Class 2: A Year in the Vineyard, Site Influence and Red Wine Production Flashcards
HOST 9111 - Methods of Wine Production
What is viticulture?
The study and practice of growing grapes.
List the different parts of the grape
- Grape skins
- Grape pulp
- Stem
- Seeds
List and describe 5 components of grape skins.
- Colour
- Tannins
- Flavours
- Aromas
- Aroma compounds
List 4 components of grape pulp.
Water
Sugar
Acid
Flavour compounds
Is grape pulp colourless?
Yes. With the exception of Alicant Bouchet which has coloured pulp (teinturier)
Describe the history of Vitis Vinifera
Main Eurasion species
Produces nearly all the grapes made in winemaking
Been used for thousands of years
How many varieties are there of Vitis Vinifera?
Over 10,000
Name the parents of Müller Thurgau
Riesling x Madeleine Royale
Hybrids account for what percentage of wine production?
5%
What are the parents of Baco Noir
Vitis Vinifera Folle Blanche x Vitis Riparia Grand Glabre
What is important to remember when considering what grape variety to plant?
Sunshine and Climate:
1. Budding time
2. Ripening time
3. Sunshine hours required
4. Suitable climate
Disease:
5. Disease resistance
Soil:
6. Soils the variety excels in
Market:
7. Styles of wine
8. Cost per grape vine
How much does a vine cost?
8$ - 30$ per vine
What are the functions of the roots?
- Anchor the vine
- Store carbohydrates over the winter
- Take up water and nutrients
Describe the trunk and permanent wood.
What are the functions of these structures?
- Made up of one-year-old wood or more
- Amount of permanent wood determined by pruning
- Stores carbohydrates over the winter
- Tranports fuel to the vine
Describe one-year old shoots.
Turn woody during the winter after have grown
Become one-year-old wood the following spring
Buds that have formed on them from previous year burst and grow into shoots
When are one-old shoots pruned?
Every winter
The shoots is then called a cane (8-20 buds) or a spur (2-3 buds)
Name the green parts of the vine
- Leaves
- Tendrils
- Flowers / berries
- Buds
What is the role of leaves?
Plant’s engine; using sunlight, they turn carbon dioxide into sugar through the process of photosynthesis
Also provide shade to the berries
What do tendrils do?
Support the vine which otherwise cannot support itself
What are buds?
Miniature structure for next year’s growth
What is phylloxera?
Vine eating louse that spreads bacteria and fungi
When did phylloxera first arrive in Europe?
1850’s
What did phylloxera do to grapevines?
Ate the vines of the roots, allowing bacteria to enter and ultimately kill the plant
What impact did phylloxera have on European vineyards?
Caused destruction of vineyards throughout Europe
Why were American vines resistant to phylloxera?
The roots of American vines had a gummy substance which clogged the mouths of phylloxera, preventing the grouse from eating it. Also, American rootstock had a second protective layer underneath the surface of the root, preventing infection from entering the vine.
How was American rootstock used?
American rootstock planted, European rootstock grafted on top.
Name 3 American rootstocks.
- Rupestris
- Riparia
- Berlandieri
Also Labrusca and Aestivus
Are American vines used to make wine?
Rarely. Wine produced from American vines tastes “foxy.”
Can phylloxera be controlled with chemicals?
No
Are grapes self-pollinating?
Yes
What happens to grapes over the summer months?
- Grapes swell with water
- Sugar levels increase
- Acidity levels decrease
- Flavours develop and become riper
- Skins change colour
Describe the stages and timing of the vine cycle.
- Budburst: March/April
- Shoot and Leaf Growth: March to August
- Flowering and Fruitset: May/June
- Veraison/ Fruit Ripening:July to September
- Harvest: September/October
- Winter Pruning: Winter
What does a vine need?
- Water
- Sunlight
- Heat
- Nutrients
- Carbon dioxide
Describe 2 key temperatures in the life cycle of a vine.
-20: Vine dies.
Below 10 degrees: vine is dormant.
10 degrees.
Above 10°c: vine can grow.
Heat is needed during the growing season
Not all varieties need the same amount of heat (e.g., Riesling needs less, Grenache needs more)
What factors affect Annual Temperature?
- Ocean currents: can warm or cool the air
- Altitude: temperatures drop 0.6°c every 100m
- Latitude: most vineyards 30-50° north or south of the equator
- Fog: can cool an area that gets too hot
- Soil: impacts ground temperature around roots, retains or drains water
- Aspect
What is continentality?
Temperature difference between hottest days in summer and coldest days in winter
What does high continentality mean?
Large difference between summer and winter temperatures
What impact do large bodies of water have on the surrounding air and lands?
Large bodies heat up cool down and heat up more slowly than landmasses.
Therefore, they provide heat to nearby land during the winter, and cooling influences during the summer.
What is the diurnal shift?
The difference between day temperatures and night temperatures
What does a wide diurnal shift mean and how is that helpful?
A high diurnal shift means cool nights: slows loss of aromas and acidity in grapes
Does proximity to water lower diurnal shift?
Yes - diurnal range is reduced.
More cloud cover, which acts as giant insulating blanket.
Is diurnal shift greater on land far from water?
Yes.
Temperatures drop more quickly at night; ground loses heat faster because there is no insulating cloud cover.
What happens when winter temperatures are too cold?
Temperatures below -20°c can seriously damage or kills vines. Graft sites are most at risk.
How are vines protected against extreme cold?
“Earthing Up” - vine roots are covered with dirt.
Often done in Prince Edward County.
What happens if winter temperatures are too warm?
No dormancy period: vines may produce more than one crop.
Vine does not have a chance to recover: life is shortened and grape quality may suffer.
Number of pests may increase as they have not been killed off during the winter.
What is a spring frost?
Cold air below 0°c collects at ground level
Water on vine freezes
Newly burst buds or young shoots killed
Damage can be huge, reducing yield
List 4 measures used to protect against spring frost.
- Heaters
- Wind machines
- Sprinklers (igloo effect)
- Thoughtful vineyard design
How much sunlight do vines require?
1300-1500 hours or sunlight during the growing season
Why do vines need sunlight?
- Photosynthesis
- Successful flowering
- Successful fruitset
- Sufficient ripening
Name 3 physical factors that affect sunlight.
- Latitude
- Seas and lakes
- Aspect
Name 3 sunlight hazards (too much and too little)
- Cloudy conditions at flower and fruitset - smaller yield
- Cloudy conditions during growing season - unripened grapes
- Sunburn
What part of the vine collects water?
The roots
What determines the amount of water a vine needs?
Temperature
To encourage grape ripening, what should happen with the water supply?
Once canopy growth has occurred, limiting water supports ripening.
The vine thinks it is in danger so it focusses on ripening grapes in order to make them more attractive to birds.
Name 4 sources of water for grape vines.
- Rainfall
- Drip irrigation
- Sprinklers
- Flood irrigation
What can drought do to a vine?
Prolonged drought can shut down transpiration and will eventually kill it.
What happens if a vine has ample supplies of water?
The vine focusses on shoot and leaf growth and not on grape ripening
What can heavy rainfall do?
- Disrupt flowering and fruitset
- Can swell the berries at harvest
List 2 ways to mitigate possible damage from hail.
- Netting
- Owning several vineyards hoping both are not affected
How does weather differ from climate?
Weather: annual weather variation that happens in one year
Climate: yearly temperature, sunlight and water patterns averaged out over many years
Some regions experience greater variations in weather each year. True or false?
True
What temperature is a cool climate?
16.5°c or lower
What temperature is a moderate climate?
16.5 - 18.5°c
What temperature is a warm climate?
18.5 - 21°c
What temperature is a hot climate?
Over 21°c
What is a macro-climate?
The climate of an entire region.
What is a meso-climate?
The weather in a particular vineyard.
What is a micro-climate?
The weather in a very small area in a vineyard.
What is a continental climate? List 2 examples.
High continentality
Chablis and Champagne
What is a maritime climate?
Low continentality
Rainfall throughout the year
What is a Mediterranean climate?
Warm and dry with low continentality. Rainfall during the winter months.
White grapes are more often grown in cool climates. Describe the structure of white wine from a cool region.
Less sunshine and heat. Therefore:
Sugar: lower
Acid: high
Alcohol: lower
Red grapes are more commonly grown in warmer climates. Describe the structure and flavour of red wine from a warmer region.
More sunshine and heat. Therefore:
Sugar: higher
Acid: lower
Alcohol: higher
Flavours: riper
List 5 weather issues.
- Wind: lessens disease pressure from moisture but bad at flowering and fruitset
- Frost
- Rain: too little, too much or during flowering and fruitset
- Heat stress: shuts vines down
- Fires: smoke taint
What essential component does soil contribute to a vine?
Nutrients
Where is soil found?
On top of bedrock
What does soil consist of?
- Hummus
- Stones
- Sand
- Clay
What is loam?
Soils with a mix of sand and clay. Many of the best soils are loam.
What nutrients does soil contain?
- Nitrogen
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
What are the signs or chlorosis?
Leaves turn yellow and impedes photosynthesis
What causes chlorosis?
Lack of nutrients
What are some properties of soil that relate to vine growth?
- Water drainage
- Water retention
- Sun reflection
List 8 different types of soil.
- Granite
- Limestone / chalk
- Marl
- Schist
- Clay
- Sand
- Silt
- Gravel
What are the steps in establishing a vineyard?
- Site selection: matched to a suitable varietal
- Planting: vines live 30-50 years; planting is expensive
- Density of planting
- Training: building permanent structures
- Trellising: training the vines along the trellising system
- Pruning: removing permanent canes, leaves and wood
A new vine can provide a commercial crop in….
3-5 years
List 2 shapes vines can be trained into.
- Head trained
- Cordon trained
Describe a head-trained vine.
Little permanent wood; some only have a trunk
Can be spur pruned or replacement-cane pruned
Describe a cordon-trained vine.
One or more permanent arms or “cordons”
Usually spur pruned
Takes longer to establish because more permanent wood needs to be grown
Easier to mechanization
When does vine-pruning occur?
Every summer and every winter.
What does pruning do?
- Removes unwanted leaves, canes and permanent wood
- Shapes the vines
- Limits vine size
Why is winter pruning important?
Determines the number and location of buds that will form in the coming growing season.
List the two different types of pruning.
- Spur pruning
* Short sections of one-year-old wood with 2-3 buds
* Distributed along a cordon or around the top of the trunk - Replacement cane pruning
* Longer sections of one-year-old wood with 8-20 buds
* 1-2 canes retained; each one bent horizontally and tied to trellis
* Mostly seen on head-trained vines
* More complex method requiring skilled labour
* Aka single or double guyot training
Describe an untrained bush vine.
Why are they useful in warm climates?
Where would you find them?
Typically head trained and spur pruned
Suitable to warm/hot, dry, sunny regions - extra shade protects grapes
Southern Rhône, Barossa Valley
Describe a head trained, spur pruned vine in a cool region.
Vines are at risk of disease pressure due to cooler conditions. The shoots are tied together at the tips to improve air circulation and reduce moisture.
The shapes are often referred to as gobelets.
Are untrellised vineyards suitable for mechanization?
No
What is the most widely used system in trellised vineyards?
Vertical shoot positioning (VSP)
List 3 advantages of vertical shoot positioning.
- Controls sunlight that gets into the canopy
- Improves air circulation
- Aids in mechanization
How big is a hectare?
100m x 100m areas
What does planting density refer to?
The number of vines that are planted within a given area.
What is the range of vine density in a hectare?
1,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare
What is a yield?
The amount of grapes pruduced.
How can yield be measured?
Weight: tonnes per ha
Volume: hectolitres per ha
Why is it important to be able to manage and predict yields?
Legal requirements
Contracts with négotiants
How much tank space is required
How can excess yields be controlled?
Green harvest
What is terroir?
French term with no English word
The ensemble of environmental features which create a “sense of place”
Best displayed in high quality wines made with careful consideration and non-intervention
What are the elements of terroir?
- Soil
- Elevation
- Aspect
- Sun
- Climate
- Latitide
- Water
- Local yeast strains
Name 4 vineyard diseases.
- Powdery Mildew
- Downy Mildew
- Black Rot
- Bunch Rot
What is Powdery Mildew?
White powder-like patches on leaves, stems and grapes
Can grow in shaded parts of the plant with humidity
Kills leaves, defoliates vines
Photosynthesis impact, grape quality suffers
What is Downy Mildew?
Light green to yellow spots scattered across leaves
Spots appear greasy: referred to as oil spots
Leaf infection biggest concern
What is Black Rot?
Brown circular infections on leaves
Can destroy an entire crop if not addressed
Infection of young grape clusters biggest concern
Berries: light brown, then turn near black
What is Bunch Rot?
Berries appear soft and watery
High humidity regions: berries have grayish growth of fungus
Tight-clustered bunches most vulnerable
What factors does one look at when deciding when to pick?
- Sugar levels (Brix)
- Phenolic ripeness
- Desired style of wine
- Weather
What advantage does hand-picking have over machine picking?
Quality control
Why is vineyard management complicated?
Do you hire a full-time team or hire seasonal help?
Do you hire an outside vineyard management company?
