Grape Varieties

Question 1

What are the most important grape species? Which one produces nearly all the grapes use in winemaking?

Answer 1

Vitis vinifera, vitis ruparia, vitis rupestris and vitis berlandieri.
Vitis vinifera

Question 2

What part of the vine is the new growth that is produced each year?

Answer 2

The shoots

Question 3

What part of the vine is responsible for photosynthesis?

Answer 3

The leaves

Question 4

During photosynthesis, what is used to convert water and carbon dioxide into glocose and oxygen?

Answer 4

Chlorophyl and sunlight

Question 5

What are the three main uses of glucose in a vine?

Answer 5

1. to combine small glucose molecules into larger carbs which are building blocks for all its other structures
2. the energy stored in the glucose can be released for living processes.
3. to attract animals that are need to propogate the seeds.

Question 6

What part of the vine grips structures such as a trelises in order to support themselves?

Answer 6

Tendrils

Question 7

Why is managing the one year old wood vital for the grower?

Answer 7

Normally vines only produce fruit on shoots that grow from buds that developed the previous year.

Question 8

The one year old wood will either be called a _____ or a _____. What is the difference?

Answer 8

Cane or a spur. A cane is long and has eight to fifteen buds whereas a spur is short and has two to three buds

Question 9

The arms of the vine are permanent wood that are also known as ______

Answer 9

Cordons

Question 10

Before leaves are able to provide energy for the plant where does it get its energy to fule initial shoot growth?

Answer 10

Carbohydrate reserves stored in the permanent wood (trunk and arms)

Question 11

What type of climate would require more use of carbohydrate reserves stored in the permanent wood?

Answer 11

A cool climate where the growing season starts slowly

Question 12

What are the two ways we get variations within species?

Answer 12

Sexual reproduction and mutations

Question 13

In reproduction, a flower is polinated and grows into a grape with seeds. If the seed from a grape is planted will it a) become a new variety or b) grow into the same variety

Answer 13

a) become a new variety

Question 14

In mutation, are the mutated plant and the original plant considered to be the same variety?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

What is an example of a mutation in which the variation was significant enough to treat the new plants as an entirely new variety?

Answer 15

Pinot Noir to Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris

Question 16

What are the two methods by which identical copies of a grape variety can be propagated?

Answer 16

cutting and layering

Question 17

What is the method of cutting?

Answer 17

A section is taken from a healthy shoot and then is planted and takes root.

Question 18

What is the method of layering?

Answer 18

A cane is bent down and buried into the ground. The bent section takes root and the cane linking it to the original section is cut.