French Grapes

Question 1

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Yield, Risks (4)

Merlot

Answer 1

Early Budding

Mid Ripening

Can be vigorous & high yielding

Frost, Drought, Coulure, Fungal diseases (more than Cabs)

Question 2

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Risks (4), Needs, Berries

Cab Sauv

Answer 2

Late Budding

Late Ripening

Vigorous

Eutypa, Esca, Fungal diseases, Autumn rains

Warmer sites, well drained soils (gravel)

Small berries, thick skin

Question 3

Budding, Ripening, Asset, Risks (2), berries

Cab Franc

Answer 3

Early Budding

Mid Ripening

Winter hardy

Frost, Coulure

Small berries

Question 4

BUdding, Ripening, Asset, Risks (3), Needs, Berries

Petit Verdot

Answer 4

Early Budding

Very Late Ripening

Disease resistant

Frost, Fully ripening, Autumn rains

Warmest sites

Thick skin, small berries

Question 5

Ripening, risks, berries, natural intensity and acid

Semillon

Answer 5

Mid Ripening

Botrytis

Thin skin

Low intensity, Medium (+) acid

Question 6

Buudding, Ripening, Vigor, Assets (2), Risks (4)

Chardonnay

Answer 6

Early Budding

Early Ripening

High Vigor

Can produce high yields w/o loss of quality

Versatile and relatively easy to grow

Frost, Grapevine yellows, Fungal diseases, Millerandage

Question 7

Budding, Ripening, Nature, Assets, Risks (7), Needs (2), Berries

Pinot Noir

Spatburgunder, Pinot Nero

Answer 7

Early Budding

Early Ripening

Delicate & Finicky Variety

Highly expressive of terroir

Frost, Fan Leaf & Leaf Roll Virus, Fungal diseases, Millerandage, Sunburn, Ripening too fast

Yields limited to product quality, cooler sites/climates

Thin skin

Question 8

Budding, Ripening, Yield, Asset, Risks (5), Needs, Berries

Gamay

Answer 8

Early Budding

Early Ripening

High Yielding

Retains acid well in warm climates

Frost, Wind, Fungal diseases, Millerandage, Sunburn

Reduced yields to produce quality (bud removal)

Thin skin

Question 9

Budding, Ripening, Yield, Assets (5), Risks (2), Needs

Riesling

Answer 9

Late Budding

Mid to Late Ripening

High Yielding

Cold hardy, Can produce high quality at high yields (70 hl/ha), Downy & Powdery resistant, Retains acitity well in warmer climates, Highly expressive of terroir

Autumn rain, Botrytis

Warm site with good exposure

Question 10

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Yield, Risks (7), Needs

Gewurtztraminer

Answer 10

Early Budding

Early Ripening

High Vigor

Moderate Yields

Frost, Coulure, Chlorosis, Powdery, Botrytis, Grape vine moth, Gains sugar quickly

Low fertility soils, avoid limestone soils

Question 11

Pinot Gris

Grauburgunder

Answer 11

Early Budding

Early Ripening

Moderate yields

Frost, Botrytis, Downy, Gains sugar quickly, can lose acid quickly

Question 12

Budding, Ripening, Yields, Assets (2), Risks (3), Needs, Grapes

Melon

Answer 12

Early Budding

Early Ripening

High yields

Cold hardy, Powdery resistant

Frost, Botrytis, Downy

Regular spraying

Tight bunches

Question 13

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Yield, Assets, Risks (7), Needs (2), Berries

Chenin Blanc

Answer 13

Early Budding

Late Ripening

High Vigor & Yield

Retains acid in warmer climates

Frost, Autumn rain, Powdery, botrytis, Esca & Eutypa, Uneven ripening

Multiple passes at harvest (mechanized limited), low fertility soils

Small berries

Question 14

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Risks (5), Needs (3), Berries

Syrah

Answer 14

Mid Budding

Mid Ripening

High vigor

Botrytis, Mites, Syrah decline, Chlorosis, Reduction

Careful training/trellising for wind, O2 interaction in winery, avoid limestone soils

Small, shirvel easily

Question 15

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Risks (5), Needs (2)

Sauv Blanc

Answer 15

Late Budding

Early Ripening

High Vigor

Powdery, Botrytis, Esca & Eutypa, Overly green flavours

Low fertility soils, Careful canopy management

Question 16

Budding, Ripening, Vigor, Yield, Assets (2), Risks (7), Needs (2)

Grenache

Garnacha

Answer 16

Early Budding

Late Ripening

High Vigor & Yield

Drought resistant, Grows upright (suitable to bush)

Botrytis , Downy, Phomopsis, Coulure, Bacerial Blight, Can lose acid & gain sugar quickly, Oxidation

Warm sites, Low fertility soils

Question 17

Budding, Ripening, Yield, Risks (5), Needs (4), Berries

Mouvedre

Monastrell, Mataro

Answer 17

Late Budding

Very Late Ripening

Low Yielding

Mites, Leafhoppers, Sour rot, Reduction, Drought

Warmest sites, Soils with good water storage, High O2 interaction, Short pruning

Small to Medium Berries

Question 18

Budding, Ripening, Yield, Risks (2), Berries, Needs

Carignan

Carinena, Mazuelo (Rioja), Carignano

Answer 18

Late Budding

Late Ripening

High yielding (up to 200 hL/ha)

Powdery, GV moths

Firmly attached bunches (not suited to mech. harvesting)

Sharply reduced yields to produce quality

Question 19

Budding, Ripening, Assets, Risks, Common Regions

Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains

Moscato d’Asti, Sarga Muskatoly

Answer 19

Early Budding

Mid Ripening

Drought & heat tolerant, Superior quality to Muscat of Alexandria

Fungal diseases, mites

Roussillon, Alsace, Hungary, Italy

Question 20

Difference from a Petit Grains, Common Regions

Muscat of Alexandria

Zibibo, Muscat Gordo Blanco

Answer 20

Bigger grapes, higher sugar, and generally thought to be lower quality

Sicily, Chile (Maule), Australia (Murry-Darling Basin)

Question 21

Difference from a Petit Grains & Alexandria, Common Regions

Muscat Ottonel

Answer 21

Earlier ripening, lower intensity. Potentially more valuable in cooler climates or to avoid autumn rains.

Also in Alsace.