5. The Growing Environment

Question 1

Ocean current as a factor affecting Heat - cooling (2 ex)?, warming (1 ex)?

Answer 1

• cooling:
• • Humboldt Current off Chile
• • Benguela Current off South Africa
• warming:
• • Gulf Stream off north-west Europe

Question 2

Fog as a factor affecting Heat - 2 examples

Answer 2

• California

- Casablanca Valley in Chile

Question 3

Aspect - def?

Answer 3

• direction in which slope faces

Question 4

Continentality - def? high? low? large bodies of water?

Answer 4

• temp difference between coldest and hottest months
• high: large differences in seasonal temperatures
• low: little differences
• bodies of water cause low continentality

Question 5

Diurnal range - def? impact on grape? vineyard w. large diurnal range? impact of bodies of water?

Answer 5

• difference in temp between day and night
• warm nights accelerate ripening
• cool nights slow loss of aromas and acidity
• produce wines are fresher and more aromatic
• even small bodies of water can reduce diurnal range

Question 6

winter - what if too cold? too warm?

Answer 6

• too cold, i.e. below - 20°C –> can kill vine

- too warm –> no dormant period, i.e. more than one crop each year

Question 7

protection against spring frost (4)?

Answer 7

• heaters
• wind machines (sometimes even with heaters incorporated)
• sprinklers
• thoughtful vineyard design: better on slopes to avoid depressions in which cold air collects

Question 8

factors affecting sunlight (3)?

Answer 8

• latitude: further away from equator, longer summer season
• seas and lakes: reflections
• aspect

Question 9

when can limiting supply of water be beneficial? why?

Answer 9

• when sufficient canopy is grown

- vine can focus on photosynthesis and producing sugar and grape ripening instead of further shoot growht

Question 10

3 main irrigation techniques?

Answer 10

• drip irrigation: fully automated, expensive but nice control
• sprinklers: very common, increased risk of diseases
• flood irrigation: cheap, but only if flat and close to water

Question 11

5 factors the vine needs to grow

Answer 11

• heat, sunlight, water, carbon-dioxide, nutrients

Question 12

3 impacts of too heavy rainfall

Answer 12

• flowering and fruit set can be disrupted
• spread of fungal diseases
• excessive swelling of berries, causing dilution of aromas and sugars

Question 13

hail - where? 2 ways to avoid? costs?

Answer 13

• especially in Mendoza, Argentina
• netting –> quite costly
• have several vineyards at different locations

Question 14

weather - def? examples of high and low variation?

Answer 14

• annual variation to climatic average
• high: Bordeaux
• low: Central Valley in California

Question 15

Region’s temperature and climates - definition? 4!

Answer 15

• average temperature of growing season (: Apr-Oct, S: Oct-Apr)
• cool: 16.5°C or below
• modearte: 16.5-18.5°C
• warm: 18.5°C-21°C
• hot: above 21°C

Question 16

3 climate types - defs? ex? Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon - explain?

Answer 16

• continental: high continentality, little rain
• • short summers, large temp drop in autumn
• -cool ex: Chablis, Champagne
• maritime: low continentality, cool to moderate climates,
• • rainfall spread throughout the year (which is why C. S. can still ripen in Bordeaux)
• mediterranean: low continentality, little rain
• • coastal California, Chile, South Africa, SE Australia

Question 17

soil - 3 main components

Answer 17

• stones/rocks
• tiny particles: sand (larger), clay (small)
• humus

Question 18

soil and water - dynamic over year? what impacts drainage?

Answer 18

• early: enough water to support leave growth and shoot growth
• late: after véraison little water to promote grape ripening
• clay: danger of waterlogging
• sand, stones: better for drainage

Question 19

loam?

Answer 19

• mixture of sand and clay

- good drainage but retain enough water

Question 20

3 main nutrients - too much? too little?

Answer 20

• nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
• not too much because it would cause vine to grow too much canopy, etc
• too little: can cause chlorosis, yellow leaves and reduced photosynthesis (see plants at home)