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WSET Dip D3 > Climate and Grape Growing Environment > Flashcards

Climate and Grape Growing Environment Flashcards

1
Q 
Climate in Bordeaux
Climatic influence(s)
A

Moderate Maritime Climate
Atlantic Ocean lies to the west of the vineyards and is a cooling influence
Left bank protected from Atlantic storms by the Landes Forest

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2
Q

Average rainfall in Bordeaux

A

950mm per year

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3
Q

Excessive rain at key moments is an important factor in vintage variation. When and how

A

Rain at flowering can result in poor fruit set
Rain throughout the growing season can result in increased disease pressure
Rain at and following veraison can lead to unripe fruit and fungal diseases
Rain at harvest can dilute flavours

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4
Q

Climatic hazards in Bordeaux

A

Frost (e.g. 1956, 1991, 2017)
Hail - sporadic - more widespread and destructive over last decade (Gironde estuary has moderating influence so those vineyards close to the river don’t get hit as hard)
Excessive rainfall

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5
Q

Soils in Bordeaux

A

Left bank = deposits of gravel and stony soils. Gravel is mixed with clay and sand. Top sites planted on Croupes (gravel mounds)

Right bank = Far more clay in the soil, significant patches of gravel in certain sectors of the Libournais

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6
Q

Climate in Chablis

A

Continental with cold winters and warm summers

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7
Q

Average annual rainfall in Chablis

A

670mm

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8
Q

Climatic hazards in Chablis

A

Spring Frosts
Hail Storms
Rainfall spread through year = Moist climate (high threat of fungal diseases), difficulties in period leading up to harvest (threat of rot)

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9
Q

Soils in Chablis

A

Limestone and clay

Some of which has a considerable amount of fossilised seashells = “kimmeridgian”

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10
Q

Climate in Cote d’or, Cote Challonaise and Maconnais

A

Moderate Continental with cold winters and warm summers

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11
Q

Average annual rainfall in Burgundy [main section]

A

700mm

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12
Q

Climate hazards in Burgundy [main section]

A

Rain can be a threat at harvest
Spring Frosts
Hail during growing season (April-May, damage to early growth of the vine can lead to reduced yields)

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13
Q 
Climate in Beaujolais
Climatic influence(s)
A

Continental - slightly warmer than the rest of Burgundy
The Saone River acts as a moderator of extreme temperatures
Region is subject to cold mistral winds

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14
Q

Rainfall in Beaujolais

A

740mm per year

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15
Q

Soils in Burgundy [main section]

A

Generally composed of mixtures of various types of limestones and clay
Cotes de nuits = more dominated by limestone
Cote de Beaune = more clay and soils are deeper

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16
Q

Soils in Beaujolais

A 
Northern part of the region (hilly) = fast-draining granite, schist and sandy
Southern part (flatter) = soils are richer
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17
Q 
Climate in Alsace
Climatic influence(s)
A

Continental climate with cold winters and warm, sunny summers.
Northerly Latitude = long growing season
Protection of the Vosges mountains to the west
Fohn wind = warm wind that raises temps and reduces risk of fungal disease

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18
Q

Rainfall in Alsace

A

600mm per year

Westerly winds carry rain clouds to west side of vosges mountains

19
Q

Climate hazards in Alsace

A 
Summer drought (irrigation not permitted for AOC wines)
Rain is spread throughout year - wettest months in summer, and driest normally during harvest
20
Q

Soils in Alsace

A

On the plain = deeper, more fertile

On the hillsides = lower fertility, better drainage

21
Q 
Climate in Loire
Climatic influence(s)
A

PAYS NANTAIS = Cool maritime climate = cool springs, warm and humid summers
ANJOU-SAUMUR = moderating influence of Atlantic decreases progressively, more marked in Anjou-Saumur
TOURAINE = continental climate, cold winters and warm summers
CENTRAL VINEYARDS = Continental with cold winters and warm summers

22
Q

Climate hazards in Loire

A 
PAYS NANTAIS = Threat of rain any time during growing season
Spring Frosts (1991)
CENTRAL VINEYARDS = Spring frosts, summer hailstorms
23
Q

Soils in Loire

A

PAYS NANTAIS = Predominantly well draining
ANJOU-SAUMUR & TOURAINE = clay-limestone, flint-clay, sand, gravel and tuff.
More schist and limestone in Anjou and more chalk in Touraine
High Lime content in the soils
SANCERRE = Caillottes, Terre Blanches, Silex

24
Q

Rainfall in Loire

A

ANJOU-SAUMUR & TOURAINE = 700mm

CENTRAL VINEYARDS = 750mm

25
Q

What are Caillottes, Terre Blanches, Silex

A

Soils in Sancerre
Caillottes = shallow soils (24-40mm) over limestone. Said to produce most aromatic wines that are first to be ready to drink and less potential for ageing
Terre Blanches = Limestone and marl found in Chablis. Slow-ripening. Said to produce most structured that need long maturation
Silex = Flinty soils that accumulate heat and leads to early ripening - stony or smoky aromas

26
Q 
Climate in Northern Rhone
Climatic influence(s)
A

Moderate Continental - cold winters, warm summers

Cold Mistral wind blows from north - reduces incidence of fungal diseases, decreases vine vigour

27
Q 
Climate in Southern Rhone
Climatic influence(s)
A

Warm, Mediterranean climate - mild winters, very warm and dry summers
Little protection from Mistral

28
Q 
Climate in Languedoc and rainfall
Climatic influence(s)
A

Mediterranean - High levels of sunshine, rainfall below 600mm per year, very warm summers
Dry, Tramontane north-west wind, blows for 200 days

29
Q 
Climate in Rousillon and rainfall
Climatic influence(s)
A

Warm, windy mediterranean
Moderate rainfall - 500-600mm annually
Wind decreases yield, increases concentration, decreases income

30
Q 
Climate in Provence and rainfall
Climatic influence(s)
A

Warm Mediterranean
Adequate rainfall for grapegrowing
Cold Mistral provides cooling influence - can also interrupt flowering and fruit set, reducing yields

31
Q

Climate in South-West France

A

Broadly similar to Bordeaux, whole region is influenced by the atlantic.
Atlantic influence diminishes with greater distance from the ocean (Bergerac, Monbazillac, Cahors) = slightly less rainfall and warmer summers

32
Q

Climate in Jura and rainfall

A

Moderate Continental Climate

1,100mm per year

33
Q

Climate hazards in Jura

A

Significant rain during growing season
Spring Frosts
Hail

34
Q 
Climate in Germany
Climatic influence(s)
A

Cool and Continental overall
(Excluding Baden) 49-50 N latitude (amongst the most northerly in the world)
Most vineyards situated along the river Rhine and it’s tributaries - rivers play a vital role in moderating temps/extending growing season

35
Q

Climate hazards in Germany and Rainfall

A

Spring frosts - mitigated by rivers and planting on slopes
Summer - rainfall = increase fungal disease, dilution of grapes, hail
500-800mm

36
Q

Soils in Germany

A

Mosel and Ahr - dark-coloured slate

Significant pockets of calcerous soils - Baden, Pfalz, Rheinhessen

37
Q 
Climate in Austria
Climatic Influence(s)
A

Cool Continental overall
North (e.g. Wienviertal) influenced cool northerly winds
South (e.g. Steiermark) more influence from Adriatic = warmer
East (Burgenland, near Hungarian border) influenced by the warmer Pannonian climate
West (vineyards on the Danube) may experience cooler breezes from Alps

38
Q

Climate hazards in Austria and Rainfall

A

Spring Frosts
Hail in Steiermark
Winter freeze - rare but in particularly cold winters
Low rainfall years = water stress

39
Q

Soils in Austria

A

2 major soil types -
Thin soils over rock (granite or geniess, crystalline bedrock materially known as Urgestein)
Richer soils such as Loess

Other soils include limestone and schist (Leithaberg Hills) Gravel and volcanic material (Steiermark and parts of Kamptal)

40
Q

Clime in Tokaj
Climate Influence(s)
Rainfall

A

Moderate Continental Climate
Region is sheltered by the worst of the cold, northerly winds by forested mountain peaks
Latitude 48-49N
500-600mm per year - half falls during growing season

41
Q

Soil in Tokaj

A

Most significant =
Nyirok - Volcanic soil said to produce the most powerful wines
Loess - Sandy silt with high clay content (found around Tokaj hill) = lighter, more delicate wines
(Soil volcanic bedrock means vines can root very deeply - water stress and nutrient deficiency rare)

42
Q 
Climate in Greece
Climatic Influence(s)
A

Generally Mediterranean with long, hot summers and short, mild winters
Inland, climate turns increasingly continental
Spring frosts can be a problem in Northern areas of Greece (Amyndeon)
Strong winds can affect yields on islands (Santorini e.g.)

43
Q

Avg Rainfall in most Greek wine regions

A

400-700mm - little or no rain during growing season (except mountainous in N/W). Irrigation often necessary where water resources are available
Santorini is exceptionally dry

44
Q

Soil in Greece

A

Limestone to Volcanic soils

Low fertility except on the fertile plains

WSET Dip D3 (13 decks)

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