Chapter 5 - The Growing Environment Flashcards

1
Q

Name the 5 things a vine needs

A

Heat, sunlight, water, nutrients and carbon dioxide

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2
Q

Describe the vine’s growth cycle

A

In winter: dormant, no green parts

Begin spring: budburst, new shoots grow

Late spring: flowers and grapes form (fruitset)

Summer: grapes grow (still hard, acidic, green, no sugar

Late summer, early autumn: grapes ripen

Autumn: harvest, end of growing season

Late autumn: leaves fall

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3
Q

What is veraison and when does it occur?

A

Grapes change colour and start to ripen. Early autumn.

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4
Q

What is photosynthesis

A

The process through which the plant converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose with the help of sunlight

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5
Q

What is the temperature limit for a vine to grow?

A

10 C, below that it lies dormant (winter)

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6
Q

Which part of the cycle is heat very important?

A

Growing season. The plant needs lots of heat for flowering, fruitset and ripening

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7
Q

Do all vines have the same need for heat?

A

No, some varieties can thrive under lower temperatures than others.
Riesling grows very in cool regions, where Grenache needs a lot of heat.

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8
Q

Name 6 factors affecting heat for vines

A
Latitude
Altitude
Ocean currents
Fog
Soil
Aspect
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9
Q

What is the best Latitude for vine growing?

A

Between 30 and 50 degrees (north and south of the equator)

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10
Q

Name 2 cooling ocean currants, and the areas they affect

A
The Humbolt Current (Chile)
Benguela Current (South Africa)
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11
Q

Name a warming ocean currant and the area it affects

A

The Gulf stream for NW-Europe

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12
Q

Name 2 area’s where fog plays an important role

A

California and Cassablanca Valley in Chile

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13
Q

What is aspect and how does is affect heat

A

The direction a slope faces. Vineyards that face the equator get more sunlight and thus more heat.

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14
Q

Where is aspect especially important?

A

In cool climates where every bit of heat is needed for ripening.

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15
Q

What factor enhances the effect of the correct aspect?

A

How steep a slope is. The steeper the better.

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16
Q

What is continentality?

A

The temperature difference between the hottest months and the coldest months

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17
Q

How do large bodies of water influence continentality?

A

Since water heats up and cools down more slowly than land, they can have a heating/cooling effect on the surrounding air and thus landmass.

So continentality is lower near large bodies of water

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18
Q

What is the effect of continentality?

A

It determines the length of the growing season, and with that the total amount of heat available to a vine

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19
Q

What is the diurnal range?

A

The temperature difference between day and night

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20
Q

What is the impact of diurnal range?

A

Cool nights help preserve acidity and aroma. Warm nights accelerate ripening

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21
Q

Name 2 influences on diurnal range

A

Bodies of water can hold warmth during the night and provide cooling breezes during the day

Cloud cover can hold onto warmth during the night and cover from sun during the day

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22
Q

At which temperature can a vine be damages or even kiled?

A

-20c

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23
Q

What is earthing up?

A

The process of protecting the graft from frost by burrying it with earth. The graft is the most sensitive part of the vine

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24
Q

What sre the risks of a mild winter?

A

The plant will not go dorment, resulting in an extra crop. This decreases the lifespan of the vine and the quality of the grapes will suffer.

Mild winters also mean larger populations of insects and pests.

25
Q

What is the danger of a spring frost?

A

In spring, there are new buds and shoots, which are vulnerable to frost.

26
Q

Name 4 forms of protection against spring frost

A

Heaters - create air movement in te vineyard, preventing cold air from settling and causing frost

Wind machines

Sprinklers - as the water freezes, it releases warmth into the plant, protecting it

Vineyard design - avoid low lying areas, plant on slopes (preferably in the middle), train vines high above the ground to avoid the coldest air

27
Q

What is a consequence of low temperatures in spring?

A

Delay in budburst, resulting in a shorter growing season and sometimes not enough time for ripening before it gets too cold again.

Flowering and fruitset can also be disrupted, resluting in a smaller crop

28
Q

What is the risk of prolonged periods of extreme heat?

A

The vine activity will slow or even stop. Which disrupts the ripening process

29
Q

Name 3 factors that affect sunlight

A

Latitude - the further from the equator, the longer the day during growing season. (Important for riesling in Germany)

Seas and Lakes - means more cloud cover, and thus less sunlight. Proximity to rivers can be beneficial because of sunlight reflecting

Aspect - steeper slopes benefit even more from this

30
Q

During which processes is sunlight especially important?

A

Flowering and fruitset. Cloud cover can can result in smaller crops.

Ripening. Sunlight is needed for FS, so a lack of it during this period can stop the grapes from ripening fully.

31
Q

What is a danger of too much (intense) sunlight?

A

Grapes can get sunburnt. Resulting in bitter flavours

32
Q

What does a vine need water for?

A

Fotosynthesis and swelling the grapes

33
Q

How does a vine collect water?

A

Through transpiration. Water is drawn from the soils through the plant to the leaves

34
Q

The amount of water a plant needs is determinde by what?

A

Temperature. The warmer it is, the more water evaporates through the leaves

35
Q

How can withholding water be good for the crop?

A

When the vine has enough leaves, limiting the water intake will shift the vine’s focus from creating new shoots to grape ripening.

Extra: it also reduces the impact of shading, because the canopy will not grow

36
Q

What are the three main irrigation techniques?

A

Drip irrigation - computer controlled, expensive, each vine has its own dripper

Sprinklers - lots of water wasteage and increases the risk of disease due to the damp conditions it creates

Flood irrigation

37
Q

What is the risk of drought?

A

The vine will temporarily stop transpiration. If the drought lasts, fotosynthesis stops, leaves fall and grapes stop ripening. (This is called: water stress)

38
Q

What happens when a plant gets too much water during the growing season?

A

It will continue to grow leaves and shoot during the ripening season. Leaving less energy (glucose) for the grapes.

It will also increase conopy cover, restricting sunlight exposure

39
Q

What is waterlogging?

A

When the ground is saturated with water. Causing the roots to die.

40
Q

How can waterlogging be avoided?

A

By planting on slopes or installing drainage

41
Q

Name three risks of heavy rainfall

A

Flowering and fruitset can be disrupted, resulting in a smaller crop

Damp conditions encourage fungal diseases

Heavy rain before harvest causes the grapes to swell up. Diluting flavours or even breaking the skin (causing disease)

42
Q

Name an area especially prone to hail

A

Mendoza, Argentina

43
Q

What is climate

A

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

44
Q

What is weather?

A

The annual variation that happens relative to the climactic average

45
Q

Name the 4 temperature types for climates

A

Cool climate: growing seasons avg <16,5

Moderate climate: growing seasons between 16,5 and 18,5

Warm climate: between 18,5 and 21

Hot climate: >21

46
Q

Name the 3 climate categories

A

Continental
Maritime
Mediterranean

47
Q

What is a continental climate?

A

A climate with high continentality

Short, dry summers

The cool ones (Chablis, Champagne) are at risk from spring frost and low temperatures during growing season. This requires early ripening grapes

48
Q

Explain the mediterranean climate

A

Cool to moderate

Low continentality

Evely spread out rainfall moderates temperature. But can also be a risk to fruitset and harvest.

Grapes can ripen untill well into autumn

49
Q

Why is Maritime Bordeaux well suited for Cab Sauv?

A

Because of the moderating rainfall throughout the year, grapes can ripen for a long time. Which is well suited for this thick skinned grape.

50
Q

Explain mediterranean climates

A

Low continentality

Warm and dry summers

Drought can be a risk

More sunlight and warmth result in fuller bodies, riper tannins, higher alcohol and lower acidity

51
Q

Where are mediterranean climates found?

A

Coastal California, Chile, South Africa and SE Australia

52
Q

What do stones on the surface of the vineyard do?

A

They heat up the vineyard (during the night)

53
Q

What is humus?

A

Organic matter in the soil of the vineyard. Made up of decomposing plant and animal material

54
Q

How is water stored in the soil?

A

By binding to clay or humus

55
Q

What is a risk of too much clay in the soil?

A

Waterlogging

56
Q

What is a risk of too much sand and stones in the soil?

A

They do not bind well with water and promote drainage. Insufficient water may be retained

57
Q

What are the most important nitrients for the vine? (3)

A

Nitrogen, phosphorus ans potassium

58
Q

What is a risk of too many nutrients in the soil?

A

Too much growth, a large canopy, leading to too much shading

59
Q

What is chlorosis?

A

A result of a lack of nutrients in the soil. Leading to yellow leaves and disrupted photosynthesis