Grape Growing Options Flashcards
What are the vine’s requirements
Sunlight, warmth, carbon dioxide, water and nutrients
Describe why warmth and sunlight is a requirement for grape vines
Vines need warmth and sunlight for photosynthesis, which is needed for vine growth, early grape growth and ripening.
Warmth also needed for essential reactions like respiration, the process in which energy (sugar) is released from food substances.
Full sunshine not essential - becomes limiting factor if rate of sunlight levels drop below 1/3.
Grapes exposure to sunshine enhances development of anthocyanins (colour) in black grapes and reducing levels of methoxypyrazines. It leads to greater accumulation of tannins pre-veraison and promotes tannin polymerization after veraison (reduces bitterness)
Sunshine warms grapes and increases rate at which malic acid drops, leading to lower acidity.
Describe why carbon dioxide is a requirement for grape vines
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring atmospheric gas. The cycle begins with the combo of CO2 and water into sugars in the vine leaves by photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis - CO2, water and sunlight converts to sugars (glucose, fructose, galactose) and oxygen.
Describe why water is a requirement for grape vines
Vines need water to survive and adequate water for vine growth and grape ripening. Needs 500 mm / year in cool climates and 750 mm / year in warm climates.
Vine needs water for turgidity (so it doesn’t wilt), photosynthesis and regulating its temp. Water acts as solvent for nutrients in soil, which is important for nutrient uptake. Medium in which vine’s biochemical and physiological mechanisms take place.
Describe why nutrients are a requirement for grape vines. List the main nutrients required by grape vines.
Nutrients are important for healthy vine growth and influences yield and grape composition. Vines require low levels of nutrients and most soils are able to sustain vine growth.
Nutrients required - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium
List the high level things a grower can do to influence how the vine’s requirements are met
Canopy management
Soil management
Water management
Hazard management
List the high level things that need to be considered when establishing a vineyard
Site selection
Soil structure and preparation
Planting material
Describe what needs to be considered when establishing a vineyard where the goal is to produce high-volume, inexpensive or mid-priced wines
Aim is to grow high yields of healthy grapes consistently and relatively cheaply.
Flat, fertile, warm sites in a dry climate may be ideal. Fertile soils and warmth may lead to high yields of grapes can be ripened adequately.
Dry climate can reduce incidence of fungal diseases, which can save money on fungicide spraying and grape sorting in winery.
Flat land allows for mechanization, which is quicker and cheaper, especially for large vineyards.
Describe what needs to be considered when establishing a vineyard where the goal is to produce premium or super-premium wines
Obtaining healthy grapes of optimum composition (sugar, acidity, colour, tannins, aroma compounds) is a priority, rather than keeps costs low.
In cool climates, producers want to look for sites that maximize potential to ripen grapes - those with aspect that will receive most sunshine during the day.
In warm climates, producers may favour cooler sites with high altitude or those exposed to cooling sea breezes
At a high level, describe the other factors that need to be considered when selecting a vineyard site.
Price of land within desirable GIs
Location, layout and topography of site
Vineyard sites sit in a frost pocket
Vineyard sites susceptible to diseases or pests
Steep slopes unsuitable for mechanization
If vineyard requires irrigation
Ease of access to vineyard site and distance from winery
Proximity of vineyard and winery to towns for labour, supplies, customers, etc.
List the main factors a grape grower will need to assess and possibly rectify to ensure soil in vineyard is suitable for planting vines and growing grapes
Drainage and structure of the soil
Mineral composition
Presence of pests or unwanted plants
Topography of site may need to be modified
Rectifying these problems at vineyard site selection is easier than when new vines planted
Describe why the structure of the soil has a significant influence on grape growing
The structure of the soil has a significant influence on root penetration, water drainage, nutrient holding capacity and workability.
Soil structures that negatively affect these factors may need to be resolved.
Describe how soil can be prepared when establishing a vineyard
Remove large rocks at or near surface of soil
If land previously used for agriculture, a plough pan may have formed. This may need breaking down (subsoiling)
If vines or other crops uprooted to plant new vines, ensure old roots are removed and burnt in case they harbour disease
If weeds are a problem, may use systemic herbicides
Farmyard manure, compost and fertilizers may be applied to increase levels of nutrients and organic matter of soil.
Adjust pH of soil. For acidic soils lime can be spread and ploughed in.
In extreme cases, landscaping work may be required to change the topography
List the high level planting material considerations when establishing a vineyard
Grape varieties
Clones
If grafting onto a rootstock, which rootstock to use
Describe the ways a grape variety can be adapted to their climate
**Time of budding **- early budding (Chardonnay)more at risk of spring frost vs late budding varieties (Riesling)
**Duration of annual life-cycle **- early ripening (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir) best suited to cool climates. Late ripening (Mourvedre) better suited to warm/hot climates
**Tolerance to drought **- Grenache is drought resistant
Resistance to disease - Cab Sauv less susceptible to grey rot
Winter hardiness - Vidal, Riesling are tolerant to cold temps
Vigour - Sauv Blanc is a high vigour variety - need managing to avoid excessive shoot growth
Describe the climatic factoirs when choosing a grape variety
Style of wine - characteristics of grapes should be consistent with style of wine producer wants to make
Yield - High yielding varieties/clones allow production of higher yields. Prime concern with inexpensive wines
Cost - some varieties more difficult/expensive to grow (Pinot Noir - prone to disease - needs monitoring / spraying
Law - wine legislations restrict varieties that can be planted
Availability - quarantine and availability of varieties / clones
Market demand - Identify demand and route to market
Describe the criteria a grape grower needs to consider when selecting a rootstock
Pests - rootstocks tolerance to pests (phylloxera, root-knot nematodes. Ramsey and Dog Ridge (V. champini) are tolerate to root-knot nematodes
Water - hybrids of V. rupestris and V. berlandieri (110R, 140R) are tolerant to drought - root deeply and quickly
Soil pH - Rootstocks can help alleviate problems with low or high pH. 99R and 110R are hybrids of V. rupestris and V. berlandieri - high tolerance to acidic soils
Vigour - rootstocks can be used to moderate or enhance vigour of vine. Low vigour rootstocks can be used in cool climates.
Describe the aims of conventional grape growing approach
Aim of conventional grape growing is to raise production levels and reduce labour requirements. This is achieved by mechanization, chemical inputs, irrigation and clonal selection.
Viticulture became a monoculture where vineyards are kept weed free by ploughing between rows and spraying herbicides
Use of agrochemicals in vineyard to control pests and diseases; also use of mineral fertilizers.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of conventional grape growing
Advantages
Ability to mechanize work in vineyard
Reduction of competition from other plants
Tend to specific needs of variety and increase yields while minimizing costs
Disadvantages
Plants more prone to disease and pests; need more treatment; fungal diseases spread more quickly in monoculture
Nutrients depleted because no natural ecosystem to replenish nutrients - requires more fertilizer
Residual chemicals get into groundwater or air, creating environmental damage
Describe the aim of sustainable grape growing
Three themes - economic, social and environmental sustainability
Aims is to promote natural ecosystems in vineyard, maintain biodiversity, manage waste, minimize applications of chemicals and energy use, and reduce impact of viticulture on wider environment
Grape growers develop understanding of lifecycles of vine and pests, monitor weather forecasts so they can predict and prevent a pest/disease outbreak before it occurs.
Describe what Integrated Pest Management is
IPM is a key part of sustainable viticulture. It builds on organic viticulture, but prepared to use chemical interventions when necessary.
Includes setting thresholds at which action needs to be taken, identifying/monitoring pests, setting up preventative measures and evaluating and implementing control options.
Know when to look for named pest; Know what signs to look for; See photos of pest and damage it does - helps ID to calculate thresholds when treatment is warranted
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of sustainable grape growing
Advantages
More thoughtful approach to grape growing
Scientific understanding of threats to minimize number of interventions needed
Reduction in spraying synthetic/traditional treatments
Cost savings
Disadvantages
Term not protected and does not have clear set of standards
Danger that nationwide standards are set too low
NZ’s high rate of uptake - bar set too low
Describe the aim of organic grape growing
Organic viticulture seeks to improve soil of vineyard and range of microbes/animals (earthworms) within it and increase the health and disease-resistance of vines.
It rejects the use of manufactured (synthetic) fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides.
Describe the key features of organic grape growing
Application of compost that breaks down in soil. Provides slow release of nutrients and improves structure of soil
Use natural fertilizers (animal dung) to restore balance of vineyard
Cultivation of cover crops to prevent soil erosion - can be through ploughing them in (green manure) or by improving biodiversity
Reduction of monoculture by growing cover crops, planting hedges and establishing islands of biodiversity
Describe techniques used in organic grape growing
Traditional remedies - sulfur and copper to combat mildews; monitor weather to determine when spraying against mildew is necessary
Use natural predators and ecosystem mechanisms
Introduce bacterium Bacillus subtilis that competes with Botrytis for space on grapes
Sexual confusion - pheromone tags to disrupt mating patterns of insects
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of organic grape growing
Advantages
Improvement of health & disease-resistance of vines
Improvement of health of soil
Elimination of spraying synthetic chemicals
Saving on cost of synthetic chemicals
Disadvantages
Small reduction in yield
Possibility of significant reductions in yield in difficult years
Increased reliance on copper sprays - may lead to build-up of heavy metals in soils
Cost and time expended on certification
Describe the aim of biodynamic grape growing
Includes organic practices but also includes philosophy and cosmology, regarding farm as an organism and seeking to achieve balance between physical and higher, non-physical realms. Advantages and disadvantages are the same as organic grape growing.
Vineyard soil is part of a connected system with planet Earth, other planets and the air. Grape growers adapt growing practices to coincide with cycles of planets, moons and stars.
When moon descending, a winter mood is evoked and roots favoured. Best time to plant vines or to prune.
When moon ascending, summer mood evoked, sap rising and time to take cuttings for grafting, but pruning should be avoided.
Describe the process of dynamization in relation to biodynamic grape growing
Homeopathic preparations are dynamized, which is the action of stirring contents into water, creating a vortex and then reversing it, so water memorizes the power of the preparation, which is then sprayed onto the soil
Describe what the homeopathic preparation 500 is in relation to biodynamic grape growing
Preparation 500 (horn manure) is made by stuffing cow manure into cow’s horns and burying horn in soil in winter. It is dug up and contents dynamized and sprayed onto the soil. Believed to catalyze humus formation.
Describe what the homeopathic preparation 501 is in relation to biodynamic grape growing
Preparation 501 (horn silica) is made by filling cow’s horn with ground quartz (silica) and burying for 6 months. It is dug up, dynamized and sprayed onto the soil. This is thought to encourage plant growth.
Describe what compost is in relation to biodynamic grape growing
Biodynamic compost has to be activated first by a series of starters added in tiny quantities (yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion or valerian) prepared in various ways.
Describe the aim of regenerative grape growing
Regenerative viticulture is a distinct and holistic method of farming that aims to continually improve upon environmental, social and economic measures. Uses methods similar to organic or sustainable farming.
Regenerative grape growers view vineyards as agroecosystems that have been modified for agriculture. Encourages functioning ecosystems, rather than a system that only meets the needs of one crop (monoculture)
Describe the key features of regenerative grape growing
Aims to restore vineyard site to a functioning agroecosystem to improve resources and limit inputs
Soil health is top priority. Restoring health of soil will improve health of entire vineyard.
Biodiversity above and below ground
Grape growers improve their well-being by reducing cost of synthetic inputs and limiting their exposure to harsh chemicals
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of regenerative grape growing
Advantages
Soils rehabilitated, decreasing need for synthetic inputs
Carbon sequestered, helping fight climate change
Vineyards more resilient, limiting climate change impacts
Biodiversity improves along with animal welfare
Lives of grape growers improve through less exposure to chemical inputs
Disadvantages
Not legally defined; claims can be exaggerated
Growers need to experiment to figure out best approach in their vineyard - can take time
Results take time - makes transition more difficult and costly
Certifications cost money, which may be a barrier
Describe the aim of precision grape growing
Precision grape growing makes use of data collected from the vineyard (soil, vine, vigour, topography, plant growth) to respond to changes from plot to plot and from row to row.
Data collected by sensors on aircraft (remote) or mounted on tractor/harvester (proximal). Geospatial technology like GPS and geo info systems (GIS) allows data to be presented visually on maps.
Interventions in vineyard targeted in light of data collected - called variable-rate application technology. Grape growers can respond to differences from plot to plot (or smaller) in vineyard.
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of precision grape growing
Advantages
Detailed understanding of variations in vineyards that affect yield and quality between and within vineyards
Ability to tailor interventions (choice of variety / rootstock, canopy mgmt, treatments, harvest date) to individual blocks or rows, with aim of improving yields and quality
Disadvantages
Initial cost of remote data collection
Cost of sensors and software and either consultancy or trained staff to interpret the data and make interventions in light of it
List the high level considerations when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
Climate
Law
Availability
Cost of vine
Yield
Style of wine
Market demand
Describe the climate factors to consider when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
Time of budding - early vs late budding varieties
Duration of annual life-cycle - early vs late ripening varieties
Tolerance of drought
Resistance to disease
Winter hardiness
Vigour
Describe the availability factors to consider when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
Risk of spreading pests/diseases means strict quarantine procedures in place when introducing new plant material to country or region
Some wine regions have large range of choices, others certain varieties/clones may not be available or sold out due to high demand
Describe the cost of vine factors to consider when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
Some varieties are more difficult and more expensive to grow. Pinot Noir is prone to disease and likely needs more monitoring and spraying
Describe the yield factors to consider when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
High yielding varieties (Grenache) or clones allow production of higher yields. Prime concern when making inexpensive wines, allowing more wine to be made at set cost
Describe the style of wine factors to consider when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
Characteristics of grapes should be consistent with style of wine producer wants to make.
Example: producer wants to make a low tannin, fruity red wine for early drinking is more likely to choose Gamay or Grenache than Nebbiolo or Aglianico
Describe the market demand factors to consider when selecting a variety to be planted in a new vineyard
To be commercially successful, producer must identify the demand and route to market for wine they are going to produce and select variety to plant.
Capitalize on trends, grape grower can cut original vine at trunk and graft a bud from a new variety on top - called head grafting or top grafting. Benefit is an established root system, and new grape variety can produce fruit suitable for wine more quickly.
Disadvantage is rootstock is selected on characteristics of original variety, and may not be equally suited to new variety.
What are the genetics for hybrids/crossings vs clones
Fertilization -> diverse genetics -> hybrids/crossings
Cloning -> identical genetics -> clones (layering, clonal selection and mass selection)
Describe what a hybrid grape variety is
A hybrid is a vine whose parents come from 2 different species. Typically have at least 1 American vine as a parent. Examples are Vidal, Seyval Blanc
When 2 parent vines are from different species, offspring is called a hybrid. Vidal Blanc is from Ugni Blanc (vinifera) and Seibel (American parentage)
Naturally occurs by cross-pollination.
Describe what a cross grape variety is
A crossing is when a new variety is produced from 2 parents of the same species, most commonly V. vinifera, but American vine crossings exist as well.
When 2 parent vines are from same species, offspring is called a cross. Pinotage is a cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault
Example: Cabernet Sauvignon is a crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc
Describe fertizliation as it relates to new grape varieties
New grape varieties are produced from seeds. Pollen from stamens of flowers of 1 vine transferred to stigmas of flowers of another vine and fertilization occurs. Grapes develop and seeds from these are planted and grown.
New vines that grow from seeds will have different characteristics. If one of vines has desirable characteristics, it may be propagated by cuttings to create identical vines.
