2.4 Grape Growing/Labeling Terms Flashcards
_____________ marks the start of the growing season, whereas _______ marks the end of the growing season.
Spring
Autumn
What steps are in the annual “life cycle of the vine”?
Bud burst
Shoot & leaf growth
Flowering and fruit set
Veraison and ripening
Harvest
Dormancy
What species of grape are most wines made from?
The European species: Vitis vinifera
Why do vines grow grapes?
So animals will eat the fruit and spread the grapes’ seeds.
(deer and birds, etc.)
What 5 things does a vine need to grow and thrive?
Warmth
Sunlight
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Water
Nutrients
What does the Sun provide the grape?
Heat
Warmth
What is photosynthesis?
The vine uses sunshine to combine carbon dioxide gas (which is taken in by the leaves) and water (which is taken up by the roots) in order to produce sugars.
How does the vine use the sugars created through photosynthesis?
The sugars are used for growth and ripening the grapes. It also allows the plant to grow healthy shoots, leaves and roots. (it also need nutrients from the soil to grow)
During which season are vines dormant?
Winter
Name 4 common white varieties of Vitis Vinifera.
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling
Pinot Gris/Grigio
Name 5 common red varieties of Vitis Vinifera.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Syrah
Grenache
What are the 4 main parts of a grape?
Skins
Pulp
Seeds
Stems
Tannins are produced by what 3 parts of the grape?
Stems
Seeds
Skins
What is pulp made of?
Mostly water and sugar, with smaller amounts of acid and flavor compounds.
Which part of the grape gives color to red wine?
The skins
True or false: grape seeds can add bitter tannins to wine if they are handled roughly during winemaking.
True
What flavor do tannins produce?
Bitter
When does flowering occur?
Spring (May June in Northern Hemisphere)
How are the flowers of grape vines pollinated?
Vines are self pollinating - they don’t need flying insects.
True or False: Grapes produce clusters of flowers which will ultimately become a bunch of grapes. Each flower must be individually pollinated in order to become one of the grapes in the bunch.
True
What is fruit set? When does it happen?
Once pollinated a flower develops seeds and starts to swell. (small, green, hard)
After pollination
What is véraison and when does it occur?
Véraison is the onset of ripening
Mid-summer.
Red varieties change from green to purple or black
White grapes become golden
sugars increase
acidity levels decrease.
Before ripening, grapes are high in _____ and low in _____.
Acid
Sugar
As they ripen, grapes become higher in _____ and lower in _____.
Sugar
Acid
During ripening, black grapes develop _______.
Tannins
( the quality of the tannin also changes, becoming riper, and less bitter/astringent)
True or false: As the grape ripens, the herbaceous flavors decrease and the signature flavors develop. For some white grapes the aromas and flavors change from green fruit to stone/ tropical fruit as the level of ripeness increases. For black grapes, the aromas and flavors change from fresh fruit to cooked fruit.
True
What are 3 methods to concentrate grape sugars for production of sweet wines?
Extra-ripening
Botrytis/noble rot
Frozen Grapes
If grapes remain on the vine after the time they’re usually harvested, what happens to them?
Extra-ripeness will develop
requires the right conditions
Water in the grapes evaporates thereby concentrating acids and sugars
Aromas in the grape change from ripe/fresh to dried
If left long enough, grapes will raisinate- developing dried fruit flavors and very concentrated sugars (almost often used for dessert wines)
What is Botrytis/noble rot?
Botrytis is a fungus that grows ripe grapes that can cause noble rot.
How does Botrytis effect the grape?
It punctures before the grape, allowing water to evaporate (thereby concentrating acid, sugar and flavor). Botrytis only has the ability to benefit wine quality if conditions are correct:
1st -the fungus must develop on ripe grapes
2nd- damp misty mornings followed by warm sunny afternoons allow the fungus to develop rather than overdevelop (if the fungus over- develops it is called “Gray Rot” and the harvest is lost.
What style of wine is usually made with grapes affected by Botrytis/Noble Rot?
Sweet, dessert wines
What wine style is creating using frozen grapes?
Ice wine (Eiswien)
What happens to healthy grapes when they are left on the vine to freeze and they’re picked when frozen?
- The water inside the grapes freezes
- The grapes are then pressed and separated from the sugary liquid
- This sugary liquid is fermented
What are the characteristics of Ice wine/Eiswien?
The sugary liquid is intensely high in acids, flavor, and sugar.
List 3 environmental factors that define climate
Temperature
Sunlight
Precipitation
Does climate change on an annual basis?
No, but weather does!
What is the growing season?
Northern hemisphere: April - October
Southern hemisphere: October - April
Name 3 climate types
Cool (average temperature less than or equal to 62 degrees F)
Moderate (average temperature of 62- 65 degrees F)
Warm (average temperature of 65- 70 degrees F)
True or false: When considering climate, temperature is important because it determines which great varieties can successfully grow in a specific wine region. It also influences the flavor characteristics particular grapes can develop.
True
What is latitude and why is it important for vineyards?
Latitude is the name for the horizontal subdivisions around the globe: the imaginary, regularly spaced rings moving from the equator north or south to the poles. Most vineyards are located between 30° and 50° north or South. This is the “sweet spot” where grapes can be planted and reliably ripen for the production of quality wine
Name 9 climatic influences on vineyards/grapes.
Latitude
Altitude
Seas
Rivers
Air
Clouds, fog, mist
Mountains
Slope/aspect
Soil
How does altitude affect temperature?
Temperatures drop as altitude increases.
What impact do seas have on climate?
Warm climates close to seas receive a moderating influence that can benefit vineyards. Cool climates near seas may receive the benefit of warming influence from warm ocean currents
How can rivers affect a wine growing area?
Reflect sunlight (frost protection)
Air circulation (minimizes risk of mold/mildew/fungus)
Extend the growing season due to the heat it accumulated over the summertime
How can cool air from oceans/mountains benefit vineyards?
Cool/cold air reduces temperatures in hot vineyards, allowing grapes to ripen more slowly
What’s the impact of clouds on a vineyard?
Photosynthesis can be hampered due to decreased sunlight/warmth - grapes ripen more slowly.
How can fog affect a vineyard?
Fog cools the air and moderates heat. It can aid in development of Botrytis.
How do mountains affect vineyards?
Mountains act as a barricade to protect vineyards from cold air and bad weather.
The result is a phenomenon called a rain shadow effect for vineyards on the leeward side of mountains. These vineyards will have sunny summers, low rainfall, and dry autums.
Name 6 weather conditions that have the ability to impact a harvest
Cool vintages
Hot vintages
Drought
Excess rain
Hail
Frost
How do slope/aspect affect vineyards?
Slopes facing the equator will receive more direct heat and sunlight than vineyards facing away from the equator
A vineyard’s aspect - whether it’s on flat land, a gentle slope, or a steep hillside - also affects a vine’s ability to ripen its grapes.
How can soil affect a vineyard?
Water & Nutrients
Drainage (water retention)
Dark colored rocks absorb and retain heat, increasing temperatures.
What is a “cool vintage”?
A cool vintage means the average temperature of the growing season was lower, or cooler, than what is normal for that region.
Usually, cooler vintages yield grapes that are higher in acidity and tarter in fruit flavors because the grapes struggled to ripen.
What is a “hot vintage”?
A hot vintage means the average temperature of the growing season was higher, or hotter, than what is normal for that region.
Hotter vintages can overripen grapes leading to dried-fruit flavors. If there is too much sun, the grapes can also sunburn.
How can hot vintages harm the grapes?
Sunburn
over-ripe, cooked favors
Not enough water - vines go into survival mode rather than fruit production mode - or can even die
How can hot vintages harm the grapes?
Vines struggle to ripen the grapes
High acid levels, low sugar levels
Verdant aromas & flavors
How can hail harm the grapes?
- Perforate leaves, making them unable to photosynthesize
- Create open wounds in the vine trunk where diseases can thrive
- Damage the berries making them unusable
How can excessive rain harm the grapes?
Disease
Close to harvest, grapes swell and flavors become dilute
How can frost harm the grape?
In spring - damage and kill vine’s growth, reducing yields
What’s the riskiest season for frost damage?
Spring
Explain training vs. pruning
Training: How the vine is physically supported to optimize sunlight and productivity.
Pruning: Removal of plant parts to control size and form of the vine, optimize production potential, and achieve balance between vegetative growth (the leaves) and reproductive growth (fruit).
What is most commonly used to support the vine (training)
Trellises
When does pruning usually take place?
Winter
What methods of irrigation are used in vineyards?
Flooding the field
Systems that water individual vines
Is irrigation allowed everywhere?
No. Often it’s allowed in regions with low rainfall.
How do vineyard managers deal with weeds, fungus, pests and disease??
For weeds/fungus- chemical sprays: Herbicides (plants), insecticides (bugs) and fungicides (mold/mildew)
If organic - chemicals are limited, but some sprays are permitted
For animals- net and fences
What is yield?
it measures the amount of fruit produced per acre (or ha)
True or false: some wine regions legally limit permissible yields.
True
Can yields affect grape quality?
Yes. if yields are too big, the flavors are diluted and sugar content in the grapes can be low.
Name 2 ways how grapes are harvested.
Machine
By hand
What effect does the timing of the harvest have on grape quality?
Early harvest - lower sugar (alcohol), higher levels of acid, “green-er” (less ripe) flavors.
Later harvest - higher sugar levels, lower acid levels, riper flavors.
Can machine harvesting be used on steep slopes?
No.
What is a GI?
A legally defined vineyard area.
How do European GIs differ from non-European GIs?
European GIs indicate not only where the grapes are grown, they also have regulations about the permissible grapes, wine styles and winemaking techniques.
Non-European GI’s are really only concerned with designation of boundaries for the region (and collection of taxes by the government!)
How are GIs subdivided in the EU?
PDOs- smaller areas and regulations are more strict.
PGIs - larger areas, looser regulations.
What are PDO/PGI terms for France?
PDO= AOC
PGI= IGP
(Producers can use either French or EU designations)
What are PDO/PGI terms for Italy?
PDO= DOC and or DOCG
PGI= IGT
(Producers can use either Italian or EU designations)
What are PDO/PGI terms for Spain?
PDO= DO
PGI= Vino de la Tierra
(Producers can use either Spanish or EU designations)
PDO= Qualitatswein or Pratikatswein
PGI= Landwein
(Producers can use either German or EU designations)
Besides the producer, appellation, and vintage, what are some common terms related to grape growing?
- Old Vine/Vieilles Vignes
- Late Harvest/Vendanges Tardives
- Icewine/Eiswein
- Botrytis
What does the term Old Vine or Vieilles Vignes mean?
That the vines are older and, assumingly, grow grapes that express higher flavor concentration.
To achieve the distinction of Old Vine/Vieilles Vignes, a vine usually has to be at least 35 years old but there is no legally defined age minimum.
What does the term Vintage mean?
The year the grapes were harvested
Is an older vintage always better?
No. Most wines are meant to consume young and do not improve with age.
What is vintage variation?
Weather plays a significant role in grape development- grapes are different every year!!
What does the term Late Harvest mean?
The grapes were left on the vine beyond ripeness, resulting in riper/dried flavors and higher levels of sugar.
Wines can be dry, off-dry or sweet, and flavors are more concentrated, with fuller body.
What does Botrytis/noble rot mean on a label?
This indicates the grapes were affected by botrytis. The wine should have highly concentrated levels of sugar and acid. Wines are almost always sweet.
What does Ice wine/Eiswein mean on a label?
Indicates the grapes were left on the vine to freeze and were harvested and pressed while frozen - concentrating sugar and acid. Most wines are sweet.
