The Growing Environment

Question 1

What a vine needs

Answer 1

1. Heat: if it is too cold (below 10 degrees C) the vine will struggle to survive.
2. Sunlight
3. CO2
4. Water (Vine uses sunlight, to combine CO2 and water to produce glucose and oxygen, = photosynthesis
5. Nutrients from the soil

Question 2

Factors affecting heat in the vineyard

Answer 2

1. Latitude: most vineyards lie between the latitudes of 30 and 50 degrees, north and south of the equator.
2. Altitude: As alt. increases, temp drops. This means regions at high alt can successfully grow vines even if they are close to the equator.
3. Ocean currents: Major currents transport large volumes of warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean, leading to localized warming or cooling in certain Wie regions.
4. Fog: Fog can help cool an area that may otherwise struggle to produce high-quality grapes.
5. Soil: 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. This reradiated heat can be critical for ripening fruit in cold climates. On the other hand, soils with high water content require more energy to warm up, and conduct heat from the vine more quickly than dry soils. This can delay bud burst and slow down ripening.
6. Aspect: Direction in which a slope faces. 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 S. Hemisphere is is the north facing slopes.
7. Continentality and Diurnal Range: Important to know how much variation there is between the temp in the height of summer and the depth of winter, as well as the variations between daytime and nighttime temps. Areas close to large bodies of water generally have low continentality whereas wine regions that are far inland generally see more temp extremes (and have greater continentality)

Question 3

Temperature Hazards

Answer 3

Winter: if temps fall below -20C the vine can be seriously damaged or even be killed by winter freeze. The part of the vine most at risk is the graft. In areas at risk of Winter freezes, earth can be used to cover up and protect the graft, a process called “ earthing up” –If winter is mild, or there is no winter at all like in subtropical climates–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.

Question 4

Water Hazards

Answer 4

Drought: If there is a water shortage the vine can temporarily stop transpiration to preserve its resources. During prolonged stress photosynthesis can stop, which can kill a vine.
Too much water: Vine will grow shoots and leaves during the ripening season, leaving less sugar for grapes. this can also increase the canopy, which also restricts grape ripening.

Question 5

Climate classification: cool, moderate, warm, hot

Answer 5

Cool: avg growing season temps: 16.5 degrees C or below
Moderate: avg growing season temps: 16.5-18.5 degrees C
Warm: avg growing season temps 18.5-21 degrees C
Hot: avg growing season temps > 21 degrees C