La Rioja, Los Almendros, Ausejo

Location & characteristics

This demonstration site is located in La Rioja, the most widely-known appellation in Spain. The vineyard in question is around 300 ha, and belongs to a private company (Viñedos Baron de Ley). It is regarded as an examplar of good management practice in the region, thanks to the managing team’s technical skills.

The topography of the site and the diversity of soil types results in a complexity of terroirs , which allows the company to produce a range of styles of wines.

Most of the acreage is planted with red varieties, with Tempranillo and Garnacha (syn. Grenache) being the most cultivated. From the experimental point of view, 18 temperature sensors and data-loggers have been installed in sampling points distributed across the Tempranillo fields, a variety chosen due to its relevance at both regional and national level.

 

Demonstration site managers

 

Carlos Miranda

Carlos Miranda

Associate professor
Dpt. Agricultural Production
Universidad Pública de Navarra
carlos.miranda@unavarra.es

 

Luis Gonzaga Santesteban

Luis Gonzaga Santesteban

Associate professor
Dpt. Agricultural Production
Universidad Pública de Navarra
gonzaga.santesteban@unavarra.es

Public University of Navarra UPNA cast-eusk (color)

The Viticulture and Fruit Crops Group at the University focuses its activities on developing tools and providing answers to agronomic questions raised by the growers. In order to do this, they combine classical research with technological tools. The major research areas are:

  • Water relations of grapevine and fruit crops
  • Phenological and agronomical modelling of grapevine and fruit crops
  • Precision viticulture
  • Methods of assessment of damage to fruit crops. Agricultural insurances.
  • Identification and characterisation of local varieties of grapevine and fruit crops