Class 3: Vineyard Pests, Philosophies, and Sparkling Wine Production

Question 1

Name 4 negative impacts pests can have on vineyards.

Answer 1

1. Reduced crop yield
2. Damaged plants
3. Delayed ripening
4. Vine death

Question 2

List the 6 different catagories of pests.

Answer 2

1. Fungal
2. Bacterial
3. Phytoplasm
4. Animal
5. Insect
6. Viral

Question 3

Name 3 viral pests.

Answer 3

1. Leafroll
2. Fan leaf

Question 4

Describe Leafroll

Answer 4

Reduces yield
Delays ripening

Question 5

Name 2 fungal pests

Answer 5

1. Powdery Mildew
2. Downy Mildew

Question 6

Describe Powdery Mildew

Answer 6

• Reduces fruitset, bunch development and ripening
• Thrives in humid climates with low rainfall
• Sulfur and fungicide

Question 7

Describe Downy Mildew

Answer 7

Damages leaves
Limits photosynthese
Spread by rainfall
Bordeaux Mixture

Question 8

Name one bacterial pest.

Answer 8

Pierce’s Disease

Question 9

Describe Pierce’s Disease.

Answer 9

Stops chlorphyl.
Fatal in 5 years
Spread by Sharpshooter
No cure or control - just pray

Question 10

What is a glass-winged sharpshooter?

Answer 10

A type of grasshopper

Question 11

What is Bordeaux Mixture

Answer 11

Copper sulfate, calcium carbonate and water (1:1:100 ratio)

Question 12

How can animals damage vineyards?

Answer 12

1. Steal the goods (birds)
2. Damage plants (deer)
3. Damage the land (gophers)

Question 13

Name 3 insect pests

Answer 13

1. Phylloxera
2. Asian Ladybug
3. Grape Berry Moth

Question 14

List 4 viticultral philosophies.

Answer 14

1. Conventional
2. Organic
3. Biodynamic
4. Regenerative

Question 15

Describe Conventional viticulture.

Answer 15

• Large scale, high input
• Mechanization
• Monoculture
• Maximize yield (vineyard layout that allows tractor access)
• Synthetic fertilizers
• No cover crops

Question 16

Describe Organic viticulture.

Answer 16

• No synthetic chemicals
• Cover crops, mixed use planting
• More difficult in humid climates
• Does not speak to sustainability
• Hard to certify, easy to lose
• Sulfur, Bordeaux mixture main ways of controlling disease

Question 17

Describe Biodynamic viticulture.

Answer 17

1. Developed in 1920’s by Rudolph Steiner
2. Lunar cycle governs most events
3. Uses prescribed herbal/animal preparations to nourish

Question 18

Describe Regenerative viticulture.

Answer 18

1. Similar to Biodynamic but no prescribed treatments of mysticism
2. Goal: actively repair damage to land
3. No-till
4. Improve soil health and carbon sequestration

Question 19

What is the rhizosphere?

Answer 19

• Complex ecosystem
• Interconnecion of plants, insects and inorganic enviroment
• More diversity = more nutrients unlocked and more soil improvement