15 England and Wales Flashcards

1
Q

When started modern grape growing in England and Wales?

A
  • after Second World War
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2
Q

Which grape varieties were planten in the beginning?

A
  • 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

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3
Q

Where are the vineyards located?

A

above 50° latitude (long daylight hours and cool climate)

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4
Q

How are the planting areas split?

A
  • England: 85%

- Wales and other parts of UK: 15%

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5
Q

Describe the climate conditions of England and Wales?

A
  • cool, maritime climate
  • average growing season temperatures: 14°C (13°C in the middle of the last century)
  • still cool but less marginal
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6
Q

How dose the climate conditions affect the ripening of the grapes?

A
  • slow ripening
  • slow sugar accumulation
  • preservation of acidity
  • creation of medium intensity fruit characteristic
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7
Q

Which hazards are given due to the climate conditions?

A
  • 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)
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8
Q

How can the producers react against the hazards?

A
  • vineyard management (e.g. timely spraying against fungal diseases
  • managing the financial risk of fluctuation in yield and quality
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9
Q

Name factors for site selection in England and Wales

A
  • 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
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10
Q

Which soils are typically for England and Wales?

A
  • Kent and Sussex: clay

- Sussex and Hampshire: significant amount of chalk

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11
Q

Name factors of the soils in England and Wales

A

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
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12
Q

Name the planting density

A

4.000-5.000 vines/ha (medium density)

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13
Q

Why are the vineyards planted with medium desity?

A

to increase root competition and contain the vigour of the canopy

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14
Q

Which training method is used?

A

Guyot training with vertical shoot positioning

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15
Q

Why are the canes trained relatively close to the ground?

A

to retain heat in the fruit zone

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16
Q

Why is the canopy trained thin?

A
  • to allow the air and light reach buds and fruits
  • reduce disease pressure
  • allow sprays to reach the leaves
17
Q

Why is there a marked vintage variation?

A
  • cool and dump climate

- increased planting of early-budding varieties (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir)

18
Q

What is the average yield?

A

24hl/ha

19
Q

Why are the prices for English sparkling premium and super-premium?

A

due to the low and variable yield

20
Q

How are the production methods split?

A
  • traditional method

- a few produce Pet Nat

21
Q

How are the base wines produced?

A
  • majority is unoaked

- a portion is oaked

22
Q

Why is MLC widely used?

A

to reduce the very high acidity

23
Q

Which producers can pick the grapes at a low level of acidity?

A
  • those with sheltered sites

- those which are willing to risk waiting for fuller ripeness

24
Q

Which producers are now also produce non-vintage wines?

A

some of the larger producers

25
Q

Why are the producers now start to build up a library of reserve wines?

A
  • to create a consistent style

- having reserve wines in this marginal climate (yield and quality can vary each year)

26
Q

Name the allowed grape varieties for the English PDO sparkling wine

A
  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Pinot Noir Précoce (mutation of Pinot Noir that ripens two weeks earlier)
  • Meunier
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Pinot Gris
27
Q

How could all other grape varieties outside the PDO be labeled?

A

PGI (protected geographical indication)

28
Q

Name the maximum yield for the PDO

A

80hl/ha

29
Q

Which is the most labeled sweetness term?

A

Brut

30
Q

Name the planting area size of England

A

3.600ha (all varieties)

31
Q

How fast is the planting area grown in the last years?

A

more than 80% since 2015

32
Q

How are the domestic sales and the export split?

A
  • 92% domestic sales

- 8% export

33
Q

How much is sold at the cellar door?

A

one-third

34
Q

Why can the producers now deal better with the fluctuation in yields from year to year?

A

due to a stock of 4-5 years of base wine