6.1: Rutherglen Muscat - The Growing Environment and Grape Growing Flashcards

1
Q

Where is Rutherglen located?

A

situated inland in the north east of Victoria

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2
Q

How many hectares of vines are planted?

A

411 ha.

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3
Q

What is the climate?

A
  • continental climate
  • warm days
  • moderated by cool air flowing down from the Victorian Alps during the night
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4
Q

What does the climate mean for sugar accumulation in the grapes?

A
  • warm days in the growing season
  • long, dry autumns
  • mean that large amounts of sugar can accumulate in the grapes, required for these syrupy, very sweet styles of wine
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5
Q

For how long are grapes often left on the vine?

A

until they become extra ripe and start to shrivel

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6
Q

When the grapes are left on the vine, what develops?

A
  • increases the sugar concentration

- leads to the development of some dried fruit characteristics e.g. raisin

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7
Q

How high can the potential alcohol levels of the grapes get?

A

not unusual for grapes to reach potential alcohol levels of 20% abv

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8
Q

How will the producer decide when to harvest?

A

according to the weather and the degree of ripeness they desire

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9
Q

When does harvest usually occur?

A

between mid-March and May

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10
Q

How does harvest usually happen?

A
  • many producers pick different vineyard blocks at different times to gain a combination of earlier harvested fruit with fresh Muscat aromas, and extra-ripe, shrivelled grapes with more sugar and dried fruit characters
  • weather at harvest-time can influence which of these alternatives will predominate
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11
Q

What can occasionally become a climate problem?

A
  • rain in autumn

- increasing the risk of fungal diseases

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12
Q

What is not desired in Rutherglen Muscat wines?

A

orange marmalade aromas that botrytis can give

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13
Q

What grape is used? What is another name for this?

A
  • Muscat à Petits Grains Rouges

- known locally as Rutherglen Brown Muscat

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14
Q

What is Muscat à Petits Grains Rouges?

A
  • red-skinned mutation of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

- displays pronounced grapey and floral aromas

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15
Q

How might the vines be trained?

A
  • double cordons

- canopy sprawls over a single foliage wire held by more wires into a VSP system

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16
Q

What is a key concern when it comes to training?

A

to provide some shading for the grapes which are likely to otherwise become sunburn

17
Q

Are most of the vines new or old?

A
  • considerable plantings of old vines
18
Q

Describe how old vines affect the final wine.

A
  • bunches of smaller grapes with a higher skin to juice ratio
  • can produce deeper coloured, more concentrated wines
19
Q

What might old vines be used for?

A

blending, element of house style