2/3. Growing environment and vineyard Flashcards
Define climate.
the AVERAGE ANNUAL PATTERN of temperature, rainfall and sunlight.
Define weather.
the ANNUAL VARIATION that happens relative to the climatic average
Define viticulture.
the production of grapes [mneumonic: T>growTh]; more expansively, the science, study and production of (any) grapes
What is the temperature range for photosynthesis? What is the ideal range?
limit of range: 10 C - 35 C (50 F - 95 F)
ideal range: 20 C - 30 C (70 F - 85 F)
How do large bodies of water impact climate?
the closer to the water, the less temperature variation
Define Berry Set (Fruit Set)
the transition phase from flower to berry (after pollenation)
Define Trellis and explain purposes.
Network of stakes, posts and wires to position vines; these help to maximize photosynthesis, control vigor, prevent fungus, access fruit, manage the direction of growth, i.e. position leaf and fruit correctly
Most vines are replaced at what age?
30-50 years
In the life of a vine the first yield normally occurs when?
the third year
A vineyard usually is left fallow for how long after vines are removed?
3+ years
Define coulure
aka shatter, flowers failing to develop into berries; a type of poor berry/fruit set; this term applies when more than the normal number of flowers fail to be fertilized.
Describe a Continental Climate.
far from large bodies of water; hot summers, cold winters; less precipitation
Define Bush Training
no Trellis; vine grows like a bush; not suitable for mechanical harvesting; spur-pruned ???
What are alternative names for Bush Training?
head or gobelet
What is most common type of training system?
Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)
What kind of plant density works with VSP?
high
What kind of pruning works with VSP
replacement-cane or cordon-spur
What are examples of ‘big vine’ training systems?
Lyre, Geneva Double Curtain, Pergola
What kind of plant density works with Big vine training?
low
Are big vine training systems suitable for mechanical harvest?
yes
Are VSP training systems suitable for mechanical harvest?
yes ???
How are big vine training systems usually pruned?
spur
What are two types of poor fruit-set?
Coulure/Shatter; Millerandage
Define millerandage.
Abnormal fruit-set, with a high-proportion of small seedless berries mixed in with the normal berries.
What is an advantage of millerandage?
intense sweetness of seedless grapes
How does millerandage cause problems at harvest?
berries within an affected bunch ripen at different speeds
Describe Maritime climate.
influenced by the ocean; high rain fall; mild temperatures
Name a cool continental climate.
Mosel, Champagne
Name a moderate continental climate.
Burgundy, Central Otago, Borolo, Niagara Peninsula
Name a warm continental climate.
Ribera del Duero, Medoza
Name a hot continental climate.
La Mancha, Port
Name a cool Maritime climate.
Muscadet
Name a moderate Maritime climate.
Bordeaux, Rias Baixas
Name a warm Maritime climate.
Auckland
Name a moderate Mediterranean climate.
Chianti, Carneros
Name a warm Mediterranean climate.
Southern Rhone, Napa Valley, Chile
Name a hot Mediterranean climate.
Murray-Darling
What type of grape variety is required for cool continental climate?
bud late, ripen early
What is the rainfall in a typical continental climate?
dry summers
What is the rainfall in a typical maritime climate?
spread out throughout the year
Who revolutionized canopy management with a book called “Sunlight into Wine”?
Richard Smart
Define Transpiration.
Transpiration is a process which allows the diffusion of carbon dioxide gas from the air, cools plants, changes osmotic pressure of cells, and enables mass flow of mineral nutrients and water from roots to shoots.
Define mesoclimate.
the climate of a particular vineyard ??? is this different than French term climat and lieu-dit?
Name the steps in the annual growth cycle of a vine.
budburst, shoot and leaf growth, flowering, berry (or fruit) set, veraison, harvest, leaf fall, dormancy
What is temperature threshold for budburst?
10 C
What is temperature threshold for flowering?
15 C
What is chlorosis?
In viticulture, the most common symptom of poor nutrition in grapevines is the yellowing of grape leaves caused by chlorosis and the subsequent loss of chlorophyll. This is often seen in vineyard soils that are high in limestone such as the Italian wine regions of Barolo, Rioja, Champagne and Burgundy. In these soils the grapevine often struggles to pull sufficient levels of iron. [wiki]
Define Bordeaux Mixture.
Bordeaux mixture (also called Bordo Mix) is a mixture of copper(II) sulfate (CuSO4) and slaked lime (Ca(OH)2) used as a fungicide. It is used to prevent infestations of downy mildew, powdery mildew and other fungi. It is sprayed on plants as a preventative (not a treatment) leaving the vines an alarming bright-blue color.
When is fog beneficial for grape development?
beneficial when the fog burns off by mid-day, in warm climates, and when botrytis is desired.
Describe Mediterranean climate.
sunny with warm, dry summers and mild wet winters
What are the differences between Mediterranean and maritime climates?
Mediterranean climate is warmer, sunnier and drier in the summer. Maritime climate is cooler, cloudier with rain spread out over the summer.
What are the differences between the wines of Mediterranean and maritime climates?
wines from Mediterranean climate tend to be fuller bodied, with riper tannins, higher alcohol and lower acid
What is veraison?
the onset of ripening, changing of color of grapes (from green to yellow or red)
How does phylloxera damage a vine?
It attacks the roots and allows viruses and bacteria to then kill the vine.
What type of creature is phylloxera?
an aphid, almost microscopic, pale yellow sap-sucking insect.
Tannins are derived from what?
pits, stems, and barrels and grape skins
The primary sugars found in ripe grapes are what?
fructose and glucose (after hydrolysis of sucrose); arabinose, rhamnose and xylose are minor sugars in grapes that are not fermentable
What is the effect of excessive foliage on humidity?
increases
Define photosynthesis.
a process by which chlorophyll uses sunlight to convert CO2 and water into sugar and oxygen
What three acids are found in the grape?
citric, malic, tartaric
What is Oidium?
a fungal disease, the French name for Powdery Mildew
What is Crown Gall?
a tumor like growth caused by a bacteria (Agrobacterium)
What limits a buds ability to fully ripen the vine?
sunlight and heat
Chlorosis is commonly associated with which soil and regions?
Limestone soils in Champagne, Burgundy, Rioja and Barolo.
What soil type which holds water well?
Clay
What soil type which holds water poorly?
Sand
What attribute of soil determines its ability to retain water and nutrients?
particle size affects porosity of soil, larger particles are poor at holding water and nutrients
What are the characteristics of the ideal soils?
composed of a mixture of different particle sizes, relatively few nutrients, well drained with enough water storage to support the vine
For vine growth, what are the critical soil nutrients?
potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen [mneumonic: P(h)iNK]
Soil that limits water supply is most critical at what stage?
after veraison
Soil with a good water supply is most critical at what stage of growth?
early in the season
What is terroir?
the combined effect of aspect, slope, climate, weather, grape variety and soil.
What is the primary disadvantage of excess foliage?
slows grape maturity
Temperature and sunlight are both important factors for ripening. Which is most important in the choice of varietal for a given region?
temperature
How can vineyard design minimize risk of frost?
avoidance of low-lying areas, training vines high
Which disease is spread by the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter?
Pierce’s Disease, a bacterial disease spread by insect vector.
What is Pierce’s Disease?
a bacterial disease spread by insect vector.
Name a wine area decimated by Pierce’s Disease.
Southern Coast of California
What color is associated with bud burst?
green buds emerge from wood
When is bud break in Northern Europe?
March
Can pruning affect budbreak?
Yes. Late pruning can delay budbreak.
What is the time lapse from budbreak to shoot and leaf growth?
within 10 days
What is provignage?
natural reproduction of vines, shoots spread and form roots systems where branches touch the ground
What is the time lapse from budbreak to flowering?
6-13 weeks
What type of weather is required for a good berry set?
temperature of 15 degrees C, plenty of sunlight, little or no rain
Why did phylloxera not invade Europe until 300+ years after the transatlantic trade started?
For phylloxera to survive the voyage, it required steamships for enough speed to arrive intact.
Name 4 factors than can be used to manage vigor of the vine.
number of buds, cover crops, density of plantings, rootstocks, varietal selection [mnemonic: bcdR>vigoR]
Name 4 factors than can be used to manage ripeness.
canopy management, limit water after veraison, match number of buds to available inputs of water, heat and sunlight.
Name two varieties that are often vinified protectively from the standpoint of oxidative handling.
Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling
Name a white variety that is often made oxidatively.
Burgundian Chardonnay
What is a key difference between making red and white wines with regards to pressing?
for white wines, pressing is done before fermentation
