Regional climate levels in viticulture

[[File:Idaho vineyard.jpg|right|thumb|The microclimate of these vines in Idaho is influenced by mesoclimate of the vineyard and the macroclimate of the Snake River Valley AVA.]]

In '''viticulture, there are several levels of regional climates''' that are used to describe the ''terroir'' or immutable characteristics of an area. These levels can be as broad as a macroclimate which includes entire wine regions or as small as a microclimate which includes the unique environment around an individual grapevine. In the middle is the mesoclimate which usually describes the characteristics of a particular vineyard site.

==Levels== *'''Macroclimate''', in viticulture, refers to the regional climate of a broad area such as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) or a French ''Appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC). It can include an area on the scale of tens to hundreds of kilometers. On smaller scales are the related designations of '''mesoclimate''' and '''microclimate'''.<ref name="Oxford pg 416, et al.">J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition, pp. 416, 439, 442. Oxford University Press 2006 {{ISBN|0-19-860990-6}}.</ref> *'''Mesoclimate''' refers to the climate of a particular vineyard site and is generally restricted to a space of tens or hundreds of meters.<ref name="Oxford pg 416, et al."/> *'''Microclimate''' refers to the specific environment in a small restricted spaces-such as a row of vines. The more delineated term '''canopy microclimate''' refers to the environment around an individual grapevine.<ref name="Oxford pg 416, et al."/> although many viticulturists use the term "microclimate" when talking about an individual vine and the effects of canopy management. <ref>{{cite book |last=Smart |first=Richard |title=Sunlight Into Wine |publisher= Winetitles |year=1991 |edition = first |isbn=1-875130-10-1}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Viticulture Category:Wine terminology Category:Climate and weather classification systems