D1.C10. Viticulture Scenarios Flashcards
How is the climate in Priorat?
Very hot, dry summers and cold winters
What is the aspect of the best vineyards in Priorat? Why?
They are planted on slopes facing north-east to protect the vines from the most extreme afternoon heat
What are the properties of the soil in Priorat?
- It is stony slate and quartz (Llicorella)
- Low in organic matter
- Free draining
Why drought is a major issue in Priorat?
- Hot, dry conditions (high evapotranspiration rate)
- Free draining soil
- Irrigation is not permitted
What is the advantage of weather conditions in Priorat?
Disease pressure is low
What is the preferred vine training technique in Priorat? Why?
- Bush vines
- Shoots and leaves provide some shading but the vines are not so vigorous so excessive shading is not an issue
What is the planting density of vines in Priorat? Why?
The vines are planted at low density (often around 2500–3000 vines per hectare) so the roots of each vine can grow over a large area in search of water and nutrients
What is the average yield per hectare in Priorat? Why?
- Approximately 15–25 hl/ ha, but may be lower in some vineyards
- Due to the number of old vines in the region
What are the most commonly planted grape varieties in Priorat? Why?
- Garnacha and Cariñena
- They are suited to the extreme conditions as they are late ripening and drought tolerant
What can be another strategy against drought in Priorat other than choosing drought tolerant varieties?
Using a drought tolerant rootstock such as 140R
Why is hand-harvesting needed in Priorat?
- Extremely rugged terrain
- Untrellised vineyards
Why are the Priorat wines sold at preimum or super-premium prices?
- Low yields
- The cost due to the need for long hours of manual labour
How is the climate in Pauillac?
- Moderate summers and mild winters, with rain throughout the year
What are the properties of the soil in Pauillac?
Free draining and poor in nutrients
What is the main grape variety in Pauillac?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Why can Cabernet Sauvignon struggle to ripen in Bordeaux’s coolest sites and years?
Because it is a medium to late ripening variety
Why Merlot is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux?
- It ripens earlier
- It adds body and fruit
What is the preferred vine training technique in Pauillac?
- Head trained and replacement cane pruned, trellised to a VSP system
What are the advantages of VSP system in Pauillac?
- Grapes are exposed to the sun
- Surface area of the leaves is maximised
- Air circulation is improved, which helps to reduce onset of fungal diseases
What should the producers do in damper years in Pauillac?
Monitor for fungal diseases like downy mildew and botrytis and make spraying for prevention
What is the planting density of vines in Pauillac? Why?
- 10.000 vines per hectare (1x1 m)
- Because the vineyard land is expensive
What is the average yield per hectare in Pauillac?
50–60 hl/ha (hence yield per vine is small)
Why specialized machines are needed for some vineyard procedures like trimming and weed management in Paulliac?
Because the between-row spacing is tight
How is harvesting done in Pauillac?
Harvesting may be carried out by hand or machine
How is the climate in Finger Lakes?
Summers are moderate and winters are extremely cold
How can Vitis Vinifera survive in harsh climatic conditions of Finger Lakes?
The deep lakes in the region provide some moderation of temperatures
What is the preferred location of vineyards in relation to tle lakes in Finger Lakes AVA?
The vineyards are located around the edges of the lakes
Which varieties are planted in plots nearest to the lakes in Finger Lakes AVA? Why?
- Black grape varieties such as Cabernet Franc
- To benefit from the slightly more moderate conditions
What is the main grape variety in Finger Lakes? Why?
- Riesling
- Because it is winter hardy and it is late budding (protection against spring frost)
What is the vineyard practice in Finger Lakes against the risk of freeze?
Hilling up the soil to protect the graft
Why do the growers plant variety of clones of Riesling in Finger Lakes?
To provide blending options to enhance the quality of the final wine
What is the preferred trellising system in Finger Lakes? Why?
- Scott-Henry
- The soils of Finger Lakes are nutrient-rich and there is plentiful rainfall so vines can be vigorous. Scott-Henry trellising systems are used to divide the vine canopies and hence improve light interception in large canopies.
What other vineyard practice can be performed in Finger Lakes to enhance ripeness?
Summer pruning techniques like leaf stripping
What are the management options against fungal infections in Finger lakes?
- The divided canopy of Scott-Henry also improves air circulation through the canopy
- Spraying with fungicides
What is the vine density in Finger Lakes?
Vine densities are low (around 2800-3200 vines per hectare)
Why is the vine density low in Finger Lakes region?
- Large vines need sufficient space so that they do not overlap
- Between-row spacing is large to allow for mechanisation because labour availability is low
What is the average yield in Finger Lakes?
50-60 hl/ha
How can be the average yield high, despite low vine density in Finger Lakes?
Each vine can ripen a large crop
Typically, what kind of wines are produced in Central Valley, California?
Inexpensive, high volume wines
What is the key concern of the grape grower in Central Valley, California?
To maximise the yield of grapes while keeping costs low in order to maximise profit
How is the climate of Central Valley, California?
- It has a warm, dry, sunny growing season
- Although rainfall is a limiting factor, irrigation is permitted
What are the factors enabling vines in Central Valley to grow large and ripen large crops of fruit?
- Warm, dry and sunny growing season
- Irrigation is allowed
- Fertilisers can be added if nutrients are limited
- Disease pressure is low
What is the vine density in Central Valley, California?
1200-1800 vines/ha
Why is planting density low in Central Valley, California?
Vines are expensive to buy and therefore the most cost-effective option for the grape grower is low density planting of big high-yielding vines
What is the average yield in Central Valley, California?
180-220 hl/ha
What are the main factors for choosing the grape variety to be grown in Central Valley, California?
- Market demand
- Price per ton
Describe the common trellising technique in Central Valley, California?
California sprawl: Vines are trained relatively high, a single wire is installed above the cordon and the shoots flop up and over the wire
What are the advantages of California sprawl?
- Cheap
- The hanging shoots also help shade the fruit from intense afternoon sunshine, reducing risk of sunburn
What trellising systems other than California sprawl are sometimes used in Central Valley, California to manage the vigour of the vines?
Complex vine trellising systems such as Lyre system
Why summer pruning techniques like leaf pulling and green harvesting are unlikely in Central Valley, California?
- Leaf pulling: Requires labour and machinery
- Green harvesting: Reduces the yields
What is the effect of lack of passing through the vineyard and attention to individual vines in Central Valley, California?
Variable ripeness within the crop of grapes, and therefore lower quality
What is the preferred harvesting technique in Central Valley, California?
Machine harvesting
Why is harvesting at night practiced where possible in Central Valley, California?
Grapes are cool during transportation, reducing chance of oxidation and microbial spoilage
When is night harvesting not possible in Central Valley, California?
When there is a large amount of fruit to pick over a short period
Why are the grapes sometimes picked relatively early in Central Valley, California?
- To avoid any risks of rain (rot, dilution) as autumn approaches
- If the grape grower also grows higher quality fruit, this make take preference when deciding when to pick, and therefore the grapes may not be picked at optimum ripeness
