The main objective of the proposed project is the full characterization of the role of the abiotic and microbial terroir of the wine-producing zone of Drama for the main wine grape varieties cultivated in the region, aiming at the production of high quality and value-added wines.

The viticultural axes that determine the characteristics of the grapes are the environmental factors (soil, climate), the variety of vine (in combination with the clone used) and, finally, the viticultural choices. All these factors are described by the French term ‘terroir’, which is widely used to describe the specificity of the wine products of a region. The importance of the natural environment in the specific character of wines led early on (Bordeaux, 1855) to the definition of zones of geographical origin for wines. Recently, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), in the context of the work of the Committee on Vine and Wine, has developed a comprehensive methodology for defining zones (RESOLUTION OIV-VITI 423-2012) based on soil and climate.

However, the efficiency of such studies can nowadays be increased by the use of new remote sensing and close-up survey technologies (e.g. soil electrical conductivity, vegetation indicators) that allow rapid mapping of the soil or vineyard and a significant reduction in costs as they allow a reduction in the number of observations per unit area.

In order to verify the zoning methodology, a verification (on a limited sample of vineyard plots) should be carried out (ground truth) by studying the ecophysiology of the vineyard and evaluating the maturation of the grapes and the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of the wines. Today, new methods allow the collection and georeferencing of a large number of data linked to vine physiology (e.g. isotopic index δ13C for water regime, vegetation index NDVI for nitrogen nutrition and vigour, etc.) & allow to reduce the cost of the ecophysiological study.

Finally, recent studies have highlighted the important role of the vine microbiome in the quality of the wine produced, forming the term “microbial terroir”. The micro-organisms living in the rhizosphere, in or on the plant tissues constitute the vine microbiome. The rapid progress made at the methodological level in molecular microbial ecology has made it possible to capture and exploit the indigenous yeast flora for the vinification of local varieties as a means of improving them and enhancing the local wine identity.

However, due to the multitude of parameters that determine the terroir of the Greek wine producing zones and the lack of systematic and scientifically documented knowledge about the endogenous spatial variability of their wine potential, a gap has been identified in Greece in the exploitation of local wine identity (which is the most competitive feature in the international wine market). At the same time, the use of modern remote sensing tools and methods, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, and modern geoinformatics and machine learning techniques in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are now being applied for the spatial co-evaluation of large volumes of data, considering the FAO’s land suitability framework, is overdue. Finally, little is still known (in contrast to competing countries) about the microbiome of Greek local varieties, its role, and its potential for use in the production of high quality and typical wine products.

The above main objective of the project will be implemented through a series of individual research and technical methodologies that will be applied in the vineyards of the private partners participating in the project, covering almost the entire viticulture of the prefecture.