169 Operating Farms and Timberlands More Efficiently Symington prides itself on constant improvements and staying at the forefront of the port and winery business. A data-driven approach has been applied for decades to monitor each estate as well as to keep track of grape maturity. The Symington Philosophy: We believe that farming our own vineyards—understanding the terroir and the impact of each year’s conditions on the grapes—is a critical ingredient in the production of great wines and ports. Through GIS, viticulturists manage the health of the soil, ensuring its fertility for future crops. GIS also helps them to implement strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of extreme weather on their vineyards. Soil health is of particular importance in this rocky region. “We have to improve the quality of soil, breaking down our soft stone soil to construct new soil that’s better and deeper,” Leal da Costa said. The attention to soil is another long process of care and correction. The rocky schist soils of the Douro River Valley have low levels of organic matter and are too acidic. Using GIS to analyze the different parameters affecting soils, vintners can make informed decisions on how to improve and maintain the quality. “We have to introduce calcium to up the pH of soils closer to 6.3 when they naturally are at 4.8. It’s not easy, but it works,” he said. The viticulture team can access data from phones to check on grape conditions and quality readings.
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