Assessment of Albariño (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> sp.) plasticity to local climate in the Atlantic eastern coastal terroir of Uruguay

Plasticity is typically used in biology to describe the ability of an organism to adapt to changes in its environment. Within a viticulture production system under similar management practices, studying the plasticity of a specific cultivar under different local climatic conditions can enhance our understanding of the grape typicity and, consequently, the wine style of a region. This work aims to assess the performance of Albariño vines grown in different mesoclimates within the emerging wine region along Uruguay’s Atlantic coast. The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard in Garzón, Maldonado Department, a key location in this developing wine region. Temperature sensors were installed in each of the four Albariño plots, situated in two contrasting topographic positions relative to Atlantic Ocean exposure, to assess mesoclimate and the ocean’s influences on grapevine plasticity. Agronomic measurements were taken to assess the performance of Albariño under the local climatic conditions. The multivariate analysis of yield and berry composition variables with ocean exposure and seasonal climate has identified three key findings: 1) the Albariño cultivar has shown strong potential for cultivation in eastern Uruguay due to its favourable agronomic and oenological performance, 2) vineyard ocean exposure has a greater effect on berry composition at harvest than on yield, contributing 70.7 % and 63.4 % of the total variability, respectively as observed from the Principal Component Analysis, 3) the correlations between berry composition and ocean exposure are stronger under warmer and drier conditions. Understanding the plasticity of Albariño under different local climatic conditions is valuable for sustainable production systems, provided both production and high quality are maintained. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate cultivars and understanding the local climate for the future success of vineyards.