maintenance, choice of the rootstock and the type of soil,…), individually and/or collectively, for the viticulture to adapt progressively to the evolution of the climate.
Demonstration site managers
Gérard Barbeau
Etienne Neethling
Notice board of Saumur Champigny
