1-Viticulture Flashcards
What is Viticulture?
The art and science of vine growing.
What are factors that influence wine production?
Location
climate
topography/aspect
soil
grape varieties planted
viticulture practices
vinification practices
harvest
yearly weather/vintage variation
terroir
regional wine laws
historical background
What is the difference between climate and weather?
climate is what you expect
weather is what you get
The majority of the world’s vineyards are located between which two of the earth’s latitudes?
30-50
Describe climate, large to small
Macroclimate-big picture
mesoclimate-particular vineyard
microclimate-specific vine
What 4 climate conditions are considered when considering a viticultural area?
continental
maritime
mediterranean
high desert
Describe continental climate
strong annual variation in temperature due to lack of proximity to significant bodies of water. Hot summers, cold winters
Northern Rhones and Ribera Del Duero
Describe maritime climate
climate influenced by a large body of water such a sea or ocean. Mild temps all year, that fluctuate year to year causing vintage variation
Bordeaux and Rias Baixas
Describe mediterranean climate
hot and dry summers, aside from coastal areas. coasts are mild summers likely with storms
Southern Rhone and McLaren Vale
Describe high desert climate
hot and dry summers. high daytime temps, dramatic drops at night
Leona Valley AVA and Cochise County AZ
Name the 4 temperature definitions
cool
moderate
warm
hot
What 6 factors influence a region’s climate?
Diurnal shifts
sunshine hours
threats
frost or freeze
hail
strong winds
Describe diurnal shifts
difference between average daytime high and nighttime low temps
affects ripening of grapes and acidity and sugar
Describe sunshine hours
number of sunshine hours the vineyard sees in a given vintage year or growing season
What is the difference between climate and weather?
Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.
The majority of the worlds vineyards are located between which two of the earth’s latitudes?
30-50 north and south of the equator in the the northern and southern hemispheres
What is the range of minimum sunshine hours a vine needs during the growing season?
1200-1500 hours minimum
What are some weather threats that can affect the health and general survival of a vineyard?
*Hail
*Frost
*Deep winter freezes
*Strong wind
How can hail affect a vineyard?
Hail damages vines by
*perforating the leaves, rendering them unable to photosynthesize
*puncturing or destroying berries, making the useless and decreasing that year’s yeild
*damaging the vine with small wounds, into which disease and rot can fester.
How does frost affect vines?
At what point in the vine’s annual cycle is frost most dangerous?
Frost is most dangerous at budburst (march/april in northern hemisphere, Sept/Oct in southern hemisphere)
How frost affects the vine:
*it can delay budding and flowering (which means grapes may not fully ripen)
*new plant material can freeze and die
*spring frost can decrease the annual yield.
How does a deep freeze (winter or spring) affect the vine?
If it is severe, the vines are at risk of being killed.
How do strong winds affect vineyards?
Strong winds can
*uproot vines
*blow them over
*blow off delicate flowers which means no grapes will form
What are 2 geographical climate moderators?
Bodies of water
Mountains
How do bodies of water influence climate?
Bodies of water can help:
*cool a region
*warm a region
How do mountains influence climate? (3)
Mountains can provide:
*rain shadow
*vineyards planted at higher elevation
*Wind/drafts that can have cooling or warming effects on vineyards
What is a rain shadow?
Give two mountain ranges that provide rain shadows.
A rain shadow is when mountains are at such a high altitude that they block the passage of rain clouds, leaving the downwind side with more sunshine and lower cloud cover and precipitation.
Cascade Mountains in Washington
Vosges Mountains in Alsace.
Temperatures drop by one degree for every ________ meters in elevation rise.
100 meters
Where are higher altitude vineyards typically found?
Why would a vineyard be planted at higher altitude?
Higher altitude vineyards are typically found in warmer/hotter regions.
Higher altitudes provide vineyards cooler temps which help keep sugars and acidity in balance
What are some beneficial effects of wind on a vineyard?
*helps prevent mold/rot by circulating air
*can cool a region, especially if the wind is coming from a cool body of water
*can warm a region especially if the wind is coming from an arid area
What 3 topographical features can influence viticulture and climate?
- Altitude/elevation – is the vineyard on a hillside or on the valley floor?
- Aspect–which direction is the vineyard facing? is it getting gentler morning sun or harsher afternoon sun?
- Proximity to body of water–is there a body of water nearby to moderate temperatures or provide wind?
Steep hillsides are usually ______ fertile than valley floors.
Why?
less fertile, due to erosion
Why are valley floors more susceptible to frost than hillsides?
Because cool air collects and stays stagnant on valley floors.
Hillsides experience more air flow, therby decreasing frost risk.
When describing which way a vineyard faces–E/SE, S/SW….what term are you using?
Aspect
The majority of the world’s top vineyards are planted on soils that are:
very rich and fertile
very poor and infertile?
very poor and infertile
List the 8 soil types most vineyards are planted.
*clay
*granite
*gravel
*limestone/chalk
*Marl
*sand
*schist
*silt
Name a region in France known for its granite soils.
Beaujolais
Name a region in France known for its marl soils.
Cote de Nuits, Burgandy
Name a region in Portugal known for its schist soils.
Douro
Name 3 major parts of the grape
*skins
*seeds/pips
*pulp
What characteristics do skins add to a wine? (3)
*tannins, give astringency
*color, from anthocyanins
*flavor, aromas are unique to each grape varietal
What do the seeds/pips add to a wine?
*bitterness
*astringency–how much your mouth dries out
What does the pulp of a grape add to a wine?
*water
*sugars, increases as the grape ripens
*acids, decrease as the grape ripens
Most wines in the world are made with the European vine genus/species _________for quality grape production.
Vitis vinifera
Name two other grape genus/species used in wine production.
- vitis labrusca
- vitis riparia
Approximately how many grape varieties are known with Vitis vinifera?
*1-1000
*1000-5000
*upwards of 10,000
Upwards of 10,000
examples include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and merlot