Analysis of Italian Wine Quality Using Freely Available Meteorological Information

Meteorological conditions strongly affect viticultural activity, modifying grapevine (Vitis vinifera) responses and determining the quality and quantity of production. The analysis of meteorological information can provide viticulturists with operational and forecasting tools for improving the management of vineyards. Meteorological information is presently available on Internet sites with different spatial and temporal scales, allowing easy access and overcoming the necessity of installing costly weather station networks. The present research was performed for the purpose of analyzing the relationship between meteorological information freely available on Internet and the average quality (defined by vintage ratings) of Italian wine. Temperature and precipitation data were analyzed. The presence of teleconnections and their effect on quality was investigated by considering 500 hPa geopotential height, sea surface temperature, and meteorological indices such as North Atlantic Oscillation and Southern Oscillation. Results highlight strong relationships between meteorological conditions and wine quality. Higher-quality wines were obtained in the years characterized by a reduction in rainfall and high temperature patterns. Teleconnections were also detected in different periods of the growing season, thus allowing for the development of wine-quality forecasting tools. Results could aid in the evaluation of operations concerning the analysis and forecasting of wine quality.