History of Viticulture Flashcards
Men and women who study grapes and grape production
Viticulturalists
The scientific study of grapes, most often with a focus on growth and production
Viticulture
can also be called Viniculture
Both viniculture and viticulture fall under the umbrella of ____?
Horticulture
The most common grape vine that has been cultivated and fermented by humans since at least the neolithic era
Vitis Vinifera
Who made huge advances in viticultural practices?
Catholic monks
Medieval viticulturalists also developed the concept of ____ and the idea that the types of wine from the same region had similar character and shared traits
terroir
The majority of vineyards and winegrowers can be found between ____ & ____ parallel in each hemisphere
30th and 50th
Grape growers can be found on every continent except?
Antarctica
Major wine producing localities include:
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Germany
- South Africa
- California
____ are perhaps the most famous viticulturalists in the world
France
Has played host to viticulture since the days of the Roman empire; World’s largest producer of wine and produces quality wine of many different varieties
Italy
Has a rich winemaking history which stretches back centuries. Known for producing full-bodied red wines, including Tempranillo
Spain
____ wine grapes are grown largely along the banks of the river Rhine
Germany/German
____ were the first to grow grape vines along the Rhine and the tradition continues to this day
The Romans
____ has been producing wine since the mid 1600’s. Their climate is very similar to the meditteranean and is very hospitable to viticulture
South Africa
Their viticulture dates back to the 18th century when Spanish missionaries planted the first grapevines
California
What to keep in mind when growing grape vines?
- Climate
- Slope
- Soil
Single most important factor in shaping a grape’s flavor and a grape characteristics
Climate
Grapes require 1300-1500 hours of sunshine
____ and hills are the preferred locations for grape growers as they are valued for their exposure to sunlight and their ability to be drained easily.
Slope
Maintaining quality ____ is vital for effective vineyard management and should have good aeration, loose texture, and good drainage
Soil
Bad soil can lead to bad fruit developmet and low yield
What are the Hazards of Growing Grapes?
- Flowering
- Oidium
- Downy mildew
- Fanleaf virus
- Green harvest
A vine is at its most vulnerable in this phase. Cold temp. and harsh wind can produce clusters of grapes with abnormal sizes ano no seeds. Warm temperatures can cause grape to fall off the vine
Flowering
A mildew that attacks the vine and can be deadly for the plant. Particularly prevalent during colder periods
Oidium
During warmer periods, viticulturalists need to be on the lookout or this which stains leaves. This can be treated by spraying plants with copper sulphate
Downy mildew
This leads to deformities in the grapes and discoloration of the leaves. There is no cure for the virus so viticulturalists must spot the issue and remove the infected plants
Fanleaf virus
This is when viticulturalists remove bunches of immature green grapes for the purpose of lowering the yield. This allows the vine to focus energy and resources on the remaining grapes
Green harvest
Produces lower yield with higher quality grapes
