Chapter 5: Vineyard Establishment

Question 1

Identify the key items to consider at vineyard establishment

Answer 1

• Site selection
• Soil preparation
• Planting materials
• Nutrient management
• Water management
• Canopy management

Question 2

Identify the influences on site selection

Answer 2

style, quality and price of wine to created

Question 3

Identify the type of site that high volume, inexpensive or mid-price wines might need

Answer 3

• High yields of healthy grapes produced consistently and relatively cheaply = flat, fertile site in warm, dry climate with option of irrigation
• fertile soils and plentiful warmth with option of irrigation = high yields of grapes ripened adequately
• dry climate = reduce incidence of fungal disease, which saves money on fungicide spraying and grape sorting in the winery
• flat land = mechanization, which can be quicker and cheaper, esp for large vineyards

Question 4

Identify one region with appropriate site to produce high volume, inexpensive to mid-priced wines

Answer 4

Central Valley of Chile

Question 5

Identify the appropriate site for premium or super premium wines

Answer 5

• Obtain healthy grapes at optimum composition (levels of sugar, acidity, color, tannins, and aroma compounds) for style being made
• Cool climates - sites that maximize the potential to ripen the grapes, e.g., sites with aspects that receive most sunshine through the day, e.g. Rheingau, Germany
• Warm climates - sites that cool because of high altitude (Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza) or exposed to cooling sea breezes (Casablanca, Chile), to bring better balance to wine

Question 6

Identify the cost implications in the location, layout and topography of site selection

Answer 6

• Price of land within desirable geographic indicators (e.g., Burgundy Grand Crus) vs land where qualifies as regional or country wine (i.e., Vin de France)
• Natural factors - if sits in frost pocket, may produce less reliable yields and thus a lower ROI or may require more expensive frost protection strategies; sites known to be more susceptible to certain pests and diseases post similar problem
• Steep slopes unsuitable for mechanization so expensive labor, slow-paced and hard to obtain
• If irrigation required, then source of irrigation water and cost
• Ease of access to site and distance from winery to ensure healthy grapes can be delivered to the winery with limited risk of oxidation and microbial spoilage
• Proximity of vineyard and winery to towns and cities for labor, suppliers, cellar door customers, retail or distribution businesses
• PDO rules that stipulate varieties, max yields, and viticultural and winemaking practices – need to be acceptable w/r/t ROI desired

Question 7

Identify what is needed for a vineyard to survive

Answer 7

ROI from selling grapes, must, or wine, so if site is going to be expensive to buy, establish, and manage, then must be confident that quality and/or type of grapes, must, or wine being produced on the site will sell for a price that will bring a ROI

Question 8

Define ‘terroir’

Answer 8

Overarching concept that claims that the distinctiveness of quality wines is due to their sense of place; however, a precise and agreed upon definition does not exist

Question 9

Identify the components normally associated with terroir

Answer 9

• Sense of place / Physical definition - characteristics that relate to place where grown such as climate, soil, aspect, elevation, etc.
• Human interventions / Cultural definition - Example: French PDOs with Rules stipulating planting density, type of trellising, etc.
• Marketing - claim directly influenced by geological makeup of the soils, e.g., perceived chalkiness of Chardonnay attributed to chalk in soil, but science does not support.

Question 10

Identify how new world winemakers address terroir

Answer 10

Commentators believe overly zealous winemaking obscures terroir, i.e., picking overripe fruit, aging wines in new oak

New world winemakers showing an interest in different expression of wines from single vineyards or specific location, being strengthened by precision viticulture soil mapping

Question 11

Prior to establishing a vineyard, what are the four main relating to the soil a grape grower must assess and, potentially, rectify?

Answer 11

Drainage and structure
Mineral composition
Presence of pests or unwanted plants
Sometimes, topography modifications

Question 12

Identify the factors soil structure influences

Answer 12

• Root penetration
• Drainage
• Nutrient holding capacity
• Workability

Question 13

Define ‘plough pan’

Answer 13

Plough pan is an impervious layer of compacted soil

If the site was previously used for agriculture, then plough pan may have formed from years of ploughing at the same depth, may need to be broken down before cultivation can take place to promote better drainage and make soil easier to cultivate once the site is establish

Question 14

What is the subsoiling process?

Answer 14

The breaking down of the plough pan (an impenetrable layer of soil) to promote drainage and make the soil easier to cultivate once the vineyard has been established.

Question 15

Identify methods for addressing whether there is a presence of pests or unwanted plants in soil

Answer 15

If the grape grower uproots vines or other crops uprooted to make way for new vines, then they must burn the old roots to get rid of any diseases

If weeds are a problem in the vineyard, the grape grower can use systemic herbicides

Question 16

Identify methods for addressing mineral composition regarding soil preparation

Answer 16

• Apply farmyard manure, compost, and fertilizers to increase nutrients and organic matter; ploughing incorporates these additions into the soil
• If soil pH needs adjusting, e.g. acidic soils (Beaujolais), lime (calcium-based) can be spread on soil and then ploughed in

Question 17

Identify how a grape variety can be more or less adapted to their climate

Answer 17

• Time of budding - early budding risks frost (Chardonnay), late budding (Riesling)
• Duration of annual life cycle - early ripening suited for cool climates (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir) vs late ripening (Mourvèdre)
• Tolerance of drought - withstand high level of water stress (Grenache) good for S Rhone, inland Spain, and McLaren Vale
• Resistance of disease - require less monitoring and/or treating in damp climates
• Winter hardiness (Vidal, Riesling) - relatively tolerant of very cold winter temps, harsh winters in Ontario, Finger Lakes
• Vigor - If high vigor grape varieties (Sauv Blanc) are grown on fertile soils with plentiful water, likely vigor will need managing to avoid excessive shoot growth

Question 18

Define ‘head grafting’

Answer 18

• Also known as top grafting
• Cut original vine at trunk, graft a bud from new grape variety on top.
• Advantage - established root system so can produce fruit more quickly than brand new planting, esp to respond to market demand
• Disadvantage - rootstock selected based on characteristics of original variety and may not be equally suited to new grape variety

Question 19

What four factors help a grape grower determine which rootstocks to use?

Answer 19

1. Which pests live in the vineyard? (phylloxera, some are also tolerant of root-know nematodes (Ramsey & Dog Ridge - v. champini))
2. What is the water availability in the vineyard? (tolerant of drought, tolerant of water-logged soil, tolerant of soils with salt)
3. How acidic is the soil (Soil pH)? (high tolerance to acidic soils or those with high lime content)
4. Is the rootstock low, moderate, or high vigor?

Question 20

Identify the rootstock for addressing root-knot nematodes

Answer 20

V. Champini

Ramsey, Dog Ridge

Question 21

Identify the rootstock for addressing drought conditions

Answer 21

V. rupestris and V berlandierie

110R or 140R

Root deeply and quickly

Question 22

Identify the rootstock for addressing water-logged soil

Answer 22

V. riparia

Riparia Gloire

Useful in regions with high rainfall and water-retaining soils

Question 23

Identify the rootstock for soil with high levels of dissolved salt

Answer 23

V berlandieri

1103P

Question 24

Identify the rootstock for acidic soils

Answer 24

V rupestris
99R and 110R

Question 25

Identify the rootstock for soils with high lime content

Answer 25

V. berlandieri 41B

Question 26

Identify the rootstock that are low vigor

Answer 26

V riparia 420A and 3309C Can advance ripening, which may be useful in cool climates

Question 27

Identify the rootstock that are high vigor

Answer 27

V rupestris 140R Useful if grower wants to boost vine growth and yields in vineyard area with infertile soils and dry conditions Decision based on style of wine, e.g., produce grapes for sparkling wine where high yields of grapes with delicate aromas and high acidity more desirable than lower yields of grapes with more concentrated aromas, color and/or tannins

Question 27

Describe what happens as a vine ages

Answer 27

First 2-3 years: common to remove inflorescences as they form so resources concentrated on growth; some GIs even legislate restrict use of fruit from very young vines Young Vines (up to 5 years) - produce relatively low yields because root system is yet to be fully established 10-40 years - yield decreases along with vigor. Grower decides when decreasing yield no longer profitable. 50+ years (very old vines) - can remain profitable in famous old vineyards where wine will obtain super-premium prices. But in areas where inexpensive or med-priced wines, med to high yields required

Question 28

Explain why old vines might be considered to offer higher quality fruit, capable of producing well-balanced wines with greater concentration

Answer 28

Vines have become better balanced and adapted to their environment over the years Lower yields sometimes lead to more concentration in each grape More old wood and therefore bigger store of carbs to rely on early in the growing season or when they are stressed Have survived better than other vines over time because planted in most favorable locations and, therefore, have always produced high quality fruit Also likely to keep best vines for longer before grubbing them up Too many variables to make a direct comparison; young vine planted in suitable location and trained and trellised well likely to produce better fruit than old vine in unsuitable location or that is badly maintained

Question 29

Define 'grubbing up'

Answer 29

Dig vines up out of the ground

Question 30

Identify the terms for old vines

Answer 30

vieilles vignes vinas viejas commonly seen on wine labels, but term isn't regulated Historic Vineyard Society in CA and Barossa Old Vine Charter - specify a min vine age

Question 31

The growing environment depends on the ____ of the vineyard.

Answer 31

Location ## Footnote Site selection influences style, quality, and price of wines, just as the desired style, quality, and price of wines influence stie selection.

Question 32

What are two potential risks for grapes when planting vineyards on flat, fertile sites in a warm and dry climate?

Answer 32

* Lack of concentration in grapes * lack of freshness in the grapes (jammy aromas)

Question 33

If you were looking to produce premium or super-premium wines, what would you have to consider when selecting your vineyard site?

Answer 33

* What climate are you in? (if cool, consider warmer; if warm, consider cooler) * Price of land * Is the site in a desirable location? * Is the soil suitable for the grapes you want to grow? * What are the location, layout, and topography of the site? * Are there slopes on the site and how steep are they? (hand harvest or machine harvest) * Does the site require irrigation? If so, how is that water sources and what are the costs? * How easy or difficult is it to access the vineyard? * How close or far away is the site from towns, supplies, and labor?

Question 34

When establishing a vineyard, if a grape grower determines that their soil is acidic, what substance can they plough in to balance the soil?

Answer 34

Lime (calcium-based substance)

Question 35

What are three general considerations a grape grower must make when deciding what to plant?

Answer 35

1. Grape variety 2. Clone 3. Rootstock

Question 36

When determining which grape varieties to plant in a new vineyard, what factors of the grape variety must be considered?

Answer 36

* Time of budding * Annual life cycle duration (when does it ripen) * Drought tolerance * Disease resistance * Winter hardiness * Vigor

Question 37

When determining which grape varieties to plant in a new vineyard, what non-climate factors must be considered?

Answer 37

* Style of wine * Yield * Cost * Law * Availability * Market Demand

Question 38

In the EU, grapes for PDO wines cannot be harvested from vines that are younger than ___ years old.

Answer 38

Four

Question 39

For the first two or three years of a vine's life, what is common practice for the grape grower to help the vine's growth?

Answer 39

Remove inflorescences as they form so that the young vine can concentrate its resources on growth.

Question 40

A vine produces its maximum yields of fruit between the age of __ and __.

Answer 40

10 and 40

Question 41

What is the minimum age a vine has to be in order for the label to have the term "Old Vines" on it?

Answer 41

There is no minimum – for one grape grower a 30-year-old vine might be considered an "old vine;" for another grape grower the vine might be 100 years old.