D1C10 Viticulture Scenarios Flashcards
1.2.6 Evaluate the vineyard management options that can influence the vine’s ability to produce grapes for wines of different styles, quality levels and prices.
Why are the best vineyards in Priorat planted on slopes facing north-east?
Priorat is located in Catalunya in north-east Spain. Although there are variations in different subzones, in general Priorat experiences very hot, dry summers and cold winters. The area is so hot and sunny that the best vineyards are planted on slopes facing north-east to protect the vines from the most extreme afternoon heat.
Why do the vines in Priorat struggle to obtain enough water?
The soils are stony slate and quartz. There is little organic matter and so the soils are low in nutrients but free-draining. Irrigation is not permitted, and the hot, dry conditions result in a high evapotranspiration rate.
Why are most of the vines in Priorat bush vines?
These are well adapted as the shoots and leaves provide some shading for the grapes in this hot and sunny location, but the vines are not so vigorous that excessive shading becomes an issue. The vigour of vines and their yield are naturally limited by the lack of water and soils that are poor in nutrients. The individual vines are therefore relatively small and the training and pruning options reflect this: bush vines.
Why are the vines in Priorat planted at low density?
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.
Why are the yields extremely low in Priorat?
Yields are extremely low due to the number of old vines in the region. Yields are approximately 15–25 hl/ha, but may be lower in some vineyards.
What varieties are planted in Priorat and why?
Garnacha and Cariñena are the most widely planted grape varieties. They are suited to the extreme conditions as they are late ripening (so they do not reach sugar ripeness too quickly) and drought tolerant. A grape grower based in this area may also choose to use a drought tolerant rootstock such as 140R.
Why will the wines from Priorat never be inexpensive and often sell at premium or super-premium prices?
Because Priorat’s terrain is extremely rugged and the vines are often not trellised, the work in the vineyard, including harvesting, needs to be carried out by hand. Low yields and the need for long hours of manual labour means that the wines from Priorat will never be inexpensive and often sell at premium or super-premium prices.
What are the viticultural conditions in Pauillac, Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is in south-west France near the Atlantic Ocean, which moderates its climate. It has moderate summers and mild winters, with rain throughout the year. The soils in Pauillac are free-draining and poor in nutrients.
Why is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot in Pauillac?
Cabernet Sauvignon is the main grape variety. It is medium to late ripening and so can struggle to ripen in Bordeaux’s coolest sites and years. It can also lack some body and a diversity of fruit aromas/flavours. However, it can be blended with Merlot, which ripens earlier and adds body and fruit.
Why are the vines in Pauillac typically trellised to a VSP system?
Poor, free-draining soils limit the vigour of the vines, so more complex systems of training for big vines would not be suitable. The vines are usually head-trained and replacement cane-pruned. The VSP system ensures that the canopy is appropriately arranged: the grapes are exposed to the sun, the surface area of the leaves is maximised and air circulation is improved, which helps to reduce onset of fungal diseases, all promoting the production of healthy, ripe grapes.
Why are the vines in Pauillac planted at high density?
The vines are planted at high densities, for example with spacings of 1 m by 1 m (around 10 000 vines per hectare). Rainfall is high enough for vine competition not to be a problem. The vineyard land in Pauillac is expensive, so maximising the yield per hectare by planting vines closely makes economic sense. Yields often vary depending on vintage conditions, but average yields are generally 50–60 hl/ha (hence yield per vine is small).
How is harvesting carried out in Pauillac?
Vine trellising means that some vineyard procedures, such as trimming and weed management, can be done by machine (specialised machines are able to straddle rows of vines and therefore be used despite tight between-row spacing). Harvesting may be carried out by hand or machine.
Why is V. Vinifera able to grow in the Finger Lakes, New York state?
The Finger Lakes is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) region located in upstate New York. The deep lakes in the region provide some moderation of temperatures (V. vinifera would not be able to grow here without the effect of the lakes), but summers are still moderate and winters are extremely cold.
Why are the black grape varieties grown on the land nearest to the Finger Lakes?
The vineyards are located around the edges of the lakes. In general, the black grape varieties such as Cabernet Franc are grown on the land nearest the lakes to benefit from the slightly more moderate conditions. This extends the period over which grape growing is viable, providing more chance for the tannins and aromas in these varieties to get ripe.
What adaptions did wine growers make to grow the main grape variety, Riesling, in the Finger Lakes district?
The main grape variety in the region is Riesling, its winter hardiness means it can survive harsh winters. However, grape growers will also hill up the soil so that it covers and protects the vine graft, which is generally the part of the vine that is most at risk from winter freeze. Riesling is also a late budding variety, which provides protection against spring frosts. A variety of clones of Riesling are typically planted to provide blending options to enhance the quality of the final wine or as one way of providing differentiation between different Rieslings in a winery’s portfolio.
