4 - The Vine Flashcards
How many N. American vines are there?
3
Why are N. American vines not used?
Have unattractive flavours
Why are rootstocks used?
Phylloxera resistance
Name 2 techniques for growing/propagating vines?
Cutting and Layering
What is the difference between cutting and layering?
Cutting: A section of a vine shoot that is planted and then grows as a new plant.
Layering: Takes place in the vineyard. A cane is bent down and a section of it is buried in the ground. The cane tip points upwards out of the ground. The buried section takes root, and once these roots are established, the cane linking the new growth to the original plant is cut.
What are the principal differences between grape varieties?
Colour and Flavour, both coming from the grape itself.
Why do most growers now use cuttings instead of layering?
Because of the risk of Phylloxera.
What is a grape varietal?
A grape varietal is a vine or group of vines that can trace its lineage back through a series of cuttings and layerings to a single plant.
What is a clone?
Each vine or group of vines that shows a particular characteristics based on random mutation during vine growth is known as a clone.
Give an example of a clone that’s treated as though is a different varietal although it’s not.
Pinot Gris and Pinot Gris are both clones of Pinot Noir
What is a crossing?
A crossing is a grape varietal that has 2 parents vines of the same species. Crossings are generally reserved for varietals developed through research.
What is a hybrid?
A hybrid is a grape varietal with 2 parents of different species. Typically, one of the parents is an American varietal. Hybrids are commonly used to develop new rootstocks.
Give 2 examples of crossings
Muller-Thurgeau is a crossing of Riesling and Madelaine Royale
Pinotage is a Crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault
What is Phylloxera?
Where is it natively found?
How does it attack the vine?
Describe the lifecycle?
Phylloxera is an insect
Natively found in N. America
It attacks the rootstock, leaving the vine exposed to infection and unable to absorb nutrients from the soil.
It’s life cycle is complex.
What protections do N. American rootstocks provide against Phylloxera?
They secrete a sticky sap that suffocates the insect. The rootstocks also develop barriers at the site of attack that prevents the site from becoming infected.
