10. Viticulture Scenarios Flashcards
Vines in Pauillac are planted at ___ densities.
Why is this an appropriate choice for grape growers (2)?
How does this affect the yield?
High densities (~10,000 plants/ha)
- Rainfall = high, so less competition.
- Land = $$$, so maximization is economically necessary.
Yields vary, but generally mid-level (50-60 hl/ha, yield/vine is small, but many vines are planted.)
Where are Cabernet Franc vines usually cultivated in the Finger Lakes AVA?
Why (2)?
Usually planted around lake edges.
- Closer to the lake = more moderate conditions
- Extends grape growing period, allows tannins+aromas to ripen as much as possible.
How is harvesting carried out in Priorat and why?
How are Priorat wines usually priced and why?
Hand-Harvesting must be carried out due to extremely rugged terrain and untrellised vines.
Priorat wines are never inexpensive (usually premium/super-premium) due to low yields and long hours of manual labor.
How is harvest / other vineyard procedures carried out in Pauillac (4)?
- Can be mechaznized or by hand.
- Trellising = machines can harvest despite tight-spacing.
- Tellising also = trimming/weed management can be mechanized.
Bordeaux wines range in quality from entry-level to super-premium, so more prestigious wines might be hand-harvested, limiting harvest to only the best fruit.
Yields in Priorat are extremely ___ due to:
- Low (15-25 hl/ha)
- Due to the number of old vines in the region.
What is the main variety planted in the Finger Lakes AVA?
Why is this a suitable grape for the region (2)?
What will grape growers do to protect the vines from winter freeze?
What will grape growers do to increase the types of wine in their portfolio?
- Riesling
- Riesling = high winter hardiness / also late budding, which protects from spring frosts.
- Grape growers will hill up soil around vine graft (most vulnerable to winter freeze)
- Grape growers will plant a variety of clones = provides blending options to enhance quality + differentiate btw/different wines.
What specific method of trellising is employed in the Central Valley of California?
Describe how it is specifically suited for this region (4):
“Californa Sprawl”
- Vines are spur-pruned, cordon-trained (replacement cane pruning = more $ for labor.)
- Vines are trained high on a single wire, and shoots flop up and over.
- This is system of trellsing is cheaper than others.
- Hanging shoots also shade fruit from intense afternoon sun.
Where is Pauillac AOC located?
How does its location affect its climate?
What is the main soil type found there?
Bordeaux, SW France near the Atlantic Ocean.
The proximity to the ocean moderates the climate and creates a Maritime climate (mod. summers, mild winters, consistent rainfall all year.)
Soils are mainly free-draining, gravel-based.
What factors lead to the vigor of grapevines planted in the Finger Lakes AVA (2)?
What techniques do grape growers employ to manage this vigor (2)?
- Nutrient-rich soils + Plentiful, year-round rainfall.
- Scott-Henry trellising to divide vine canopies, improve light penetration.
- Summer pruning techniques (e.g. leaf stripping) to reduce nutrient misdirection + enhace ripening.
What are the main and secondary varietals cultivated in Pauillac?
How do the ripening times of the grapes influence their success?
How do the characteristics of the grapes complement each other?
Cabernet Sauvignon is the main varietal; Merlot also cultivated.
Cab. Sauv = mid-late ripening, struggles to ripen in coolest sites and vintages.
Merlot = earlier-ripening, more consistent.
Cab. Sauv. can lack body + diversity of fruit aromas/flavors but provides structure (tannins/acid). Merlot adds body and fruit.
What are the 2 main factors for grape growers in Central Valley, California when it comes to selecting specific varietals to plant?
1) Market Demand
2) Price the grapes can command ($/kg)
How are vines usually trained in Pauillac? Why?
What are the advantages of using this system in Pauillac, specifically (3)?
Typically VSP; vigor is limited by poor, free-draining soils = more complex systems not appropriate.
- Ensures canopy is properly arranged to ensure sun exposure for grapes.
- Surface area of leaves maximized for photosynthesis.
- Air circulation is improved (reduces threat of fungal disease)
What are the soils of Priorat composed of and how does this affect the vines?
How does irrigation come into play?
- Stony, black slate and quartz (“Llicorella”) w/ little organic material.
- Low in nutrients but free-draining.
- Irrigation is not permitted, and hot, dry conditions = high evapotranspiration rate = vines struggle for water.
Why are common summer pruning techniques (leaf pulling, green harvesting) NOT likely to be carried on the California’s Central Valley (2)?
How does this affect the overall quality of the wine?
- These techniques require more $ (labor, machinery), and since key aim is to keep costs low, they are unlikely to be employed.
- Green harvesting = dropping fruit, which would reduce yields (again, quantity is key.)
- Overall, this lack of attention = variable, inconsistent ripening = lower quality of wine.
What is the growing season like in Central Valley, California?
How do grape growers overcome natural limiting factors in order to produce their desired style of wine (2)?
This leads to:
Vines are usually planted at what kind of density?
Growing season is warm, dry and sunny with limited rainfall.
- Irrigation provides vines with water requirements.
- Fertilizers added to soil in order to compensate for lack of nutrients.
- This = large vines + large crops of fruit.
- Vines are planted at low density (1200-1800 vines/ha), but yield is super-high (180-200 hl/ha)
