15 England and Wales Flashcards
When started modern grape growing in England and Wales?
- after Second World War
Which grape varieties were planten in the beginning?
- after Second World War - German crosses and hybrid varieties
- late 1980s - traditional Champagne varieties
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier (a little) now account for 70% of all planting
Where are the vineyards located?
above 50° latitude (long daylight hours and cool climate)
How are the planting areas split?
- England: 85%
- Wales and other parts of UK: 15%
Describe the climate conditions of England and Wales?
- cool, maritime climate
- average growing season temperatures: 14°C (13°C in the middle of the last century)
- still cool but less marginal
How dose the climate conditions affect the ripening of the grapes?
- slow ripening
- slow sugar accumulation
- preservation of acidity
- creation of medium intensity fruit characteristic
Which hazards are given due to the climate conditions?
- extreme weather evens (e.g. heavy rain)
- frost damage (early budding due to the warme spring temperatures and planting of early budding grape varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir)
- prolong rain in June and July (affect flowering and fruit set)
- rain in Oktober (reducing the quality of the grapes and the yield)
How can the producers react against the hazards?
- vineyard management (e.g. timely spraying against fungal diseases
- managing the financial risk of fluctuation in yield and quality
Name factors for site selection in England and Wales
- choosing south-facing slopes for maximum exposer to sunlight
- finding sites with maximum shelter from prevailing winds, generally from south-west (hinder flowering and fruit set and disperse heat
- prefer former apple orchards or hop fields with shelter even if they are not south facing
- good drainage from naturally free draining soils or installed drainage
- altitude below 125m
Which soils are typically for England and Wales?
- Kent and Sussex: clay
- Sussex and Hampshire: significant amount of chalk
Name factors of the soils in England and Wales
clay:
- high water-holding capacity and fertility
- slightly lower acidity and more pronounced fruit
chalk:
- claimed as the key quality factor for Champagne
- good drainage and lower fertility
- tend to be on slopes at higher elevations (more vulnerable to adverse weather)
- more finesse
- higher acidity and leaner body
Name the planting density
4.000-5.000 vines/ha (medium density)
Why are the vineyards planted with medium desity?
to increase root competition and contain the vigour of the canopy
Which training method is used?
Guyot training with vertical shoot positioning
Why are the canes trained relatively close to the ground?
to retain heat in the fruit zone
Why is the canopy trained thin?
- to allow the air and light reach buds and fruits
- reduce disease pressure
- allow sprays to reach the leaves
Why is there a marked vintage variation?
- cool and dump climate
- increased planting of early-budding varieties (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir)
What is the average yield?
24hl/ha
Why are the prices for English sparkling premium and super-premium?
due to the low and variable yield
How are the production methods split?
- traditional method
- a few produce Pet Nat
How are the base wines produced?
- majority is unoaked
- a portion is oaked
Why is MLC widely used?
to reduce the very high acidity
Which producers can pick the grapes at a low level of acidity?
- those with sheltered sites
- those which are willing to risk waiting for fuller ripeness
Which producers are now also produce non-vintage wines?
some of the larger producers
Why are the producers now start to build up a library of reserve wines?
- to create a consistent style
- having reserve wines in this marginal climate (yield and quality can vary each year)
Name the allowed grape varieties for the English PDO sparkling wine
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Noir Précoce (mutation of Pinot Noir that ripens two weeks earlier)
- Meunier
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
How could all other grape varieties outside the PDO be labeled?
PGI (protected geographical indication)
Name the maximum yield for the PDO
80hl/ha
Which is the most labeled sweetness term?
Brut
Name the planting area size of England
3.600ha (all varieties)
How fast is the planting area grown in the last years?
more than 80% since 2015
How are the domestic sales and the export split?
- 92% domestic sales
- 8% export
How much is sold at the cellar door?
one-third
Why can the producers now deal better with the fluctuation in yields from year to year?
due to a stock of 4-5 years of base wine
