Ch 6 - The Life Cycle Flashcards
What are the main stages of the vineyard cycle?
Budurst, early shoot and leaf growth, flowering and fruit set, veraison and berry ripening, harvest, winter dormancy.
What is budburst?
When does it occur?
It is the start of the growing season. Buds swell and burst, growing into new shoots.
It occurs in spring when temperatures exceed 10 deg Celsius. There are early- and late-budding varieties.
Name two early-budding varieties and two late-budding.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (early)
Cab. Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc (late)
What is the risk to early-budding varieties at budburst?
New shoots and buds can be destroyed by spring frosts reducing yields.
What happens during early shoot and leaf growth? How is growth fuelled?
Shoots grow rapidly with leaves and tendrils forming. It is fuelled by carbohydrate reserves from winter. As leaves mature photosynthesis takes over.
What does the vine need during early shoot growth?
A good supply of water and nutrients.
What is infloresence?
A cluster of flowers before the become flowers.
What conditions do infloresence need during flowering? What can happen if they are not met?
Stable weather conditions - plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures and little or no rainfall.
Pollination can be disrupted reducing fruit set and yield.
What is fruit set?
It occurs when a flower starts to develop into a grape.
What is coulure?
Not every flower becomes a grape and unpollinated flowers fall off. If more than normal fail to fertilise this called coulure. This can reduce yield.
What is millerandage?
Grapes sometimes form without seed and remain small. This known as millerandage. This can reduce yield.
What are main causes of millerandageand coulure?
Cold, cloudy or rainy weather during pollination.
What is veraison? When does it occur? What are berries like before veraison?
Veraison is the point at which ripening begins. Until then they are green and hard.
What happens to grapes at veraison?
Grape skin changes colour. Black to red then purple. White become translucent and golden.
What happens between veraison and harvest?
Grapes swell and fill with water;
Sugar levels rise and acidity falls;
Colour pigments, flavours, aromas and tannins develop.
