Chapter: The Growing Environment Flashcards
(58 cards)
1
Q
What are six factors that affect heat in the growing environment:
A
- Latitude
- Altitude
- Ocean Currents
- Fog
- Soil
- Aspect
2
Q
What are the five key things a vine needs to survive:
A
- Heat
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sunlight
- Nutrients
- Water
3
Q
Define “ Aspect”:
A
The direction in which a slope faces is known as “ Aspect”
4
Q
What is “ Continentality”:
A
The temperature difference between the coldest and the hottest months is referred to as “ Continentality”
5
Q
What is “ Diurnal Range”:
A
Diurnal Range is the difference between daytime and night time temperatures
6
Q
What are four main forms of protection against spring frosts:
A
- Heaters
- Wind Machines
- Sprinklers
- Thoughtful vineyard design
7
Q
What are three factors that affect the amount of sunlight in a vineyard:
A
- Latitude
- Seas and Lakes
- Aspect
8
Q
What are the three main irrigation techniques:
A
- Drip Irrigation
- Sprinklers
- Flood Irrigation
9
Q
Define a “ Cool Climate”:
A
Regions with an average growing season temperature of 16,5 C ( 62F) or below
10
Q
Define “ Moderate Climate”:
A
Regions with an average growing season temperature of 16,5 C - 18,5 C ( 62 F to 65 F)
11
Q
Define “ Warm Climate”:
A
Regions with an average growing season temperature of 18,5 C - 21 C ( 65 F - 70 F)
12
Q
Define “ Hot Climate”:
A
Regions with an average growing season temperature in excess of 21 C ( 70 F)
13
Q
Define “ Continental Climate”:
A
- A Continental climate has the greatest difference in temperature between the hottest and coldest months ( high continentality)
- Are usually characterised by short summers with a large rapid temperature drop in autumn
- Continental climates are also noted for having dry summers
14
Q
Define “ Maritime Climate”:
A
- Maritime climates are characterized by cool to moderate temperatures and a low annual difference between the hottest and coldest months ( low continentality)
- Rainfall tends to be evenly spread throughout the year which helps to moderate the temperature
15
Q
Define “Mediterranean Climate”:
A
- Mediterranean climates are also characterized by a low temperature difference between the hottest and coldest months
- Summers tend to be warm and dry
- The extra warmth and sunlight compared with maritime climate leads to wines that are:
- Fuller bodied
- With riper tannins
- Higher alcohol
- Lower levels of acidity
- The lower rainfall can have a positive effect on the health of the grapes but can also lead to drought
16
Q
The most expensive and advanced form of irrigation is what:
A
Drip Irrigation
17
Q
What are downsides to sprinklers as a form of irrigation:
A
They spray water and create damp conditions increasing the risk of disease
18
Q
What are the benefits to sprinklers as an irrigation system:
A
They are cheaper than drip irrigation and can be used for frost protection
19
Q
What is the minimum temperature required for a vine to grow:
A
10 C ( 50 F)
20
Q
In order to meet the vines temperature needs and its preference for a dormant period, most vineyards lie between what latitudes north and south of the Equator:
A
30 and 50 north and south
21
Q
As altitude increases, what happens to the temperature:
A
It drops
22
Q
How do ocean currents impact certain wine regions:
A
- The major currents transport large volumes of warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean, leading to localized warming or cooling in certain wine regions
23
Q
What is the name of the ocean current that warms the north west of Europe:
A
Gulf Stream
24
Q
What is an important cooling influence found in many top vineyard areas in California as well as Casablanca Valley in Chile:
A
Fog
25
What types of soil are better at reradiating warmth:
-Soils that are either dark in color or
- That have a high stone and rock content
Absorb and reradiate more of the sun's heat than lighter colored soils
26
How can budburst be impacted for vines planted in soils with high water content:
Soils with high water content require more energy to warm up. This can delay budburst
27
What aspect will provide a vineyard with the most heat:
- The vineyards with an aspect facing the Equator receive the most heat
- In the Northern Hemisphere South facing slopes get the most warmth
- In the Southern Hemisphere it is the North facing slopes
- Steeper slopes benefit even more from this effect
28
How can large bodies of water impact “ Continentality”:
- Large bodies of water, such as: seas or lakes heat up and cool down more slowly than landmasses
- In the winter they have a warming effect on the surrounding air
- In summer they have a cooling effect
- Areas close to large bodies of water therefore generally have low continentality
- Wine regions that are far inland usually see more temperature extremes and have high continentality
29
How can a vineyard's proximity to seas and lakes impact it's diurnal range:
- A vineyard's proximity to seas and lakes can reduce its diurnal range
- Even relatively small bodies of water, such as: Rivers can hold enough warmth to keep adjacent vineyards warm overnight and provide cooling breezes during the day
30
How can the level of cloud cover influence diurnal range:
- The level of cloud cover ( generally greater nearer seas and lakes) also influences diurnal range
- This is because temperatures drop more quickly on clear nights, when there is no insulating blanket of cloud ( increasing Diurnal range)
- And rise more slowly on cloudy days, when sunlight cannot heat the ground directly ( reducing diurnal range)
31
What part of the vine is most at risk during a winter freeze:
The Graft
32
What can happen to a vine if a winter is mild or there is no winter at all:
- If a winter is mild or there is no winter at all the vine will not have a dormant period and may produce more than one crop each year
- Its life will be shortened and the quality of the grapes will suffer
-Mild winters also mean larger populations of insect, pests survive to attack the vine the following summer
33
When do spring frosts occur:
- Spring frosts occur, when cold air below 0C (32 F) collects at ground level, freezing any water vapour that has settled on the ground or the vine
34
What impact can spring frosts have on a vine:
- If spring frosts are present when newly burst buds or young shoots are present it kills them
- The damage done and the impact on yields can be enormous and in frost- prone regions growers go to great lengths to minimize the risk
35
How can cold temperatures during the spring months impact the growing season:
- Cold temperatures in the spring may delay bud burst
- This shortens the growing season and could mean that there is not enough time for the grapes to ripen fully in the autumn before it becomes too cold
- Flowering and Fruit Set can also be disrupted by cold temperatures, resulting in a smaller than average crop of grapes
36
How can very hot temperatures during the summer months impact the growing season:
- During the summer very hot temperatures can be harmful and in prolonged periods of extreme heat all vine activity will slow and eventually stop, even when there is sufficient water
- This prevents the grapes from ripening
- In extreme cases the vine will die
- Hot and dry conditions can also increase the risk of fires starting and rapidly spreading
- Vineyards can be damaged and winery buildings destroyed if they lie in the path of these fires
- In addition the smoke that such fires produce can affect a much larger area
37
How can smoke from fires impact a wine:
Smoke in the vineyard during the ripening period can result in smoky or plastic like aromas in the final wines
38
Why is light necessary for the vine:
- Without light photosynthesis cannot happen and plants die
- The more light there is the more a vine will photosynthesise and the greater the amount of glucose produced for growth and ripening grapes
- Flowering and Fruit Set also benefit greatly from plenty of sunlight
39
How does latitude impact the amount of sunlight in a vineyard:
Day length during the summer growing season is longer the further the vineyard is from the Equator
40
How can seas and lakes impact the amount of sunlight in a vineyard:
- Vineyards near large bodies of water tend to experience more cloud cover
- Regions at the center of large land masses tend to be sunnier
- In some cases vineyards situated above rivers or lakes can benefit from sunlight reflected from the surface of the water
41
How can aspect impact the amount of sunlight in a vineyard:
- A slope's aspect affects the amount of sunlight it receives and steeper slopes benefit more from this effect
- Vineyards that face the Equator receive the most sunlight
- The greater the distance from the Equator the weaker the sun's energy, so for vineyards that are closest to the Poles , maximizing the sunlight with a favourable aspect is especially important
42
What can be negative results of intensely sunny conditions:
Intensely sunny conditions can cause sunburn, leading to bitter flavors developing in the grape skins
43
How does a vine access water:
The vine accesses water through its roots and draws the water up to its leaves
44
What is “Transpiration”:
The process where water is lost via evaporation from the vine's leaves
45
Why could limiting the supply of water to the vine once a sufficient canopy of leaves has grown be beneficial for grape ripening:
This has the added advantage of reducing the impact of shading because the canopy does not grow too large
46
What is the most important source of water for a vineyard:
Rainfall
47
What can happen to a vine if drought occurs:
During prolonged shortages of water or drought vines
- suffer from water stress
- Photosynthesis stops
- Leaves wilt
- Grapes fail to ripen
Ultimately this can weaken and kill a vine
48
What can happen if a vine has access to too much water during the growing season:
- If the vine has access to too much water during the growing season, the vine will continue to grow shoots and leaves during the ripening season, leaving less sugar for ripening grapes
- Furthermore, the extra shoots and leaves increase the amount of shading in the canopy, which restricts grape ripening
49
What can be the result of water logged soils:
- A water logged soil can cause the roots to die through lack of oxygen
- Water logging can be avoided by planting vines on a slope or on flat sites, installing drainage pipes to aid the flow of water away from the roots
50
What region in Argentina is particularly prone to hail:
Mendoza
51
How is a region’s climate defined:
- A region’s climate is defined as the annual pattern of temperature, sunlight and rainfall averaged out over several years
- The climate does not change from one year to the next, though it can alter over a period of decades
52
What are the largest of soil particles:
Stones are the largest soil particles and are not always present in vineyard soil
53
What is “ humus”:
Humus is made up of decomposing plant and animal materials that are rich in plant nutrients and have excellent water retaining properties
54
How is water stored in soil:
Water is stored in the soil by binding to clay particles or humus
55
What is “ Loam”:
Loam is a mixture of sand and clay particles
56
What are three important nutrients for a vine:
1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorous
3. Potassium
57
What is a common symptom linked to a lack of nutrients in a vine:
Chlorosis
58
What is “ Chlorosis”:
- Chlorosis is a common symptom linked to a lack of nutrients
- The leaves turn yellow and the vine’s ability to photosynthesise is restricted
- Grapes struggle to ripen properly and their quantity is reduced
