The satellite measures a vineyard’s reflectivity in a number of colours in the visible and infrared.  The Oenoview system, first launched in France last year, analyses the images to determine vine leaf density, soil water content and grape bunch sizes. The English Wine Producers trade group said that wines made using the system could be available as early as 2011. Oenoview was developed by the Institut Cooperatif du Vin in France along with Infoterra, a subsidiary of aerospace firm EADS Astrium.

The system relies on the fact that reflectivity at different wavelengths can give information both about the vines’ foliage and the soil in which they are growing. The quantity of foliage is linked to the quality of the grapes because it is an indirect measure of the amounts of sugars and tannins contained in them. There is an ideal time to harvest each bunch, but not all bunches are ready at the same time. The satellite data cuts the vineyards into two-metre-square “pixels”, corresponding to about four vines each, and the software assigns each pixel a colour-coded “leaf area index”.

“If there is an even distribution of blue or red images in a field, the leaf area index suggests that the grapes can be harvested altogether,” said Oenoview programme manager Henri Douche.  “But if the map shows defined red and blue areas, it helps the owner to care for and harvest sections of the fields to produce top quality wine.”

Julia Trustram Eve from English Wine Producers said: “Innovation is at the heart of the English wine industry and vineyard owners are keen to use technology that complements their wine-making skills. “Developing a pilot programme to use space technology is a smart and exciting next step.”

First published by the BBC on 03/11/09

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Taste the difference with Vin Vino Direct… exclusive online wine merchants with a huge selection of specialist, fine and rare wines from around the world – we have wines from boutique growers that you cannot find from any other online wine merchant.

We have one of the largest collections of French claret wines in the UK…plus, an amazing range of Italian fine wines and French fine wines. We carry wines covering over 66 grape varieties, including the favourites of Shiraz, Merlot, Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Pinot Grigio – all available to buy online for your wine cellar today. We are internationally accredited as Bordeaux specialists and renowned for our exclusive and unique fine wines online at all prices.
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A high-speed rail link planned between Bordeaux, Toulouse and Spain is due to cut right through the vineyards of Graves, threatening up to 50 hectares of vines. Ten chateaux are particularly affected by the proposed train route. These include chateaux including Le Tuquet, Méjean and Saint-Jérôme in northern section of the Graves, and Château du Grand Bos, Château Haut Selve and Château de Castres in the southern section.

André Vincent of Chateau du Grand Bos stated, ‘the final route has not yet been decided, but we are right in the middle of the affected area, and it is very close to our main buildings and prime vineyard land.’ ‘Wine has been made on this spot for 400 years, so this is not just vines, but rich history. We will continue to fight.’  Dominique Havelan, president of the Maison des Vins des Graves, said viticultural heritage was ‘being ignored in favour of infrastructure developments.’

The Graves vineyard is the oldest in Bordeaux. Graves has already been affected by the Toulouse motorway, and now is again threatened.

View Vin Vino’s collection of Graves wines online by clicking here….a few of the fine wines from Graves that we hold in our cellars include;

2002 Château La Fleur Jonquet – see more

1998 Château Brown - see more

1996 Château Brown – see more

1983 Château la Tour Blanche -1er Grand Cru Classé – see more