wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Sea climate

Also maritime climate or sea climate; see under climate.

Term for the totality of all meteorological processes or possible weather conditions, including the typical sequence as well as the daily and seasonal fluctuations that are responsible for the average state of the earth's atmosphere at a particular location. The name (from the Greek klimatos = inclination) is derived from the curvature of the Earth's sphere and the resulting local variations in the angle of incidence of the sun. The climate is not only characterised by processes within the atmosphere, but rather by the interplay of all spheres of the earth (continents, oceans, atmosphere) and solar activity. Climate is one of the most important factors influencing viticulture.

Klima - Welkarte mit den Großklimaten nach Köppen-Geiger

In contrast to weather (hours to weeks) and weather conditions (a few days to a week, up to a month or a season), climate is understood as a statistically determined state of the earth's atmosphere over a period of several decades (at least 30 years). Areas with the same climatic conditions are categorised into climate zones and thus classified. There are various classifications; the best known was developed by the German-Russian climatologist and biologist Wladimir Peter Köppen (1846-1940). This was then further developed by the meteorologist Rudolf Geiger (1894-1981).

CLIMATE FACTORS

The climatic characteristics result from many factors such as exposure (solar radiation), precipitation, temperature, humidity and wind as well as their sequence and interaction. In addition to the soil type, the grape variety planted there and the individual type of winemaking, the climate is a decisive factor for wine quality. However, the very specific climatic conditions for a small area in which the vineyard is located (microclimate, site climate) and even smaller-scale conditions (microclimate) also play an important role. The vine thrives best in warm, temperate zones of the northern and southern hemisphere, the so-called vine belts. These are the relatively narrow areas between 40 and 50 degrees latitude in the northern hemisphere and between 30 and 40 degrees latitude in the southern hemisphere.

Rebengürtel - Weltkarte mit Weinbaugebieten

CONDITIONS FOR THE GRAPEVINE

Above all, the vine needs warmth and light. According to studies by the Geisenheim Research Centre, the optimum temperature for growth is between 25 and 28 °Celsius. This is mainly determined by the altitude. As a rule of thumb, it drops by 0.6 °Celsius for every 100 metres difference in altitude. A hillside location is ideal in terms of vertical sunlight. The thermals are also favourable, as the cold air currents fall down the slope at night, where they warm up in the morning and move back up again during the day.

This cycle is particularly important for quality white wines in terms of acidity. The tops of hills are planted with trees to slow down the flow of cold air, which in Europe is mainly used in Germany, Austria and France. Water bodies (rivers, lakes, seas) have a positive influence on viticulture because they reflect the light. It is therefore no coincidence that many important wine-growing regions around the world are located near bodies of water.

The most northerly vineyards for quality wine cultivation are in Germany (51st parallel) and England (52nd parallel). The southernmost wine-growing borders are located at the Cape in South Africa (35° latitude), in Argentina and Chile, as well as on the southern main island of New Zealand (40° latitude). From the equator to 20 degrees north and south latitude, there is no viticulture due to tropical conditions with heat and drought, or only in higher areas up to 2,000 metres above sea level, such as in Kenya. Outside of these areas, there is too little sunlight and precipitation or the risk of cold and frost. The suitability of a region for quality viticulture is described under viticultural suitability.

INFLUENCE OF THE CLIMATE ON VITICULTURE

The first scientific investigation into the influence of the climate on viticulture was carried out by the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyrame de Candolle (1806-1893) in the middle of the 19th century. These findings were used by the two US researchers Albert Julius Winkler (1894-1989) and Maynard A. Amerine (1911-1998) from the University of California. In 1944, they introduced the so-called degree-day summation system, which categorises California into a total of five climate zones.

In the meantime, various climate classification systems have been developed worldwide on this basis. Various criteria are measured in the annual vegetation cycle of the vine or for the entire year and used for the assessment. These are temperature values, the number of hours of sunshine and the amount of precipitation.

The optimum temperatures for viticulture are between 25 and 28 °C during the ripening period if there is a sufficient supply of nutrients, good irrigation and sunlight. This is when photosynthesis reaches its optimum performance. The ideal annual average is 1,300 to 1,600 hours of sunshine, i.e. around 180 days with seven...

Voices of our members

Markus J. Eser

Using the encyclopaedia is not only time-saving, but also extremely convenient. What's more, the information is always up to date.

Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,379 Keywords · 46,983 Synonyms · 5,323 Translations · 31,713 Pronunciations · 202,091 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS