Biotechnological and Natural Factors Determining Crop Yield in Russian Viticulture and Winemaking Terroirs

Abstract

Modern viticulture and winemaking is an important sector of biotechnology, which requires fundamental and applied scientific research for successful development of the agricultural sector. Since the end of the 20th century, the global scientific community has begun to receive data that one of the most important ways to improve the quality of grape harvests is to manage the planting density of grape vines and regulate yields. For the first time, an analysis of planting density, diversity, and yield of grape varieties in the main viticulture and winemaking terroirs of Russia was conducted. The main viticulture and winemaking regions of Russia are Krasnodar krai, the Republic of Crimea, and the Republic of Dagestan, which account for 80% of the total number of grape vines planted in Russia. The leading varieties in Russia in terms of the number of vines and planting area are Cabernet Sauvignon, Rkatsiteli, and Chardonnay. Russian vineyards have a wide row spacing (an average of 3.4 m) and low planting density of grape vines (an average of 2594 vines per hectare). According to modern scientific approaches, the yield and quality of grapes directly depend on a number of factors, one of which is the ratio of the leaf surface area of the vin to its yield. Against this background, it is necessary to rethink approaches to regulating the yield of fruit-bearing vineyards in order to avoid producers abusing the lack of yield standards for wine-grape varieties. In a number of regions, there are cases of overstated yields in declarations, which distort the real state of affairs in the grape and wine market. Russian grape growers are advised to take into account the balance factors of the grape vine in terms of the optimal ratio of its outer leaf surface to yield, as well as water balance, in order to achieve higher quality indicators of wine products and increase their competitiveness in the market.