VITICULTURAL NURSERY AND VINEYARD MANAGEMENT

The course aims to provide knowledge related to grapevine cultivation, ranging from nursery propagation techniques to vineyard design, establishment, and management, with particular reference to the production of grapes intended for winemaking. Students will acquire technical and scientific skills aimed at the proper design and management of vineyards according to the principles of sustainable agriculture. They will also be able to address and solve the main agronomic issues of a wine-growing and wine-producing farm through methodologically sound and scientifically based approaches.

 Expected learning outcomes according to the Dublin descriptors:

Knowledge and understanding: to acquire knowledge of the main nursery propagation techniques for grapevines and of cultivation practices, developing the tools needed to understand the principles and mechanisms underlying the proper design and management of vineyards.

Applying knowledge and understanding: to apply the acquired knowledge to analyse and interpret the technical and agronomic aspects of vineyard design and management, assessing their effects on productive performance and grape quality.

Making judgements: to interpret the relationships between the growing environment, the grapevine, and canopy and soil management practices, with the aim of optimising the physiological processes of the grapevine, improving production efficiency, and enhancing the plant’s ability to adapt to and overcome environmental stresses.

Communication skills: to appropriately analyse, communicate, and discuss the evolution, main issues, and prospects of viticulture at regional, national, and global levels, using appropriate technical and scientific terminology.

Learning skills: to independently develop the acquired skills in order to analyse and interpret case studies related to the wine industry, integrating knowledge of nursery production and viticultural practices with that acquired in other disciplines of the degree programme, and identifying interdisciplinary connections useful for addressing production-related issues.

The course consists of a total of 63 hours, divided into lectures and practical activities. Lectures will be held in the classroom and will cover all the topics listed in the syllabus. Students will also have the opportunity to attend specific seminars addressing innovative topics of particular interest to the wine industry. 

Practical activities will be carried out both in the laboratory and through technical visits to experimental and/or commercial vineyards, with the aim of promoting the practical application of the knowledge acquired during the lectures.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus. 

No specific prerequisites are required. Basic knowledge of tree biology, morphology, and physiology, as well as of general understanding of viticulture, is recommended.

Attending the classes is not mandatory, but strongly recommended,  as it facilities the learning process and contributes to the achievement of the learning objectives.

Introduction to the course. Sexual and asexual propagation of grapevines. Grapevine nursery production. Vineyard establishment. Rootstocks. Training systems. Winter pruning. Canopy management during the growing season. Soil management. Mineral nutrition and irrigation. Management of grape harvesting. Precision viticulture. Viticultural production systems.

Text 1 “Manuale di Viticoltura” - A. Palliotti, S. Poni, O. Silvestroni - Edagricole, 2018.

Text 2 “Viticoltura e cambiamento climatico. Sfide e prospettive” - Stefano Poni - Edagricole, 2026.

Other reccomended text:

"Viticoltura di Qualità" - M. Fregoni - Techiche Nuove, III Edizione, 2013.

"La nuova Viticoltura. Innovazioni tecniche per modelli produttivi efficienti e sostenibili" - A. Palliotti, S. Poni, O. Silvestroni - Edagricole, 2015.

"Avversità ambientali e parassitarie della vite e cambiamento climatico" - A. Palliotti, M. Benuzzi, O. Silvestroni - - Edagricole, 2023.

"Progressi in Viticoltura" - a cura di M. Boselli - Edises, 2016.

The teacher may provide additional teaching materials available on the Studium platform to support the learning activities and provide further in-depth coverage of the topics addressed during the course.

Learning will be assessed through an oral examination consisting of 3–4 questions, aimed at assessing the student’s level of knowledge and understanding of the topics included in the course syllabus.

The assessment of the student’s preparation will take into account their learning ability and level of in-depth understanding of the topics covered, their ability to summarize and communicate concepts clearly, as well as their capacity for reasoning and making connections between the different topics covered in the course.

 The evaluation follows the following scheme:

Fail (below 18/30):

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: significant shortcomings and inaccuracies

Ability to analyze and synthesize: irrelevant with frequent generalizations

Use of references: completely inappropriate

18-20:

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: very modest with evident imperfections

Analysis and synthesis skills: barely adequate

Use of references: just appropriate

21-23:

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge is slightly above the minimum accetable level

Ability to analyze and synthesize: a fair ability to analyze and synthesize information, presenting arguments in a logical and coherent manner

Using references: use standard references

24-26:

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: good knowledge

Analysis and synthesis skills: good analytical and synthesis abilities, arguments are presented consistently

Using references: use of standard references

27-29:

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: knowledge more than good

Ability to analyze and synthesize: considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis

Use of references: the topic has been explored in depth

30-30 e lode:

Knowledge and understanding of the topic: excellent knowledge

Ability to analyze and synthesize: excellent abilities of analysis and synthesis

Use of references: important insights

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o DSA) through the referring professor within the department, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti). 

1.   Grapevine nursery production: propagation and production cycles in the nursery

2.   Vineyard establishment

3.   Soil management in the vineyard: inter-row and under-vine management

4.   Summer pruning and the physiological and vegetative-reproductive response of grapevines

5.   Training and fruit-production pruning

6.   Characteristics of the main rootstocks for Mediterranean environments

7.   Mineral nutrition and vineyard fertilization

8.   The main technologies in precision viticulture