Pollen, an indicator of wine production

Abstract

The future harvest can be estimated using a reliable and reproducible technique for sampling and analysing the variation of grape pollen in the atmosphere. The results described come from a network of observation points throughout Europe. The pollen content in the atmosphere is a reliable indicator to predict the harvest after flowering. In France, this integrated method appears to be reliable, assuming there are no major post flowering problems. To generalise its use, it is necessary to quantify the effect of the post flowering conditions. The pollen emission curve shows the dates of the flowering period and can be used to judge (estimate) the qualitative potential of the year. This new tool is an effective aide to allow better control of the yields from the time the fruit sets and to achieve optimum fruit quality. It can also help the professional growers to manage the harvest period.