Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/490558
58 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2015 Access to real-time data and enhanced communication with partners takes the guesswork out of the grape growing pro- cess and allows Martini and his team to optimize their craft. His passion project, Bottega Vinaia is the epitome of what PICA can achieve in action. FROM TECHNOLOGY TO TASTE Bottega Vinaia—a range of estate-bottled wines, crafted to reflect the typicity and depth of Trentino's diverse terroir— has benefited from research provided by PICA. "Wines that demonstrate an authentic sense of place are increasingly sought after by all types of consumers," notes Martini. "No matter the level of expertise, knowing something about what's in your glass and where it comes from enhances the experi- ence and makes the wine memorable." With a line-up that includes indigenous northern Italian varieties Teroldego, Lagrein and Gewürztraminer, as well as the region's long-cultivated international varieties Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir, PICA has been indis- pensable for Bottega Vinaia in examining the Trentino region to identify vineyard sites that are ideally suited to each variety. "This objective, scientific data, has allowed us to make planting and viticul- tural decisions that let us showcase each variety's unique flavor profile along with the vineyard's distinct characteristics," Martini explains. "The result is high-quality wines that demonstrate a true sense of place, authenticity and style." As important as it is to make life easier for the winemaker, it is essential to under- line how PICA is achieving its twin goal of sustainability. "The integration of new technologies with classic sustainable farm- ing techniques enables growers to reduce waste through accurate planning for irrigation and treatments," notes Martini, "resulting in better quality fruit and more sustainable viticulture." As with any effective tool or technol- ogy, PICA continues to evolve. "PICA is still developing, with the addition of supplementary functions including a new feature that uses electronic char ts for viticulture checks. The data from these checks will be geo-referenced and con- ver ted into specifically-themed maps that can be used to display critical areas requiring closer examination." explains Andrea Faustini, PICA's project leader. "We are also working on innovative and user-friendly IT models that can be used to monitor the intensity of cer tain vine diseases and the speed of their dif- fusion which will allow agronomists to determine the most appropriate defense strategy for a given situation." At this point, PICA is a platform that is utilized exclusively by Cavit and is not available to other producers. While simi- lar platforms exist, none are as complex and complete as PICA. "Ours is the only platform that collects land registry data relative to all the vineyards operated by the wineries," explains Faustini. "This data is linked to constantly-updated geo-climatic information [climate and land] and analyti- cal data [chemical analysis of the soil and grapes] which are available exclusively to Cavit and its member wineries." The success of PICA and the Bottega Vinaia wines are excellent examples of how technology is not only enhancing terroir expression but also encouraging environ- mental sustainability, effectively blazing the trail for other forward-thinking growers and producers who recognize the benefit of harnessing 21st century science and tech- nology in viticulture and enology. ■ This specially developed software facilitates a better under- standing of northeastern Italy's diverse winegrowing area by providing detailed, real-time data on climate, soil, altitude, slope, exposure and daylight hours in individual vineyards throughout the province of Trentino. ■ The PICA software catalogs each vineyard with data that is updated daily by winery techs and growers, allowing them to manage every vineyard without wasting resources. ■ PICA uses 3D, multi-thematic digital mapping to plot out and catalog data for each vineyard site. ■ PICA is able to: Calculate and analyze solar radiation or daylight hours on a given day. Provide real time and comprehensive climate data, weather history and soil maps of each site. Aid in planning irrigation schedules through analyzing land features and weather forecast, reducing water usage. Optimize vineyard treatment schedules, resulting in fewer overall treatments. Pinpoint optimal times for harvesting. { cover story } WHAT IS PICA? With two principle objectives—quality and environmental sustainability—PICA is a scientific tool able to provide objec- tive data to support key decisions in grape growing and winemaking with scientific precision. PHOTO COURTESY OF CAVIT