The wine quality depends on the quality grapes produced. Actual micrometeorological conditions occurring in the time frame of grapevine growth and development will impact berry quality, especially from berry set to the harvest. Soil-water dynamics plays an important role on the quality grape must achieved at the vinification. In the São Paulo State (Brasil) in the regions of greatest clustering of vintners, there is a marked rainy time-frame from November to February, which matches with the vine time-cycle when the majority of grape varieties are in the berry set to berry maturation bracket, which negatively affects the grape and wine quality in most of the harvests. In contrast, for the same region there is more favorable condition in the autumn/winter time, which has a promise heat summation for proper grape growing, characterized by a long time-frame of low pluviometric rate (April to October). An experiment was conducted aiming at study the cultivation o grapevines in both described ''climatic windows''�. Physico-chemical composition of and microclimatic conditions for berry maturation during 2008 to 2010 were analysed. Results showed that the studied grape varieties developed better berry quality potential when cultivated in the autumn/winter time and this effect was more pronounced for Vitis vinifera.
Vitis; grape quality; wine
