Fine-Scale Topoclimatic Patterns and Their Implications for High-Altitude Vineyards

Abstract Understanding the spatial configuration of local climate in mountainous agricultural areas is essential for assessing land suitability and adaptation strategies under global warming. The study aims to quantify fine-scale thermal variability and evaluate its implications for site-specific vineyard management under frost and heat stress conditions. The study area is a high-altitude vineyard (1,430–1,550 m a.s.l.), known as Monasterio, located in Gualtallary, Mendoza (Argentina), and forms part of the RAQUIS project. Air temperature was recorded every 5–15 minutes using twelve sensors and one automatic weather station over two growing seasons (October–March) and one dormancy period (May–September). Thermal and bioclimatic spatial patterns were examined through point-based measurements and regression-based modelling in SAGA-QGIS. Results show that variations in slope, aspect, and altitude produce strong microclimatic contrasts, delineating two distinct Winkler bioclimatic zones within the vineyard—ranging from cold–moderate to moderate thermal regimes. East-, northeast- and southeast-facing slopes exhibited higher heat accumulation, whereas lower sectors were prone to nocturnal cold-air pooling and frost formation. During the growing season, mean maximum and minimum temperatures differed by up to 3.5°C and 2.5°C, respectively, revealing marked thermal heterogeneity across short distances. This study highlights the role of fine-scale topography in shaping vineyard climates and demonstrates the value of high-resolution climatic monitoring and GIS-based spatial analysis for understanding topoclimatic dynamics in mountainous agricultural environments. Such insights contribute to both viticultural adaptation and broader research in physical geography and local climatology.