D1C05 Vineyard Establishment Flashcards
1.2.2 Identify and describe considerations. in vineyard establishment.
Why are the various stages within the establishment of a vineyard hugely important?
Many of the decisions made and processes carried out during this time are difficult to rectify once the vineyard has been planted; therefore, compromises or lack of planning at this stage, due either to cost or time, may result in problems later in the life of the vineyard. Therefore site selection, soil preparation, planting materials, Nutrient Management, Water Management and Canopy Management need all to be considered and planned at this time. A detailed site assessment should be carried out to determine the suitability of the land and decide on the steps that need to be taken before planting.
What are the key influences on site selection when determining where a vineyard could be planted?
The growing environment depends on the location of the vineyard. The style, quality and price of the wines to be made will be a key influence on site selection (and vice versa).
How is site selection influenced when intended for the production of high volume, inexpensive or mid-level wines?
A flat, fertile site in a warm, dry climate may be ideal. For the production of high volume, inexpensive or mid-level wines high yields of healthy grapes need to be produced consistently and relatively cheaply. The fertile soils and plentiful warmth (plus the option of irrigation) may mean high yields of grapes can be ripened adequately. The dry climate may reduce the incidence of fungal diseases, which in turn could save money on fungicide spraying and grape sorting in the winery. Flat land also allows for mechanisation, which can be quicker and cheaper, especially for large vineyards. However, with high yields may come a lack of concentration in the grapes, and therefore in the resultant wines. Warm conditions may also result in wines with jammy aromas and a lack of freshness.
How is site selection influenced when intended for the production of premium of super-premium wines?
Obtaining healthy grapes of the optimum composition (considering levels of sugar, acidity, colour, tannins and aroma compounds) for the style being made will be a priority. In cool climates, the producer may look for sites that will maximise potential to ripen the grapes, such as those with aspects that will receive most sunshine throughout the day. Conversely, in warm climates the producer may favour relatively cool sites, such as those at high altitude or those exposed to cooling sea breezes, to bring better balance to the wine.
It is not only the natural resources that will be considered when selecting a vineyard site. What are factors that often need to be considered?
Several logistical, legal and cost factors need to be considered: The price of the land itself within desirable geographical indications (GIs) (e.g. Burgundy Grand Crus such as Clos des Lambrays) is much more expensive than land that simply qualifies for wine of that country (e.g. Vin de France). The location, layout and topography of the site may have cost implications. Sometimes, this is linked to natural factors. For example, a vineyard that sits in a frost pocket may produce less reliable yields and thus slower return on investment, or may require more expensive frost protection strategies than a better protected site. Sites that are known to be susceptible to certain diseases or pests pose a similar problem. Steep slopes can be unsuitable for mechanisation and labour can be expensive, slow-paced and hard to attain in some regions. If the vineyard will require irrigation, the source of irrigation water and its cost will need to be considered. Ease of access to the vineyard site and distance from the winery should also be considered to ensure that healthy grapes can be delivered to the winery with limited risk of oxidation and microbial spoilage. Proximity of the vineyard and winery to towns and cities for labour, supplies, cellar door customers, retail or distribution businesses may also be a key factor.
Many wine regions, especially those in the EU, are subject to local or national laws. How will these laws influence selecting a vineyard site?
A producer investing in expensive PDO land with the intention of creating a wine that does not meet the rules (and therefore will be declassified) is taking a business risk. If the vineyard site is going to be expensive to buy, establish and manage, the producer must be confident that the quality and/or type of grapes, must or wine produced on the site will sell for a price that will bring a return on investment.
Define PDO?
Protected Designation of Origin, wines with a PDO will be subject to rules that stipulate what grape varieties can be used, maximum yields and viticultural and winemaking practices.
Define the term ‘terroir’.
The French word terroir comes from the word terre meaning ‘land’. It is much used in discussion about wine and in the marketing of wine, and is an overarching concept which claims that the distinctiveness of quality wines is due to their sense of place. However, a precise and agreed definition of terroir does not exist and a common issue is that people often use the term terroir without first defining what they mean.
What is the physical definition | implication of the term terroir?
A sense of place, a wine shows characteristics that relate to the particular place in which the grapes are grown – climate, soil, aspect, elevation. Thus, famously, wines made from grapes grown with a few hundred metres of each other on the Côte d’Or taste different from each other because of the location of the vines on the slope, small differences in soil type, aspect, drainage and so on. This is the physical definition of terroir.
What is the cultural definition | implication of the term terroir?
The ‘sense of place’ concept of terroir, to which some commentators include human interventions. For example, where French PDOs stipulate planting density, type of trellising and so on in their regulations. This a cultural definition that includes the physical elements, but goes beyond them.
Especially for marketing purposes, wines may claim to be directly influenced by the geological make-up of the soil. Can vines take up elements from the soil that affects the taste of wine?
This direct connection is strongly contested by the scientific community. It notes that photosynthesis is the primary driver of vine growth, that all aroma compounds are synthesised in the vine and that grape must is further transformed through the process of fermentation.
How it terroir expression influenced by winemaking practices?
Many commentators believe that overly zealous winemaking practices can obscure terroir. For example, picking over-ripe fruit and ageing wines in new oak can mask their inherent character, the terroir expression of a wine.
What is a recent trend in ‘terroir’ winemaking?
While terroir has been strongly associated with French and then other classic European wines (e.g. Mosel), winemakers around the world are now showing an interest in the different expressions of wines made from grapes in single vineyards or specific locations. This is being strengthened through the use of soil mapping technology (see Precision Viticulture).
What are the main factors that the grape grower will need to assess, and potentially rectify when establishing a vineyard?
The main factors are: 1. the drainage and 2. structure of the soil, 3. its mineral composition and 4. the presence of pests or unwanted plants. 5. In some cases, the topography of the vineyard may be modified. In nearly all cases, rectifying any problems at this stage is easier than when the new vines are planted.
What 2 soil structures need to be resolved when establishing a new vineyard?
The structure of the soil has a significant influence on root penetration, water drainage, nutrient holding capacity and workability and therefore soil structures that negatively affect these factors may need to be resolved: 1. Very large rocks at or near the surface may be removed. 2. If the land has previously been used for agriculture, a plough pan (an impervious layer of soil) may have formed from years of ploughing at the same depth. This may need breaking down (a process called subsoiling) before further cultivation can take place. This process promotes better drainage and makes the soil easier to cultivate once the vineyard has been established.
