1-Viticulture Flashcards
(113 cards)
1
Q
What is Viticulture?
A
The art and science of vine growing.
2
Q
What are factors that influence wine production?
A
Location
climate
topography/aspect
soil
grape varieties planted
viticulture practices
vinification practices
harvest
yearly weather/vintage variation
terroir
regional wine laws
historical background
3
Q
What is the difference between climate and weather?
A
climate is what you expect
weather is what you get
4
Q
The majority of the world’s vineyards are located between which two of the earth’s latitudes?
A
30-50
5
Q
Describe climate, large to small
A
Macroclimate-big picture
mesoclimate-particular vineyard
microclimate-specific vine
6
Q
What 4 climate conditions are considered when considering a viticultural area?
A
continental
maritime
mediterranean
high desert
7
Q
Describe continental climate
A
strong annual variation in temperature due to lack of proximity to significant bodies of water. Hot summers, cold winters
Northern Rhones and Ribera Del Duero
8
Q
Describe maritime climate
A
climate influenced by a large body of water such a sea or ocean. Mild temps all year, that fluctuate year to year causing vintage variation
Bordeaux and Rias Baixas
9
Q
Describe mediterranean climate
A
hot and dry summers, aside from coastal areas. coasts are mild summers likely with storms
Southern Rhone and McLaren Vale
10
Q
Describe high desert climate
A
hot and dry summers. high daytime temps, dramatic drops at night
Leona Valley AVA and Cochise County AZ
11
Q
Name the 4 temperature definitions
A
cool
moderate
warm
hot
12
Q
What 6 factors influence a region’s climate?
A
Diurnal shifts
sunshine hours
threats
frost or freeze
hail
strong winds
13
Q
Describe diurnal shifts
A
difference between average daytime high and nighttime low temps
affects ripening of grapes and acidity and sugar
14
Q
Describe sunshine hours
A
number of sunshine hours the vineyard sees in a given vintage year or growing season
15
Q
What is the difference between climate and weather?
A
Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.
16
Q
The majority of the worlds vineyards are located between which two of the earth’s latitudes?
A
30-50 north and south of the equator in the the northern and southern hemispheres
17
Q
What is the range of minimum sunshine hours a vine needs during the growing season?
A
1200-1500 hours minimum
18
Q
What are some weather threats that can affect the health and general survival of a vineyard?
A
*Hail
*Frost
*Deep winter freezes
*Strong wind
19
Q
How can hail affect a vineyard?
A
Hail damages vines by
*perforating the leaves, rendering them unable to photosynthesize
*puncturing or destroying berries, making the useless and decreasing that year’s yeild
*damaging the vine with small wounds, into which disease and rot can fester.
20
Q
How does frost affect vines?
At what point in the vine’s annual cycle is frost most dangerous?
A
Frost is most dangerous at budburst (march/april in northern hemisphere, Sept/Oct in southern hemisphere)
How frost affects the vine:
*it can delay budding and flowering (which means grapes may not fully ripen)
*new plant material can freeze and die
*spring frost can decrease the annual yield.
21
Q
How does a deep freeze (winter or spring) affect the vine?
A
If it is severe, the vines are at risk of being killed.
22
Q
How do strong winds affect vineyards?
A
Strong winds can
*uproot vines
*blow them over
*blow off delicate flowers which means no grapes will form
23
Q
What are 2 geographical climate moderators?
A
Bodies of water
Mountains
24
Q
How do bodies of water influence climate?
A
Bodies of water can help:
*cool a region
*warm a region
25
How do mountains influence climate? (3)
Mountains can provide:
*rain shadow
*vineyards planted at higher elevation
*Wind/drafts that can have cooling or warming effects on vineyards
26
What is a rain shadow?
Give two mountain ranges that provide rain shadows.
A rain shadow is when mountains are at such a high altitude that they block the passage of rain clouds, leaving the downwind side with more sunshine and lower cloud cover and precipitation.
Cascade Mountains in Washington
Vosges Mountains in Alsace.
27
Temperatures drop by one degree for every ________ meters in elevation rise.
100 meters
28
Where are higher altitude vineyards typically found?
Why would a vineyard be planted at higher altitude?
Higher altitude vineyards are typically found in warmer/hotter regions.
Higher altitudes provide vineyards cooler temps which help keep sugars and acidity in balance
29
What are some beneficial effects of wind on a vineyard?
*helps prevent mold/rot by circulating air
*can cool a region, especially if the wind is coming from a cool body of water
*can warm a region especially if the wind is coming from an arid area
30
What 3 topographical features can influence viticulture and climate?
1. Altitude/elevation -- is the vineyard on a hillside or on the valley floor?
2. Aspect--which direction is the vineyard facing? is it getting gentler morning sun or harsher afternoon sun?
3. Proximity to body of water--is there a body of water nearby to moderate temperatures or provide wind?
31
Steep hillsides are usually ______ fertile than valley floors.
Why?
less fertile, due to erosion
32
Why are valley floors more susceptible to frost than hillsides?
Because cool air collects and stays stagnant on valley floors.
Hillsides experience more air flow, therby decreasing frost risk.
33
When describing which way a vineyard faces--E/SE, S/SW....what term are you using?
Aspect
34
The majority of the world's top vineyards are planted on soils that are:
very rich and fertile
very poor and infertile?
very poor and infertile
35
List the 8 soil types most vineyards are planted.
*clay
*granite
*gravel
*limestone/chalk
*Marl
*sand
*schist
*silt
36
Name a region in France known for its granite soils.
Beaujolais
37
Name a region in France known for its marl soils.
Cote de Nuits, Burgandy
38
Name a region in Portugal known for its schist soils.
Douro
39
Name 3 major parts of the grape
*skins
*seeds/pips
*pulp
40
What characteristics do skins add to a wine? (3)
*tannins, give astringency
*color, from anthocyanins
*flavor, aromas are unique to each grape varietal
41
What do the seeds/pips add to a wine?
*bitterness
*astringency--how much your mouth dries out
42
What does the pulp of a grape add to a wine?
*water
*sugars, increases as the grape ripens
*acids, decrease as the grape ripens
43
Most wines in the world are made with the European vine genus/species _________for quality grape production.
Vitis vinifera
44
Name two other grape genus/species used in wine production.
1. vitis labrusca
2. vitis riparia
45
Approximately how many grape varieties are known with Vitis vinifera?
*1-1000
*1000-5000
*upwards of 10,000
Upwards of 10,000
examples include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and merlot
46
What is the first thing that needs to be considered when planting a grape varietal for a specific vineyard?
Local wine law
local regulations may say what can and cannot be planted.
47
What other considerations must be made when determining what grape varietal to plant?
1. Climate compatability
Will the grape you want to plant ripen where you want to plant it? or is the climate too warm for the grape you want to plant?
2. Soil compatibility
Does the grape you want to plant perform well in the soil type where you want to plant it?
48
What are 3 terms used for grape breeding?
1.Hybrids
2. Crosses
3. Clones
49
What is a hybrid?
When two or more different species are used to create a new variety.
50
Why are grape hybrids created?
Usually with a specific intention such as:
*pest or disease resistance
*increased frost resistance
*improved flavor, color or yield
51
What are grape crosses?
When vines of the same species are combined to create a new variety.
cab franc and sauv blanc were crossed to create cab sauv
52
What are grape clones?
Identical reproductions of a vine, usually made by taking cuttings from an existing vine to propogate specific traits.
53
When grapes grow in a cool climate, what are some of the the general characteristics they express?
*lower alcohol
*slow/low sugar accumulation
*slower ripening
*higher acidity
*flavors tend to be more tart, higher toned, under to just ripe
54
When grapes grow in a warm climate, what are some general characteristics they express?
*higher alcohol
*higher sugar levels
*grapes fully ripen
*lower acidity
*flavors tend to be juicy, opulent, fully ripe but can lean over ripe
55
What is meant by 'vineyard architecture'?
how the vines are arranged within a vineyard
56
What is meant by 'vine spacing'?
how far apart one row of vines is from the next row of vines.
57
What is vine training?
Training a vine is a way to control production of leaves, shoots and grapes.
vines need to be trained on a trellis otherwise they'll grow willy-nilly
58
Define vineyard yield.
Yield is the amount of grapes produced in an acre (or hectare).
Yield is measured in
*tons per acre
*hectoliters per hectare
*pound per kilo per vine
59
What is green harvesting and why is it done?
When extra grape clusters are removed from the vine.
It is done to balance leaf area and fruit for a crop that's higher in ripeness.
60
What are 5 key components of vineyard management?
1. canopy management
2. irrigation
3. pests and disease
4. fertilizers
5. anti-fungal and anti-bacterial treatments
61
What is canopy management?
managing the growth of the green parts of the vine--leaves, shoots, and fruit--to optimize yield and air flow, improve fruit quality, reduce the risk of disease and facilitate future harvest.
62
What is irrigation?
Give one example of how a vineyard can be irrigated.
providing a vineyard extra water in order to cultivate vines.
1.drip irrigation
2. flood irrigation
3. sprinklers
63
Name some pests that can affect vines and vineyards.
*birds
*phylloxera (root louse)
*nematodes (microscopic worms)
64
What is phylloxera?
A louse that is native to North America that attacks the vines roots and kills the vines.
65
What do fertilizers do?
Boost soil fertility and infuse nutrients into the soil.
66
How do anti-fungal and anti-bacterial treatments work?
They are applied to the vines by spray or soil injections to prevent or diminish molds, mildew and rot and to preserve fruit quality.
67
What is 'harvest'?
when the grapes are picked
68
What are 2 methods used for harvesting grapes?
What are their differences?
1. By hand (more expensive, labor intensive, slower)
2. With machines (cheaper, faster, more sorting)
69
How does a winegrower determine when to pick their grapes? (3 things)
They look at overall grape maturity:
*sugar ripeness (how much sugar has accumulated in the grape)
*physiological ripeness (how ripe the cluster as a whole has matured)
*Phenolic/tannin ripeness (maturity of the tannins in the skins and seeds.
70
What are 'vineyard passes'?
How many times a winegrower has to go through the vineyard picking only the ripest clusters at each pass, leaving the under-ripe grapes on the vine until they're ready to be harvested.
71
Give 2 examples of when it's really beneficial to machine harvest.
1. When you're close to harvest and a big rain storm is coming--the rain will dilute the grapes.
2. When you have a huge amount of vineyards to harvest and labor is scarce or expensive.
72
Why does the size of the harvesting bin matter?
Small bins allow for more careful selection of grapes and there is less chance of puncturing the berries.
Large bins are better for big volumes of commercial wine that don't necessarily require the detailed selection process. Large bins can cause berries to split, losing juice and compromising quality.
73
Why are vintages important?
They give insight into the consistency or variations of that particular vintage.
Variations include wildfires, drought, and excessive rain.
74
What does the term terrior mean?
A sense of place.
It encapsulates everything that happens in and around a region or appellation--climate, topography, crops that grow around the vines, to the vineyard and winemaking practices.
75
What can regional wine laws dictate? (4)
*Which grapes can be grown and where.
*How grapes are grown/trellised
*When grapes are picked
*How they are aged
76
What is meant by 'historical background' when discussing region/vineyard/wine? (4)
*What has happened viticulturally in that place for generations
*What has been established as best vineyard practices
*What grapes grow best in that place
*What styles of wine that place is known for
77
Name 6 key parts of the grape vine.
1. Rootstock
2. Trunk
3. Cordons (branches)
4. shoots/canes
5. grapes clusters/bunches
6. canopy
78
List 8 phases of a vine's growing cycle.
1. dormancy
2. bud break
3. flowering
4. fruit set
5. ripening (verasion, hang time)
6. maturity
7. harvest
8. pruning
79
What are the 2 main vine training systems?
1. Head training (Goblet/Bush)
2. Cordon training (uses support for growth)
80
How is phylloxera controlled?
by grafting Vitis vinifera onto Vitis labrusca rootstock
81
5 Considerations made when deciding to harvest.
1. weather
2. style of wine being made
3. producer goals
4. regional wine law
5. number of vineyard passes for picking
82
Why would a producer harvest their grapes at night?
to keep the grapes cool during transport, reducing oxidation and microbial spoilage
83
What is the soil type in Hermitage and Cote-Rotie?
granite and schist
84
What is the soil type of Cornas (Rhone)?
Granite
85
What is the soil type of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
sand
gravel
clay
with "pudding stones" called galets
86
What is the main soil type of St.-Emilion?
Divided into the cotes and graves
-the hillside cotes are steep limestone slopes
-graves=gravelly limestone plateau resembling soils of medoc
87
What is the main soil type of Pomerol?
*clay based
* there is also sand and gravel, with a subsoil of iron pan and rich clay (crasse de fer)
88
What is the main soil type of Haut-Medoc?
well drained gravelly soils
89
What is the main soil type of Gimblett Gravels? (New Zealand Hawke's Bay)
Deep, pure gravel beds
90
What is the major soil type of Coonawarra? (Australia)
well drained red Terra rossa
91
What is the major soil type of Chablis?
Kimmeridgian marl
92
What are the major soil types of the Cote d'Or?
Limestone and clay
93
What is the major soil type of champagne?
Chalk
*Belemnite chalk which has a high limestone content
*allows the vine to root deeply and is linked to increased acidity
94
List 5 properties of soil
1. Drainage or water retention
2. sun reflection
3. nutrient content
4. temperature regulation
5. pest resistance
95
The Andes Mtns. create a rain shadow for.....
Mendoza, Argentina
96
What region is affected by the Cascade Mtn Range?
Columbia Valley, WA
97
What is the most important topography feature of Alsace?
Vosges Mtn Range
98
What is topography?
surface feature of the land such as elevation or altitude, includes mountains, hills, Valley's, and bodies of water.
99
What climate moderating effect do Alsace, Mendoza, and Columbia Valley WA have in common?
They are all in a rain shadow
100
What area does the Humbolt Current affect?
Chile
* also called Peru current. Cold ocean current that flows NW along the coast of south america
*cooling influence
*most pronounced July-Nov
101
What area does the Benguela Current affect?
South Africa
*flows northward in the south atlantic ocean along the west coast of south Africa
102
What is organic viticulture?
grape growing based on avoidance of non-natural and manufactured chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers.
103
What is biodynamic viticulture?
prioritizes natural and organic materials and views the vineyard as a self-sustaining ecosystem.
*use natural fertilizers
*cover crops and composting
*consider lunar/astrological cycles
*set aside (10%) of land for biodiversity
104
What is sustainable viticulture?
Intended to protect the environment and expand Earth's natural resource base and maintain and improve soil fertility.
*crop rotation
*biological control
*targeted use of pesticides
105
What is dry farming?
A method of growing grapes without additional water, relying on rainfall and soil moisture to support the vines and berries
*old world
*Napa/sonoma
106
What is Henry Scott vine training?
*used most often over seas
*benefits include improved yield and fruit composition and reduced disease.
*a cane pruned system using 2 or 4 canes.
107
How do Germany and Switzerland measure sugar ripeness?
Oechsle scale
*indicates the density of the grape must
*a higher reading means more sugar content
108
What is phenolic ripeness (maturity)?
When the grapes reaches its ideal level of phenolic compounds such as tannins, anthocyanins, flavones and other compounds that enhance color, flavors and aromas of the resulting wine.
109
What is sugar ripeness?
Most often measured in Brix
when the grape reaches its ideal level of sugar
110
Name one country known for flood irrigating
Argentina
111
What is verasion?
A biochemical change in grapes when color (other than green) first appears in the grapes. Sugar and other flavor components are stored in the grapes and the berries begin to enlarge and soften
112
Give 2 examples of wines made on purpose with botrytis.
Sauternes
Vouvray
113
List some examples of Vitis labrusca
concord
deleware
Isabella
niagra
*crossing is intentional
