Viticulture notes Flashcards
(124 cards)
1
Q
What is the difference between species and cultivar?
A
The cultivar is same as grape variety, species is the parent (e.g V.vinifera)
2
Q
How did the cultivar develop?
A
Crossings, selection by man, natural selection
3
Q
How were vines reproduced in the past?
A
Layering- Bending canes & burying them. Abandoned due to Phylloxera
4
Q
What is ampelography?
A
study of the vine
5
Q
What is the name of the Organ which Anchors and Supports vines (by winding around the wires)
A
Tendrils
6
Q
What is the name of the plant growth that develops from the rootstock of grafted vines?
A
Sucker
7
Q
What happens to vines in winter?
A
Dormancy, carbohydrates stored in roots, leafs fall
8
Q
What do growers do to protect their vine stocks against the cold of winters?
A
Hilling up
9
Q
What are the good and bad points of winter frost?
A
Good- Dormancy otherwise you can get more than one fruit produced. good for killing off pests and disease
Bad- can kill the vines
10
Q
How do growers know winter is over in the vineyards?
A
Sap returns to vine above ground, called tearing out
11
Q
what are weather conditions required for budburst?
A
Rain
12
Q
What is the purpose of pre-pruning?
A
preparing canes for winter, leaving more than one in case one dies
13
Q
What is the purpose of Guyot pruning?
A
Keeping a fruit bearing cane and a renewal cane (for next year)
14
Q
What do growers do with the canes they cut when pruning?
A
shred for compost- can be bad for bacterial infection. Burning them also done
15
Q
what does plowing down consist of ?
A
Freeing the earth hilling up
16
Q
what must growers pay attention to when tying down?
A
not to break the cane or buds (best during rainy weather)
17
Q
why is de-suckering necessary? how do you do it?
A
To focus the energy on grape growth
18
Q
what is the best weeding method?
A
by hand
19
Q
what is the name of the stage where grapes take their shape?
A
setting
20
Q
what is the pollinating agent for vines?
A
themselves, they are self pollinating
21
Q
why is tying up often a race against time?
A
Shoots grow very fast, 5cm/24hrs, also risk they will break while tying up
22
Q
what veraison?
A
Colouring of the berries, onset of ripening (coluring change)- take 2-3 weeks
23
Q
what are good and bad points of rainfalls?
A
needed, but can disturb flowering and dilute grapes at harvest, also too much rainfall with poor draining soil can cause disease
24
Q
Hail mitigation?
A
Nets or shooting silver iodine into the sky
25
Why is the bottom of the valley a poor location for a vineyard?
Drainage, too much nutrients, aspect too cool, too much sun
26
Why are new vines often planted on higher hills?
Drainage, global warming (0.6 degrees per 100m)
27
in what month are vineyards traditionally re-planted?
OCT-NOV
28
How often do growers trim their vines?
3 times (June-July-August)
29
Pros and cons of de-leafing?
Pros- canopy management
Cons- Sunburn of grape if too much
30
what happens to vine shoots in the course of summer?
Lignify
31
What are the qualities of a wine grower?
Strong mentality, hardwork, technical skills, passion, humility
32
what makes a wine grower's profession unique?
a set of trades rather than a single set of trades
33
What similarities are there between a chess player and the winegrower?
The estate/vineyard is the battlefield
34
what factor is likely to trigger a change of the wine map?
Climate change
35
what characterizes the distribution of cultivars in the world?
too few cultivars
36
what shift in the wine map has occurred more recently?
Shift to colder regions and away from big reds
37
Do growers worry about climate change?
Difficult as previously it has benefited but now it is in some places causing extreme temperature changes and sudden variations/unpredictability e.g hail and rain. Disease from south could more north, Typicity could need to change, grapes may have to be picked earlier which could make them bitter
38
what is the effect on 1 degree temperature increase on vineyards?
180km shift Northward of vineyards (if in N hemisphere)
39
what gas is more harmful to atmosphere than CO2?
Nitrogen protoxide
40
what will happen in 2050 if growers take no action?
25-75% decrease of currently established vineyard areas
41
what has always characterised wine grower's attitude to crises in history?
adaptability
42
what could Bordeaux do to solves problems of climate change?
- plant more petit verdot (As already allowed)
- Look into planting Touriga Nacional
- Potential Colombar instead of Sauvignon Blanc
43
how could genetics help solve global warming problems?
more resistant vines
44
Should Burgundy adopt Syrah? what should they do instead?
Syrah recommended by Laccave report, but will be tricky in the heart of Pinot.
THE DIVERSITY OF EXISTING CULTIVARS SHOULD BE FURTHER EXPLORED
45
What was Henri Jayer's vision in regards to Cros Parentoux?
- IT WAS PLANTED IN VOSNE-ROMANEE BY HENRI JAYER IN THE 1950s, IN A PLOT NOBODY WANTED THEN BECAUSE IT HAD A NORTHEASTERN ASPECT.
HENRI JAYER SELECTED THAT PLOT BECAUSE OF ITS GEOLOGY AND ITS PROXIMITY TO FAMOUS GRANDS CRUS.
HE USED DYNAMITE TO PLANT HIS VINES
46
What is the advantage of resorting to Guyot-Poussard pruning technique?
[find answer]
47
what are ancestral cultivars?
ancient types (cultivar) that fell into discourse but back being popular
48
Why is there a general distrust of nurseries?
- mass production
- WINEGROWERS HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY PLANT ALTHOUGH GRAFTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CERTIFIED.
-TOO MANY NURSERYPEOPLE DON’T CARE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE PLANTS THEY SELL
49
what are hybrids?
crossing between species e.g v.vinifera with some other breed (e.g pinotage) [CHECK this WITH YOUR WSET BOOK]
50
why are hybrids not a mirracle solution?
Yes roots are phylloxera resistant and leaves not effected by mildew, but produce bad wines
51
what are intraspecific hybrids?
- THEY RESULT FROM THE CROSSING BETWEEN 2 VITIS VINIFERA CULTIVARS.
- BUT THEY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO PHYLLOXERA AND FUNGUS DISEASES.
SOME EXAMPLES:
- PINOTAGE: PINOT NOIR + CINSAULT (POPULAR IN SOUTH AFRICA)
- MULLER-THURGAU: RIESLING + SYLVANER. (POPULAR IN GERMANY, NEW ZEALAND…)
- MARSELAN: CABERNET-SAUVIGNON-GRENACHE. THE CULTIVAR OF THE FUTURE IN CHINA ?
52
what is the principle of GMOs?
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CULTIVARS (INTRODUCTION OF « ALIEN GENES » INTO THE CULTIVAR)
53
Why has research on GMOs been stopped in france?
THEY ARE TOO CONTROVERSIAL AND RESEARCH HAS BEEN STOPPED.
54
why are french facing difficulties with rootstocks?
Poor qaulity of rootstocks
55
what kind of rootstocks should be chosen by growers?
- THEY MUST BE PHYLLOXERA-RESISTANT (AVOID AXR1!)
- THEY MUST BE NEMATODE-RESISTANT (RISK OF FAN LEAF DEGENERATION DISEASE.)
- THEY MUST BE ADAPTED TO THE SOIL (pH, HUMIDITY OR DRYNESS, DEPTH, FERTILITY, WATER AVAILABILITY…)
- THEY MUST BE LIMESTONE-RESISTANT. TOO MUCH LIMESTONE MAY CAUSE CHLOROSIS—WHICH COULD DIMINISH YIELDS AND ENDANGER VINES.
- THEY MUST ADAPT TO ACID SOILS
- AND OF COURSE, THEY MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE CULTIVAR
only 31 in france
56
why is it necessary to establish conservatories?
heir main objective is to keep a genetic heritage.
- They can be used for clonal selection
57
what are the advantages of vitiforestry?
MIXING TREES AND VINES CAN HELP BOTH WINEGROWERS AND THE CLIMATE
- SHEEP GRAZING IN VINEYARDS: NO NEED FOR WEED KILLERS (AND ALSO NATURAL FERTILIZER!)
- NOT ONLY DO TREES AND HEDGES HELP FIGHT EROSION, PROTECT VINES AGAINST THE WIND, PROVIDE SHELTER FOR FAUNA, BRING WATER , FRESHNESS AND HUMUS (WITH THE FALL OF LEAVES) BUT THEY ALSO HAVE AN UNDERGROUND ACTION: THEIR FAR-REACHING ROOTS DEVELOP MYCORHIZES, A COMPLEX NETWORK OF ROOTS AND MUSHROOMS WHICH FERTILIZE THE SOIL AND FAVOR MICROBIOLOGICAL LIFE.
58
How would you define terroir?
Wine from a particular place and wine expresses that place
59
Why did the growers of Chambolle-Musigny remove their "chambole Musigny thanks nature" Hoarding?
erroneous to consider everyhting came from nature, humans also contribute.
60
Why is the concept of terroir not easily grasped?
more of a marketing term and vineyards were first planted by rivers rather than specific plots of land
61
Why would terroir not exist without man?
Ploughing, irrigation, shaping of terraces and vineyards, changing the soil, additon of fertiliser etc
62
why did Californians and Australians really adverse to the idea of terroir?
Prefer science and modern techniques
63
what does the notion of typicity imply?
idea of how a wine is expected to taste. e.g bad years wine still good but does it really taste like and NSG
64
What is the difference between Macro, Meso and Micro climate?
Scale
65
what role do the weather conditions play in the characteristics of a vintage?
huge, temperature, rain amount and timing, sunlight, mist, fog, hail- timing is also key
66
Does soil determine the characteristics of a wine?
Drainage, depth of soil roots can reach, nutrients. BUT THERE IS NO PRECISE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SOIL AND THE QUALITY OF THE WINE
67
what soils are suitable for vitticulture?
Most- gravels, granite, sandy, limestone, clay, slate
68
why is drainage important?
VINES DO NOT LIKE TO HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN WATER
and they need to be slightly stressed
poor drainage leads to pests and disease
69
why is subsoil fundamental to the quality of a wine?
Important for establishing root networks and rootlets
- ROOTSTOCKS MUST BE ADAPTED TO THE SOIL
- THEY GIVE VIGOR TO THE SCION BUT SHOULDN’T GIVE TOO MUCH VIGOR
- SO FAR, HYBRIDS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED A BAD SOLUTION BUT THERE IS A RENEWED INTEREST IN PRODUCING NATURALLY RESISTANT VARIETIES THAT CAN BE GROWN WITHOUT CHEMICAL INTERVENTION.
70
how should growers choose their rootstocks?
adapted to the soil, disease resistance, need to be compatible with the clone itself
71
what makes hybrids attractive?
Disease resistance, heat resistance later ripening
72
why were hybrids prohibited in France as of 1935?
taste not good
73
Threats to terroir?
Soil erosion, pollution (heavy metals), urbanisation
74
Difference between catholic and protestant approaches to viticulture
- CATHOLIC: ( EUROPE) VALUES TERROIR, ART, CULTURE, HISTORY, TRADITION, AOCs. TERROIR IS A SYMBOL OF DIVERSITY AND KEEPS A PART OF MYSTERY
- PROTESTANT : ANGLO-SAXONS, NEW WORLD VALUE TECHNIQUE, CULTIVAR, BRAND, TRADE, MARKETING, SIMPLICITY, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
75
Issues with AOC for normal consumers?
Complexity
76
What do critics call "technological wines"?
Producing a wine that consumers will be able to recognise and be logical
77
can a winegrower still settle for being a grape farmer?
wine growers now work with winemakers, scientists, commerical teams, and oenololgists, so more to it now
78
What role did chemistry play in the post world war II period?
Pestecides
79
what were the consequences of that period on viticulture?
death of some soils
80
should soil adapt to vines?
Vines should adapt to soils otherwise you kill soils with modification
81
what is the difference between Pasteur's and Bernard's view of germs?
Louis Pasteur- “GERMS ARE THE ENEMY”
Calude Bernard- THE GERM IS NOTHING. THE ENVIRONMENT IS EVERYTHING
82
what would happen if earthworms disappeared?
- O2 WILL NO LONGER CIRCULATE IN GALLERIES
- NITROGEN WILL TURN INTO AMMONIA, WHICH POISONS THE ROOTS
- SULPHUR WILL TURN INTO H2S AND INTOXICATE THE VINES
- O2 ENABLES THE ROOTS TO BREATHE AND BACTERIA TO FEED THE ROOTS
83
what is the idea behind IPM (integrated Pest Management)?
- IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM
- MONITOR THE SITUATION (USUALLY THE WEATHER) TO KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM IS LIKELY TO ARISE
- TAKE TIMELY PREVENTIVE MEASURES INSTEAD OF MORE COSTLY CURATIVE MEASURES
- USE NATURAL PREDATORS WHEREVER POSSIBLE
- COVER CROPS IN THE MIDDLE OF ROWS RAISE THE LEVELS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING PREDATORS AND HELP PREVENT SOIL EROSION ON SLOPING SITES
84
Are chemicals prohibited in organic viticulture?
yes but minimally (copper and sulphur) - CHOOSE THE FERTILIZERS AND TREATMENT PRODUCTS CONSIDERED THE LEAST HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTALLY.
-MINIMIZE THE NEED TO USE THEM BY TAKING MEASURES TO PREVENT OR AVOID DISEASES AND PESTS.
- THIS MEANS USING A VERY SMALL RANGE OF « NATURAL » SUBSTANCES.
- COPPER, WHICH IS NATURAL, IS ALLOWED BUT IT IS TOXIC TO EARTHWORMS. DIMETHOMORPH, A SYNTHETIC PRODUCT, IS 10 TIMES LESS TOXIC AND IS EFFECTIVE LONGER THAN COPPER
85
What are the main principles of biodynamic viticulture?
use the 4 natural forces.
- ANYTHING THAT IS CONSIDERED « ARTIFICIAL » IS BANNED.
- TREATMENTS INVOLVING TINY QUANTITIES OF SUPPOSEDLY LIFE- ENHANCING MATERIALS cf HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE.
- THESE ARE INSERTED INTO COWHORNS OR DEER BLADDERS, BURIED IN THE SOIL TO « ACTIVATE THEM. »
- THE POSITION OF THE MOON, STARS AND PLANETS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE « COSMIC FORCES » CAN BE HARNESSED TO AID CULTIVATION.
- ACT AT THE CORRECT ASTROLOGICAL TIME.
86
what are the pros and cons of natural wines?
Pros- better for health and environment but doesn't age well, may not taste as well
87
why are organic wines more expensive than other wines?
lower yield, higher production costs
88
Should consumers worry about pesticide residues in wine?
no, way lower the safe prescribed limits in reality, more risk to the environment than human health
89
Where and when did viticulture begin?
Georgia 6000BC
90
How did the first wine growers vinify their wines?
[get the names of the terracota pots they used]
91
Where did viticulture move afterwards?
Egypt
92
According to the bible, who was the first wine grower?
Noah
93
According to legend, what animal taught people how to grow?
A donkey
94
who was the greek god of wine?
Baccus (Dinosys)
95
what miracle did Jesus perform in Cana and what tradition did it create?
Wine into water, wine at mass
96
what made wine so important in the christian religion?
blood of christ
97
in what Eastern country wine wine appreciated and celebrated?
Iran (persia)
98
why wasn't wine readily adopted in India, China and Japan?
Cultural reasons
99
after the fall of the Roman empire, who took care of vineyards?
Bishops
100
What was St benedict's rule concerning wine?
wine in moderation
101
What famous estate did the Cistercian monks create in burgundy?
Close de Vougeot (1125)
102
what were the 3 main uses of wine in monesteries?
Medecin- WHAT ELSE?
103
who invented the barrel?
The Gauls
104
name a Cistercian contribution to Viticulture
Pinot noir, clos, Climats
105
How were Clos constituted to viticulture?
Keep animals out of vineyards
106
Why was Bordeaux wine not popular in France in the middle ages?
Bordeaux was English
107
why were there no vineyards in Medoc in the middle ages?
Soil not suitable
108
What Cultivar did Duke Philip the good ban in Burgundy in 1395 and why?
Gamay, too fruity and poor qaulity
109
did viticulture make wine growers rich after the 100 year war? and what did they drink?
No
110
What way did wine consumption change at end of the 17th century?
THE CLASSIC AGE & THE ENLIGHTENMENT AGE
Drink older wines
111
Who invented champagne?
DP and/or english
112
why was champagne popular in the 18th century?
happy period and seen as a drink for celebration
113
How do growers disinfect their barrels?
Sulphur
114
what happened to the vineyards belonging ti the church, during the french revolution?
Confiscated and auctioned
115
what new class of vinters emerged during the French revolution?
Wine merchants
116
what recommendation did chemist Antoine Chaptal make regarding vinification?
Adding sugar to the Must
117
What role did the state play in viticulture in the 19th century?
[seminar 1-find answer]
118
What role did the state play in viticulture in the 19th century?
[seminar 1-find answer]
119
Who is considered the father of Oeneology?
Louis Pastor
120
how were such diseases such as mildews and Phyloxera enter Europe?
imported American vines
121
why were there so many counterfeit wines at the end of the 19th century?
Shortage thanks to Phylloexra
122
why were there no winegrower rebellions in Burgundy at the beginning of the 20th century (contrary to S France and Champagne)
Land is devided into lots of small parcels
123
How was the wine glut crisis at the beginning of the 20th century solved ?
wars
124
What are the principles of the AOC system?
Use WSET explanation
