1.2.1 - Grape Growing Approaches Flashcards
(61 cards)
1
Q
Identify the six grape growing approaches
A
- Conventional
- Sustainable
- Organic
- Biodynamic
- Regenerative
- Precision
2
Q
Identify the aims of conventional viticulture
A
- Raise production levels
- Reduce labor requirements
Resulted in monoculture
3
Q
Explain how conventional viticulture achieves its aims
A
- Mechanization
- Irrigation
- Use of agrochemicals, mineral fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
- Clonal selection
- Creating a monoculture in the vineyard
4
Q
Identify advantages of conventional viticulture
A
- Mechanized vineyard work
- Minimized competition from other plants
- Unilateral care for the grape variety planted (irrigation, nutrition level, treatments against hazards, pests, and diseases)
- Increased yields with reduced costs
5
Q
Identify disadvantages of conventional viticulture
A
- Monocultures are significantly more prone to diseases, the quick spread of the disease throughout the area, and pests, whichmeans they need more treatments and protection.
- Nutrients can be depleted as there is no natural ecosystem to replenish, so more fertilizer applications needed
- Residual chemicals from treatments can find their way into groundwater or the air, creating environmental damage
6
Q
What are the three themese of sustainable viticulture?
A
Economic
Social
Environmental sustainability
7
Q
Identify the aims of sustainable viticulture
A
- Promote the natural ecosystems in the vineyard
- Maintain biodiversity
- Manage waste
- Minimize applications of chemicals and energy use
- Reduce the impact of viticulture on the wider environment
8
Q
How to grape growers who employ sustainable viticulture practices predict/prevent pest or disease outbreaks?
A
- Develop in-depth understanding of the lifecycles of the vine and of vineyard pests
- Monitor weather forecasts
Together, these help them time applications so that they have the greatest impact, which also results in fewer applications.
- Integrated Pest Management
- Regularly monitor scale of potential problems and only intervene before they reach an economic threshold (level of damage > cost of intervention)
9
Q
Describe ‘integrated pest management’
A
- builds on organic viticulture, but prepared to use chemical intervention when necessary
- Sets thresholds at which action needs to be taken, e.g., pest population reaches a certain level
- Ids and monitors pests
- Sets up preventive measures
- Evaluates and implement control options (if threshold levels are exceeded and preventive measures not effective)
10
Q
Identify regulatory agencies for sustainable viticulture
A
- LODI Rules
- Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand
- Sustainable Winegrowing S Africa
11
Q
Identify the advantages of sustainable viticulture
A
- More thoughtful approach to grape growing with attention to economic, social and environmental impact of viticulture
- Deployment of scientific understanding of threats to successful grape growing (pests and diseases) to minimize number of interventions needed
- Reduction in spraying of synthetic and traditional treatments
Consequent cost saving that has incented grape growers to work in more sustainable way
12
Q
Identify the disadvantages of sustainable viticulture
A
- Term is not protected and can be used to promote wine without a clear set of standards
- Nationwide standards can set low, e.g. N Zealand has a high rate of uptake for its scheme (virtually all grape growers) and has been praised for reducing amount of pesticides used; however, criticized for setting too low a bar for sustainable certificatieon
13
Q
Identify the aims for organic viticulture
A
- Improve soil of the vineyard
- Boost the range of microbes and animals (e.g., earthworms) within the vineyard
thereby increasing the health and disease-resistance of the vine.
Reject use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, and pesticides
14
Q
Identify how organic viticulture achieves its aims
A
- Compost breaks down in the soil, providing a slow release of nutrients for vines, improving the structure of soil, and increasing the biomass in the soil
- Natural Fertilizers to restore natural balance of the vineyard, including animal droppings and natural calcium carbonate
- Cover Crops to prevent erosion and to contribute to the improvement of life of soil done through green manure or by improving biodiversity
- Establish ‘islands’ of biodiversity to reduce monoculture of vineyards (growing cover crops and planting hedges)
Often also used by sustainable viticulture to promote biodiversity and soil health and hence reduce chemical applications
15
Q
Define ‘biomass’
A
the total quantity or weight of organisms in a given area or volume
16
Q
Define ‘natural fertilizers’
A
Animal dung, natural calcium carbonate
17
Q
Identify methods used in the vineyard within organic viticulture
A
- Use traditional remedies such as sulfur and copper sulfate to combat mildews
- Monitor weather closely to determine when spraying against mildew is really necessary
- Use natural predators and ecosystem mechanisms - bacterium bacillus to protect against grey rot; sexual confusion by using pheromone tags or capsules to disrupt mating patterns of insects such as moths and meal bugs
18
Q
Identify the regulating bodies of organic viticulture
A
Exact standards for each organization may be slightly different, although similar principles
All organizations should meet standards set by International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) - universal period that vineyard must undergo a period of conversion working to organic standards before certification)
19
Q
Identify the cost/benefit of organic viticulture
A
- Extra cost to the production of wine; however, grower may be able to gain an advantage in promoting and selling such wine depending on target customer and market
- some studies, slightly lower yields
- Additional labor required
20
Q
Identify regions and their percentages of organic viticulture
A
2017 - 5.4% of world’s vineyards were certified organic
* Europe - 84% of world’s organic viticulture and largest producer and exporter of organic wines
* Italy - 15.8% of world’s organic viticulture
* New Zealand - 4.3%
* USA - 2.7%
* Argentina, Chile and South Africa - each less than 2.5%
* Largest markets for organic wine - Germany, France, UK, USA, Sweden, Japan
21
Q
Identify the advantages of organic viticulture
A
- Improve health and disease-resistance of vine
- Improve health of soil
- Eliminate spraying synthetic chemicals
- Save on cost of synthetic chemicals
22
Q
Identify the disadvantages of organic viticulture
A
- Possible small reduction in yield
- Possibility of significant reductions in yield in difficult years (long periods of rainfall or high humidity)
- Increased reliance on copper sprays, which leads to buildup of heavy metal in the soils
- Cost and time expended on certificateion
23
Q
Identify the aims for biodynamic viticulture
A
- Organic practices PLUS
- Philosophy and cosmology, regarding farms as an organism and seeking to achieve a balance between physical and higher, non-physical realms.
- Vineyard soil seen as part of connected system with planet Earth, other planets and the air.
- Grape growing practice coincide with the cycles of the planets, moon and stars
24
Q
Describe how the moon relates to biodynamic viticulture
A
- Moon ascending = summer mood = sap is rising so time to take cuttings for grafting but avoid pruning
- Moon descending = winter mood = roots are favored, best time to plant vines or prune
25
Identify how biodynamic viticulture achieves its aims
* Preparations (homeopathic remedies) used to fertilize soil, treat diseases, ward off pests, enahnce and strengthen life forces on the farm
* Like organic, use traditional chemicals to spray against disease, including copper and sulfate sprays.
* Some use ashing.
26
Identify three preparations used in biodynamic viticulture
* Prep 500 (horn manure) - stuff cow manure into cow’s horn and bury horn in soil throughout winter; dig it up and dynamize it in the spring; spray onto the soil as a homeopathic compost, catalyzing humus formation
* Prep 501 (horn silica) - fill a cow’s horn with ground quartz (silica) and bury it for six months through spring and summer. dig it up, dynamize it, and use as foliar spray to stimulate and regulate plant growth
* Prep 502-508 (compost) - activate it by a series of starters added in tiny quantities (yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion, or valerian prepared in various ways). Assists with decomposition of compost. When used, it's called "activating" the compost.
27
Define ‘dynamize’
Stir contents of horn into water, creating a vortex and then reversing it so that the water memorizes the power of the preparation that can be passed onto the vineyard
28
Identify the regulating bodies for biodynamic viticulture
Demeter sets international standards for farming and animal husbandry
Includes organic certification as a baseline
Additional costs estimated to be little more than organic, generally due to additional labor
29
Identify regions where biodynamic viticulture is popular and famous biodynamic producers
Smaller scale grape growers and estates, Loire Valley
Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Burgundy
Domaine Leflaive, Burgundy
Zind Humrecht, Alsace
Joly, Loire Valley
Chapoutier, Rhone Valley
30
Identify the advantages and disadvantages of biodynamic viticulture
Advantages: same as organic viticulture
Disadvantages: limited research comparing the two
31
Identify the aims of Regenerative Viticulture
* Distinct and holistic method of farming that aims to continually improve upon environmental, social and economic measures
* Restate a vineyard site to functioning agroecosystem to improve resources and limit inputs
* Soil health top priority and improve health of entire vineyard
* Biodiversity - above and below ground - essential
* Improve wellbeing by reducing cost of synthetic inputs and limiting exposure to harsh chemicals
32
Explain how regenerative viticulture achieves these aims
* Methods similar to organic or sustainable, but works to improve - not just maintain - resources like soil and water
* Agroecosystems - Create functioning ecosystems rather than a system that meets the needs of one crop only; when fully functioning, system's needs are met naturally so inputs like fertilizers significantly reduced
* Soil health is a core tenet; healthy soils packed with water, nutrients and biodiversity.
33
Define 'agroecosystem'
Ecosystem that has been modified for agriculture
34
Explain how soil health contributes to regenerative viticulture
* Healthy soils packed with water, nutrients and biodiversity
* Many organisms evolved mutually beneficial relationships that can improve quality of water, vegetation and productivity of a site
* These interconnected relationships improve the overall health of the vineyard agroecosystem and make system more resistant to climate change-related threats like drought and heat
35
Identify an example of an interconnected relationship in regenerative viticulture
Mycorrhizal fungi have formed symbiotic relationship with plants, including vines, that allow the plant to better absorb essential elements like phosphorus, nitrogen and water
36
Identify the common practices in regenerative viticulture
* Soils left undisturbed so they can build biodiversity, carbon (sequestered in soil rather than released into atmosphere) and pathways for connections, i.e., limited tilling and irrigation
* Add compost to increase organic matter in soil and replace nutrients
* Use cover crops to prevent erosion and reduce water loss
* Use animals to create natural controls for vineyard pests
37
Identify the certification agencies for regenerative viticulture
No universal standard
Regenerative Organic Alliance measures soil health, animal welfare, human empowerment
38
Identify the advantages of regenerative viticulture
* Soils are rehabilitated, decreasing need for synthetic fertilizers
* carbon is sequestered, helping to fight climate change
* Vineyards more resilient, limiting impacts of climate change
* Biodiversity improves along with animal welfare
* Lives of farmers improve through less exposure to chemical inputs
39
Identify the disadvantages of regenerative viticulture
* Not legally defined, so claims can be exaggerated
* Growers need to experiment to find best approach, which can take time and resources
* Results take time, which can make transition difficult and costly
* Producers cannot rely on inputs in case of disease or climate pressure, which may reduce yields
* Certification costs money
40
Identify the aim for Precision Viticulture
Aim to maximize oenological potential of vineyards by using data collected from the vineyard (soil, vigor, topography, plant growth) to respond to changes from plot to plot and from row to row, and to identify different quality zones within a given vineyard.
Application of technology to viticulture with the objective of improving yields while minimizing environmental impact with ultimate objective to nurture each vine individually rather than farming large areas intensively.
41
Explain how Precision Viticulture achieves its aims
* Collects date by sensors on aircraft (remote) or tractors/harvesters (proximal).
* GPS and GIS (geographical information systems) allows data to be presented visually in the form of maps, and data can be about composition of soils, rate of growth of canopy, etc.
* Interventions then target in light of the data - **variable rate application technology**
42
Identify two examples of precision viticulture in the vineyard
* Changing rootstock halfway along rows of vines as the soil gets more fertile
* Increasing levels of leaf-stripping in areas showing particularly high vigor
43
Identify when precision viticulture is likely to be used
* Considerable upfront investment, so only option for large scale viticulture or high-value, smaller estate
* Used in California, Australia
* Most effective where data is used to control treatment application rates or irrigation rates
* Often used as part of sustainable or organic viticulture
44
Identify the advantages of precision viticulture
* detailed understanding of variations in the vineyard that affect yield and quality between and within vineyards
* ability to tailor a wide range of interventions to individual blocks or even rows of vines with aim of improving yields and/or quality
45
identify the disadvantages of precision viticulture
* Upfront cost of the hardware, software, sensors, and data collection
* Costs of consultancy or trained staff to analyze and interpret data and make interventions in the light of it
46
When was conventional grape growing widely implemented throughout the world?
Second half of the 20th century
47
Why are so many grape growers moving away from conventional farming?
By late 20th century, spraying pesticides and routine use of mineral fertilizers were seend to be harmful to soil quality, expensive, detrimental to the environment and potentially hazardous for vineyard workers and consumers.
48
Integrated pest management is also known as ___ ____.
Lutte raisonée
49
Lutte raisonée allows the use of chemical inventions:
* Weekly
* Only when necessary
* Never
Only when necessary
50
What are some actions a grape grower practicing sustainable viticulture needs to implement to keep their vineyard as healthy as possible?
1. Identify/monitor pests and their populations, and what to look for
2. Undertand and anticipate the damage caused by certain pests and how to set up preventative measures
3. Boost the vine's own defense mechanisms
4. Evaluate control options and deploy them at optimal times
51
What do organic grape growers use to combat mildew?
Sulfur and copper sulfate
52
Copper can build up in soil if grape growers ower use it. How are some organic grape growers rethinking the use of copper sprays?
In vineyards where frequent sprays are necessary, some grape growers believe that careful use of longer-lasting synthetic chemical sprays might be a better option for the environment.
53
Name two ways organic grape growers combat disease and pests in the vineyard.
1. Use of natural predators
2. Ecosystem mechnisms, such as sexual confusion to disrupt the mating patterns of insects
54
What is the universal requirement across all global organic-certifying bodies for a vineyard to be certified organic?
The vineyard must go through a period of conversion working towards organic standards before it can be certified.
## Footnote
This increases costs for the grape grower, but having the certification can be an advantage when selling in certain markets.
55
Biodynamic viticulture is based on the work of these two people
Rudolf Steiner and Maria Thun
56
Biodynamic viticulture uses organic practices along with:
* Philosophy and cosmology
* Psychology and cosmetology
* Physiology and cosmic ecology
Philosophy and cosmology
## Footnote
Grape growers who practice biodynamics view the vineyard holistically, and time their actions to coincide with the cycles of the plants, moons, and stars
57
What are the four "days" of biodynamic viticulture?
1. Root
2. Leaf
3. Flower
4. Fruit
## Footnote
Maria Thun developed calendars to advise grape growers on these days, i.e., indicating the best days for certain activities.
58
Name three homeopathic remedies, or 'preparations,' used in biodynamic viticulture used to fertilize soil.
1. Preparation 500 (horn manure)
2. Preparation 501 (horn silica)
3. Compost (activated by preparations 502-507)
59
Do biodynamic grape growers use or not use traditional chemicals to spray against disease (including sulfur and copper sprays)?
They use them, just like organic grape growers do.
60
Define 'ashing' in biodynamic viticulture?
Spreading the ashes of burnt weed seeds or harmful animals (such as rats or sparrows) on the vineyard to ward off these hazards.
61
Precision viticulture is often used in conjunction with which two types of viticulture?
1. Sustainable
2. Organic
