Grape-growing and Related Labelling Terms Flashcards
What is a vine and what 5 things does it need?
A plant that can live for 60 years or more.
It needs warmth, sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients.
What is the process of photosynthesis, and what does the vine do with it?
Sunlight allows the vine to combine carbon dioxide, which is taken up by the leaves, and water, which is taken by the roots, in order to produce sugars.
The vine then uses the sugars to power it’s growth and ripen it’s grapes.
Cannot go through photosynthesis without foliage, which is why vines remain dormant in the winter.
Parts of a grape, and what they do for wine
Skin: Contain high levels of flavor. Also contain color and tannins, which are higher in black grapes
Seeds and Stem: Contain high levels of tannin that can make a wine taste bitter if they are handled roughly during winemaking
Pulp: Mainly made up of water and sugar, but also acids and flavor. With very few exceptions, the pulp of both white and black grapes are the same pale color. The skin of black grapes gives red wines their color.
Stages and season of grape formation and ripening
- Flowering: Spring. Vines rely on the wind to pollinate their flowers, not insects.
- Fruit set: Late spring- summer. Once pollinated, flower starts to grow seeds and begin to swell.
- Veraison: Mid - late summer. Grapes have grown large enough that the vine can start ripening, and they begin to turn from dark green into golden or black grapes.
- Ripening - As sugar goes up, acidity goes down. This is the point at which they decide when to pick the grapes. Tannins begin to form in black grapes
What is botrytis/noble rot
botrytis a fungus that can grow on ripe grapes that can cause noble rot. it makes tiny holes in the skin of the grape, allowing the water to evaporate. can be beneficial in the right conditions, as it concentrates acids, sugars, and flavors of the grapes, making excellent sweet wines. in order for this to be beneficial, fungus must grow on ripe grapes, ideally in damp misty mornings, followed by warm dry afternoons.
What is the process of freezing grapes
Healthy grapes are left on vine, unpicked through autumn into winter. when grapes are frozen, they are pressed before they thaw. the liquid extracted is a high concentration of acid, sugars, and flavors. Used to make icewine
growing season in the northern and southern hemisphere
- northern is april - october
- southern is october - april
What are the temperatures for cool, moderate, and warm growing conditions, and why are they important
cool - 16.5 Celsius or below
moderate - 16.5 - 18.5
warm - 18.5 - 21
it determines what grape varieties can grow successfully in a wine region as well as the flavor characteristics they can develop.
Influence on climate
- Latitude
- Altitude
Latitude - The closer a region is to the equator, the hotter it is likely to be. Most wine regions are located between 30 and 50 degrees north or south of the equator.
Altitude - Temp drops with altitude. A vineyard located at a higher altitude will be cooler than one located at the same latitude but a lower altitude.
what is GI
Geographical indications : a legally defined vineyard area within a country. can be large (cover an entire region) or very small (a single vineyard)
Not every wine comes from a GI, though some statement of origin is legally required (ex. a province or a country)
GI outside of European Union
Indicates where grapes used in wine were grown. There are minimal restrictions for these grape growers, and they are free to use whatever grapes they think may be successful in that region, meaning that these wines can be very varied.
GI inside the European Union
Subdivisions
Come with more restrictions as to what type of grapes may be grown, and how wine should be made.
PDO (Protected designation of origin) - relatively small areas that have tightly defined regulations
PGI (Protected geographical indication) - cover a wider area and have less strict regulations.
How does vine age factor into wine
Older vines typically produce smaller number of grapes, giving them more concentrated and complex aromas, often resulting in higher quality wines. They are highly prized and wine made from their grapes is often labelled as ‘old vine’ ( or vieilles vignes in french)
it’s not a legally defined concept, however, so there is some disagreement over the term
How does vintage factor into a wine that you chose
Vintage refers to the year that the grapes were harvested. Most wines are best drunk when young. Some wines are made in a style that benefits from an extended period of bottle aging, to develop extra levels of complexity. Some regions the weather varies considerably, effecting the grape quality, and the vintage can tell you if the wine is good based on the year.
what is green harvesting
pruning bunches of grapes to ensure remaining have more flavor concentration
Influence on climate
- Seas
- Rivers
Seas - regions close to the sea can benefit from the cooling or warming ocean breeze.
Rivers - Provide warmth in cooler regions with wind current and sun reflection.
Influence on climate
- Air
- Cloud, fog, mist
Air - from seas and mountains can cool off warmer areas.
Cloud, fog, and mist - clouds can block sunlight and slow down photosynthesis (good in places like australia). fog forms at ground level and cools down a vineyard (good in places like california and chile). mist is essential for the development of botrytis/noble rot
Influence on climate
- Mountains
- Slopes and aspect
- Soil
mountains - can act as a barrier, sheltering vineyards from clouds, rain, and cold winds.
slope and aspect - if a vineyard is planted on a slope facing the equator, it will receive more heat and light, producing riper grapes
soil - provide vine with water and nutrients. can also affect temp. if many stones on the surface, they can absorb heat and make the vineyard warmer, helping with grape ripening.
Influence on climate
- Weather
- cool vintages/ hot vintages
weather - affects temp, sunlight, rainfall, etc.
cool vintages - if temp is cooler than normal, vines may struggle to ripen. acid levels in grapes will be too high, and sugar too low.
hot vintages - if temp hotter than normal, grapes can develop uncharacteristic dried fruit aromas, and even be damaged by sunburn. vines will need more water (which may not be available) and gapes may not develop or ripen, and vines may die.
Influence on climate
- drought
- high levels of rain
- hail
- frost
drought - vines may die
high levels of rain - can cause fungal disease, and added moisture to soil can cause grapes to swell, diluting their flavor.
hail - can destroy entire crops
frost - especially bad in the spring as they can damage and kill vine’s new growth
