The vine Flashcards
(146 cards)
What are the two types of buds?
- Compound buds: Form one season, break on the next
- Prompt buds: Form and break open in one season; product lateral shoots
How can lateral shoots be helpful?
- Lateral shoots towards the end of main shoots can produce more leaves
How can lateral shoots be unhelpful?
- Lateral shoots not at the end of main shoots can impede airflow and shade fruit; can be removed in summer pruning
- Can produce fruit (“second crop”) that ripens later, and thus will be underripe if harvested with main crop (can be removed by green harvesting). Common with Pinot Noir.
What is one year old wood?
- Shoots from the previous growing season that weren’t removed, and that support compound buds that will release shoots for the growing season
What are the five basic stages of the vine growth cycle?
- Dormancy
- Budburst
- Shoot and leaf growth
- Flowering and fruit set
- Grape development
Dormancy:
* When does it happen (northern hemisphere)?
* What does the vine need during this stage?
* What are adverse conditions during this stage?
- November - March
- Temps below 10 C
- Extremely cold temps (-20 C can damage or kill, and -25 C will kill most)
Budburst:
* When does it happen (northern hemisphere)?
* What does the vine need during this stage?
* What are adverse conditions during this stage?
- March - April
- Average air and soil temps above 10 C
- Adverse: Frost, cold soils
What type of climate can have more uniform budburst? What is the consequence for grape ripeness?
- Continental, because rapid increase in temps means budburst happens quickly.
- Even budburst increases the likelihood of even ripening.
What soils can result in the best budburst in cool climates?
Free-draining, because they warm up more quickly than soils that retain water, which leads to quicker budburst in Spring.
What is an early budding variety, and what are some examples?
It buds slightly below 10 C. Examples:
* Chard
* Pinot Noir
* Merlot
* Grenache
What are some examples of late budding varieties?
- Sauv Blanc
- Cab Sauv
- Syrah
What can a vine grower do to delay budburst?
Do winter pruning late
Shoot and leaf growth:
* When does it happen (northern hemisphere)?
* What does the vine need during this stage?
* What are adverse conditions during this stage?
March - June
Needs:
* Stored carbohydrates
* Warm, sunlight, nutrients, water
Adverse:
* Low carbs (caused by conditions in prior growing season)
* Water stress (limit photosynthesis and nutrient uptake)
Flowering and fruit set:
* When does it happen (northern hemisphere)?
* What does the vine need during this stage?
* What are adverse conditions during this stage?
May - June
Needs:
* Warm temps (min 17 C) for flowering
* Sunlight on buds, warmth (above 25 C–though Riesling can tolerate cooler), water, and nutrients for bud fruitfulness next season
Adverse:
* Rainy
* Cloudy
* Windy
* Cold temps
What is flowering?
Opening of individual flowers within an inflorescence.
What happens if temps are below 17 C at flowering?
Lengthen duration of flowering, which has negative impact on evenness of grape ripening
What two types of conditions can interfere with fruit set and why?
- Cold
- Rainy
- Windy
(due to poor pollen tube growth)
or
* Hot
* Dry
* Windy
(due to water stress)
What is coulure, what are the three potential causes, and which varieties are esp susceptible?
Fruit set failure for a high proportion of flowers, caused by an imbalance in carbohydrate levels
Caused by:
* Cold, cloudy conditions
* Hot, arid conditions with high water stress (stopping photosynthesis)
* Vigorous shoot growth diverting carbs from inflorescence (perhaps by very fertile soils, excessive fertilizer, or vigorous rootstocks)
Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec all very susceptible
What is millerandage, what causes it, and what varieties are more susceptible?
- High proportion of seedless grapes that are smaller (lower yield), some of which stay green and unripe (lower quality)
- Cold, wet, windy weather at fruit set
- Chard, Merlot
Grape development:
* When does it happen (northern hemisphere)?
* What does the vine need during this stage?
* What are adverse conditions during this stage?
June - Sept
Needs:
* Sunlight
* Warmth
* Mild water stress
Adverse:
* Too much water and nutrients (delays ripening)
* Excessive shading of grapes
* Very cold or very hot conditions throughout day and night
What are the four stages of grape development?
- Early grape growth
- Véraison
- Ripening
- Extra-ripening
What are five changes that happen to the grape in early grape growth?
- Acids: Tartaric and malic acids increase
- Methoxypyrazines (and some others) increase
- Tannins: Accumulate (promoted by sunshine), very bitter
- Sugar: Low
- Water: Flow into grape via xylem
What four things happen during véraison?
- Grape growth slows down for a few days (“lag phase”)
- Grape cell walls become more stretchy and supple
- Green-color chlorophyll in skin cells broken down
- Black varieties start to turn red due to synthesis of anthocyanins
What are the four general factors that determine the length of the ripening stage?
- Variety (early, late, or uneven)
- Climatic conditions
- Management of the vine and vineyard
- Time of harvest