Grape Growing Flashcards
How long can a vine live
60 years or more
What are the parts of a grape and what do they contribute to the wine
Skin - high levels of colour and flavour
Pulp - water and sugar, contains acid and flavours
Seeds and stems - high levels of tannins, can make the wine taste bitter
What does a vine need to grow and thrive
Warmth Sunlight Carbon dioxide Water Nutrients
What is photosynthesis
The process of the vine turning carbon dioxide and water into sugar
What are the stages of grape formation and ripening
Flowering
Fruit set
Véraison
Ripening
What is flowering
Clusters of flowers are produced in Spring, each flower needs to be pollinated to become a grape
What is fruit set
When the flower is pollinated it starts to grow seeds and swell, then becomes a grape
What is Véraison
The point at which the grapes start to lose their dark green colour, white grapes become golden and black grapes become red then purple
What is ripening
The grapes swell with water and become soft and fleshy
Sugar levels rise and acidity drops
Herbaceous flavours decrease, green fruit changes to stone fruit, black fruit changes from fresh to cooked
Tannins develop
What is Botrytis/noble rot
A fungus that grows on white grapes causing noble rot
What are the growing seasons in the Southern/Northern hemisphere
Northern - April to October
Southern - October to April
What are the temperature classifications for cool, moderate and warm climates
Cool. 16.5 or below
Moderate - 16.5 - 18.5
Warm - 18.5 - 21
