C5 - The Growing Environment /checked

Question 1

What five things does the vine need?

Answer 1

Heat
Sunlight
Water
Nutrients
Carbon Dioxide

Question 2

What is photosynthesis?

Answer 2

Using sunlight to combine CO2 and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

Question 3

Below what temperature is it too cold for a vine to grow?

Answer 3

10 C

Question 4

What is the defining factor which grape varieties can be grown within a certain region?

Answer 4

Heat.

Not all varieties need the same amount of warmth during the growing season.

Question 5

What is heat needed for?

Answer 5

flowering, fruit set and ripening.

Question 6

Between what latitudes lie most vineyards? Why?

Answer 6

30 - 50 degrees.

These latitudes satisfy a vine’s need for warmth, but also winter dormancy.

Question 7

How does temperature drop with altitude?

Answer 7

0.6 degrees C with every 100m increase in altitude

Question 8

How do ocean currents affect climate/weather?

Answer 8

Large volumes of warm or cold water across the surface of oceans lead to localised warming or cooling.
Examples: Humboldt Current off Chile, Benguela Current off SA, Gulf stream NW Europe.

Question 9

How does fog affect temperature? List two examples of areas where this is an important factor.

Answer 9

It cools an area.

California and Casablanca in Chile.

Question 10

List the factors affecting heat

Answer 10

Latitude
Altitude
Ocean currents
Fog
Soil
Aspect

Question 11

What kind of soil absorbs and reradiates the sun’s heat?

Answer 11

Darker soils or those with a higher stone and rock content

Question 12

How does soil with a high water content affect budburst?

Answer 12

It delays it, as it takes more energy to heat the soil and heat from the vines is conducted away more quickly

Question 13

What is slope aspect?

Answer 13

The direction in which a slope faces.

Question 14

How does aspect affect ripening?

Provide an example of a region which benefits particularly from a good aspect.

Answer 14

The side of a slope facing towards the equator receives more sunlight and heat.
The Mosel Valley.

Question 15

How is continentality defined?

Answer 15

It is the temperature difference between the coldest and the hottest months.
High continentality = large differences in seasonal Temp
Low continentality = small differences in seasonal Temp

A region’s continentality will define the length of the growing season and it has impact on the total amount of heat available to a vine.

Question 16

What is the main factor affecting continentality? Why?

Answer 16

Proximity of large bodies of water. They cool down and heat up slower than land masses.

Question 17

What is Diurnal range?

Answer 17

The difference between daytime and night-time temperatures.

Question 18

Why is a large diurnal range beneficial?

Answer 18

Cool nights help slow the loss of aromas and acidity in the grapes during ripening.

Question 19

What is the impact on wine of a smaller diurnal range?

Answer 19

They are usually fuller bodied

Question 20

What’s impacts diurnal range?

Answer 20

Proximity to seas and lakes
Cloud cover (greater near seas and lakes)

Question 21

What effect do warm nights have on a vineyard?

Answer 21

They help to accelerate ripening, particularly the production of sugar

Question 22

At what low temperature is the vine at risk?

Answer 22

When the temp drops below -20 C. This can damage or kill a vine

Question 23

What part of a vine is most at risk during winter freeze?

Answer 23

The graft

Question 24

How can grafts be protected during winter freeze?

Answer 24

By covering up the graft with soil (earthing up)

Question 25

What impact can a mild winter have on a vine?

Answer 25

It can prevent the vine from being dormant, and in the worst cases, the vine can produce more than one crop a year, shortening the vine's life and reducing its quality

Question 26

How else can mild winters be bad for viticulture?

Answer 26

Larger populations of pests can survive to attack the vines in the following summer

Question 27

What is Spring frost?

Answer 27

Cold air below 0 deg C collecting at ground level and freezing any settled water vapour

Question 28

What happens to a vine during spring frosts?

Answer 28

Newly burst buds or young shoots are killed by frost

Question 29

What are the four main methods of protection against frost?

Answer 29

Heaters Wind machines Sprinklers Vineyard design

Question 30

Why/how do sprinklers work in frost protection?

Answer 30

When their water freezes, it releases latent heat, protecting buds and shoots

Question 31

How can thoughtful vineyard design help to protect against frost?

Answer 31

Planting vines away from depressions, best on slopes. | Vines can also be trained high.

Question 32

What negative effects do cold spring temperatures have on a vine?

Answer 32

Delayed budburst Shortened growing season, grapes do not ripen Smaller crop due to disrupted flowering and fruit set

Question 33

What negative effects do very hot summer temperatures have on a vine?

Answer 33

During prolonged periods of extreme heat all vine activity will slow and eventually stop = no ripening

Question 34

Name the three factors affecting sunlight.

Answer 34

Latitude Seas and Lakes Aspect

Question 35

Explain the effect of latitude on sunlight. Give two places which benefit from this effect.

Answer 35

Day length during the summer season is longer, the further away from the equator a vineyard is. Germany (Riesling) and Washington State (Cabernet)

Question 36

Explain how proximity to large bodies of water can affect sunlight

Answer 36

Vineyards near seas and lakes tend to experience more cloud cover. Sometimes vineyards situated above rivers and lakes can benefit from reflected sunlight.

Question 37

Which elements of aspect are favourable for the ripening of grapes?

Answer 37

Steeper slopes and facing toward the equator

Question 38

What can happen to grapes if it is too sunny?

Answer 38

They can become sunburnt, resulting in bitter dark patches on grapes

Question 39

How does a vine get water?

Answer 39

Rainfall Irrigation Water stored in soil/bedrock

Question 40

What are the three main irrigation techniques?

Answer 40

Drip irrigation Sprinklers Flood irrigation

Question 41

What is drip irrigation?

Answer 41

The most advanced and expensive form of irrigation.Each vine has its own dripper that can be computer controlled, ensuring that each vine gets an optimal amount of water.

Question 42

What are the benefits and disadvantages of sprinklers as a form of irrigation?

Answer 42

They are a lot cheaper than drip irrigation, but they waste a lot of water and create damp conditions like rainfall, increasing disease-risk

Question 43

What is the benefits and disadvantages of flood irrigation?

Answer 43

It's very cheap, but only possible in flat or gently sloping vineyards where there is access to large quantities of water.

Question 44

What happens if the vine has access to too much water during the growing season?

Answer 44

The vine will continue to grow shoots and leaves during the ripening season leaving less sugars for ripening grapes. Shoots and leaves increase shading Waterlogged can cause roots to rot

Question 45

How can waterlogging be avoided?

Answer 45

Planting vines on a slope | On flat sites, installing drainage pipes

Question 46

What is the potential impact of heavy rain shortly before harvest? How does this impact resulting wines?

Answer 46

Berries can swell, diluting flavours in the wines they produce

Question 47

In extreme cases after rainfall, berries can split. What other hazard does this attract?

Answer 47

Fungal disease

Question 48

What effect can summer hail have on a vine?

Answer 48

It can damage the grapes and even the vine itself, in worst cases, destroying an entire crop

Question 49

Name an area particularly prone to hail.

Answer 49

Mendoza, Argentina

Question 50

List 2 preventative measures against hail.

Answer 50

Netting | Geographical diversification

Question 51

How is a region's climate defined?

Answer 51

The annual pattern of temperature, sunlight and rainfall averaged out over several years

Question 52

How is weather defined?

Answer 52

The annual variation that happens relative to the climatic average

Question 53

When is the growing season in the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer 53

Northern: April - October Southern: October - April

Question 54

In order, what are the temperature definitions laid out by WSET for 'Cool', 'Moderate', 'Warm' and 'Hot'

Answer 54

Average growing season temperature 16.5 - 18.5 - 21.0 Cool: < 16.5C Moderate: 16.5C - 18.5C Warm: 18.5C - 21C Hot: > 21C

Question 55

List the three climate categories

Answer 55

Continental Maritime Mediterranean

Question 56

List continentality, rainfall, temperature of growing season and sunlight of growing season for all three climate types...

Answer 56

Continental: High continentality, low rainfall, cool, moderate, warm or hot temp and usually very sunny Maritime: Low to medium continentality, medium to high rainfall, cool or moderate temperature and cloudy Mediterranean: Low to medium continentality (precipitation mostly in winter), moderate or warm temperatures and usually sunny

Question 57

When typically does the temperature rapidly drop in a continental climate?

Answer 57

Autumn

Question 58

What kind of varieties are best suited to cool continental climates?

Answer 58

Ones that bud late and ripen early

Question 59

What climates experience very dry summers?

Answer 59

Continental

Question 60

When does it rain the most in a maritime climate?

Answer 60

It rains evenly throughout the year

Question 61

What effect does the year-round rain in a maritime climate have on other climatic features?

Answer 61

It moderates sunlight and temperature

Question 62

How does a maritime climate affect the length of a growing season?

Answer 62

It lengthens it as a result of its moderating effects

Question 63

Name the biggest hazards of a maritime climate

Answer 63

Spring and summer rains, which can be a very significant risk to the flowering, fruit set and health of the grapes at harvest

Question 64

What is Humus?

Answer 64

Decomposing Plant and Animal matter

Question 65

What are the three major components of soil?

Answer 65

Tiny soil particles Stones and rocks Humus

Question 66

Where do soil particles, stones and rocks come from?

Answer 66

The underlying rock or later deposits laid on top of it

Question 67

What are the largest types of soil particle?

Answer 67

Stones

Question 68

What are the smallest soil particles?

Answer 68

Clay

Question 69

From a viticultural point of view, what are the disadvantages of large soil particles?

Answer 69

They are poor at holding water and plant nutrients

Question 70

What are the benefits of Humus?

Answer 70

It is rich in plant nutrients and had excellent water retaining properties

Question 71

How should water supply to a vine ideally vary over the growing season?

Answer 71

A good supply early on to support growth, then mild water stress after veraison to benefit ripening

Question 72

How is water stored in the soil?

Answer 72

By binding with clay particles or humus. It may be accessible in the underlying rock, too. Too much clay: waterlogging Too much sand/rocks: insufficient water is retained

Question 73

Describe the ideal soil for viticulture

Answer 73

This would be a mixture of sand and clay particles, known as LOAM. It has relatively few nutrients and is well drained, but able to store enough water to support the vine through the growing season

Question 74

What are the most important nutrients for vine?

Answer 74

Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

Question 75

What will happen to a vine exposed to too-high levels of nutrients?

Answer 75

It will grow too vigorously and create too much shade

Question 76

What is the most common symptom linked to nutrient deficiency?

Answer 76

Chlorosis

Question 77

What is Chlorosis?

Answer 77

The leaves turning yellow because they lose chlorophyll. Photosynthesis becomes restricted and grape quality/yield is affected.

Question 78

What's the most common cause of Chlorosis? What sort of soil is most likely to cause this?

Answer 78

The inability of a vine to gain sufficient iron from the soil. Soils with high limestone content.