Viticulture (R) Flashcards
What are the factors of production?
- Historical Background
- Location/Geography
- Climate
- Topography/Aspect
- Soil
- Grape Varieties Planted
- Viticultural Practices
- Vinification Practices
- Harvest
- Yearly Weather/Vintage Variation
- Terroir
- Regional Wine Laws
Define viticulture
The art and science of vine growing
What characterizes the location/geography of a vineyard?
Site selection
Goals
Regional Wine Laws
Financial Considerations
What does climate determine?
Wine style
What are the latitudinal zones of wine growing?
30-50 degrees in both hemispheres (Northern and Southern)
What is a Macroclimate?
The “big picture” climate of an entire wine region.
What is a Mesoclimate?
The climate of a particular vineyard.
What is a Microclimate?
The climate of a particular row of vines or even a specific vine within a vineyard.
What are the four primary climates?
- Continental (cool)
- Maritime (moderate)
- Mediterranean (warm)
- High Desert (hot)
What characterizes a Continental climate?
- Strong annual variation in temperature due to lack of proximity to significant bodies of water.
- Hotter summers than maritime
- Often cold winters that can be extreme
What characterizes a Maritime climate?
- Influenced by a large body of water such as a sea or ocean
- Marked by mild temperatures
- Year to year temperature fluctuations causing vintage variation
What characterizes a Mediterranean climate?
- Summers are hot and dry (except for immediate coastal areas)
- Along coasts, summers are mild due to proximity to cold water currents
- Storms can be consequence
What characterizes a High Desert climate?
- Hot and dry summers
- High daytime temperatures
- Dramatic drops in temperature overnight
What factors affect climate?
- Diurnal Shifts
- Sunshine Hours
- Threats (frost or freeze, hail, strong winds)
What are sunshine hours and how do they affect climate?
- Number of sunshine hours a vineyard or wine region receives in a given vintage year or growing season.
- Ripening of grapes
- Balancing of acidity and sugar
What are potential threats and how do they affect climate? (3)
- Frost or Freeze: Hazard in Spring and Fall. Can kill vines outright. In spring, frost can damage or kill delicate buds and flowers, preventing vines from setting grape clusters.
- Hail: Can shatter grapes.
- Strong Winds: Can blow over vines or blow buds and flowers off the vine, preventing grapes from growing.
List the primary climate moderators. (4)
- Bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans - can warm or cool a region)
- Mountains (rain shadow can protect)
- Altitude/Elevation (1 degree drop per 1 meter rise)
- Wind (can cool or lend warmth/drier air)
major white grape varieties?
16
major red grape varieties?
18
What are the primary topographic elements?
- Local Elevation/Altitude
- Hillside Slope or Valley Floor?
(Slope = better drainage, less fertile from erosion, lower chance of frost, difficult to maintain and harvest
(Floor = pooling of air, frost, sometimes overly fertile) - Aspect (sun facing or not)
- Proximity to Water
Important properties of soil? (3)
- Water Drainage
- Water Retention
- Sun Reflection
Main types of soil? (8)
- Granite
- Limestone/Chalk
- Marl
- Schist
- Clay
- Sand
- Silt
- Gravel
What do grape skins contribute to a wine?
- Tannins
- Color
- Flavor
What do grape pulps contribute to a wine?
- Water
- Sugar (increases as grape ripens)
- Acids (decreases as grape ripes)
- Seed/Pips (can give bitter flavors if pressed)
