Introduction
Wine has been an important symbol in society for centuries and can be a defining feature in some cultures, religions, and lifestyles. Indeed, the expansion of viticulture was largely due to Christian and Jewish representation after the fall of the Roman Empire (Unwin, 1991). The ancient art of viticulture is a term that applies to the production and harvesting of vine plants, specifically grapes in this analysis. European and Asian grape species (largely Vitis vinifera) were brought to North America in the seventeenth century and were rapidly cultivated due to the desire for early settlers to create their own cultural identities (Unwin, 1991). At present, wine grapes in North America are primarily produced from species under the genus Vitis and are used either as a pure species, or more commonly in hybrid form.
In Canada, most grapes are produced from the species; V. riparia, V. vinifera, V. labrusca, V. aestivalis, and V. rotundifolia (Winkler, 1962). There are also a large number of hybrid forms that have stronger rootstocks and therefore are less susceptible to disease and rot (Winkler, 1962). This spatial analysis will look at the wine grape varieties V. riparia, V. vinifera, and V. labrusca. These species were specifically examined due to high amounts of source data as well as their importance in viticulture. This analysis will look at each specific grape and their defining environmental characteristics. Through the use of IDRISI, the area of suitability of the wine grapes in the GVRD will be analysed to produce a grapes species that has the highest potential for production. Grapes, being one of the highest produced commodity crops, could potentially play a large part in supporting the economy of the GVRD. In BC, most grapes used for wine are produced in the Okanogan Valley, Southern Vancouver Island, or the Fraser Valley. Therefore there is a potential for wine vineyards in the GVRD to be sustainable at an amateur level and possibly a commercial level. Wine produced locally in the GVRD could also reduce effects on the environment by reducing shipment transportation from distant regions. Overall, viticulture in the GVRD could strengthen the economy of Vancouver city as well as define a new cultural trend for this region.
Terrier, a French word with no direct translation, represents the effects that the environment has on the flavour of wine. This allows for a high diversity of wines due to their location and environment. Therefore, in this analysis the climate and soil texture of the GVRD will be an important identifier for potential vineyard locations. Other factors, including water, land-use, elevation, and slope and aspect were also considered important factors for viticulture. For further information on the conceptual outline of this spatial analysis refer to the outline.