Homoclime Analysis

A homoclime for your property is a place with a climate similar to your region. Imagine how it could guide you in your variety choice if you knew the closest homoclimes to your property around the world.

Dr Richard Smart’s homoclime analysis concentrates on temperature and rainfall. We have a massive data base of climate data available from all around the world. As well we can access information showing which varieties grow in which regions. We have developed statistical methods to search out the closest homoclimes to your region. If your property is in a region which does not have a climate recording station, we have access to international gridded data to obtain the climate in your region. We can also make projections of global warming effects.

Such information will guide you in your variety choice, and maybe even rootstock. We can also predict risk of certain diseases like Downy Mildew and Botrytis, and also frost.

This is a map of climate data stations available at present.

There are over 12,300 of these, and around 830 are in viticultural regions.

Regional Analysis

Climate data is now available in 'gridded' form, with climate estimated down to a small grid size, typically 2km X 2km. This provides a powerful tool for homoclime searches. This data is available for all of the world. As well, predictions can be made of disease and frost risk.

Meso Climate Analysis

What if your property is not near a climate recording station, or if there is a variation in topography on your property? You can measure temperature and humidity gradients using miniature data loggers in protective screens around your property, and compare these with a nearby climate recording station.

We can arrange supply of data loggers, and advise about their installation. We also provide an analysis of the data. For example, for each month we can tell you how maximum and minimum temperatures on your vineyard site vary from the nearest climate recording station. Then we can calculate equivalent long term average weather records for your property.

This service is offered through RuralSmart in Australia. For more information, contact Dr Richard Smart at Smart Viticulture on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it