Introduction to Oenology

Question 1

How do you tell the age of a vine?

Answer 1

By the thickness of the wood

Question 2

What are the 2 main roles of the root system?

Answer 2

• Provide a physical anchor to the vine
• Absorb water and mineral nutrients

Question 3

How many species of genus vitis are there?

Answer 3

79 known species

Question 4

What is the success rate of pollination for the vine?

Answer 4

Roughly 73%

Question 5

What are the oldest traces of vitis genus? Where, when and what vitis?

Answer 5

Traces back to Nice, France in the Paleolithic era, 400,000 years ago. Vitis Sylvestris

Question 6

What are the oldest traces of vitis vinifera? Where were they found, when, and how do we know?

Answer 6

Oldest traces are from a cave in Areni, Armenia. They were traced to storage vessels, drinking cups, skins and seeds. 6000BC

Question 7

What is a cultivar?

Answer 7

Formal word for cepage or variety

Question 8

What is a clone?

Answer 8

Slight genetic modifications that produce grapes to suit varying environments. E.g. soil types, weather, water etc. Or be disease resistant, or produce a higher yield.

Question 9

What is massal selection?

Answer 9

This is where you take a few of the best-performing vines from a vineyard and replicate them in a nursery. This creates variety and quality in a vineyard.

Question 10

What is Marcottage (layering)?

Answer 10

Where vines are woven back into to the ground to create a new root system, effectively cloning the vine, the connecting branch is then cut-off once a root system has been established.

Question 11

Is Marcottage legal in France? Why/why not?

Answer 11

It is illegal due to lobbying from vine nurseries.

Question 12

What is grafting? Is it mandatory?

Answer 12

Grafting is where vinis vinifera is spliced onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. Generally America rootstock. It’s mandatory worldwide.

Question 13

When did Phylloxera hit France?

Answer 13

1863

Question 14

What is phylloxera? What are its 2 forms?

Answer 14

A parasitic bug, one variety eats the leaves of vitis vinifera, inhibiting its ability to photosynthesise. The other more destructive form eats at the roots system, letting fungi and bacteria destroy the root tissue

Question 15

Who discovered the solution to Phylloxera?

Answer 15

Alexis Millardet

Question 16

What is the solution to phylloxera?

Answer 16

Grafting vitis vinifera onto American rootstock, which is resistant.

Question 17

Where did the phylloxera outbreak start in France?

Answer 17

The Rhone Valley

Question 18

In which soil types does phylloxera not spread?

Answer 18

Sand and volcanic soil

Question 19

Is it important to stress the vines in their first few years of growth?

Answer 19

In order for the vines to not become lazy, it’s important to stress them in the first few years. E.g. close planting, not providing too much water etc.

Question 20

Where are the oldest vines in the world located?

Answer 20

Barossa Valley - 163 years old

Question 21

At what temperature do vines enter/leave dormancy?

Answer 21

12c

Question 22

What are the advantages of GOBELET pruning?

Answer 22

Used in hot and windy regions. Lush canopy prevents berries from sun burn and strong winds

Question 23

What are the three advantages of GUYOT pruning?

Answer 23

-Less vulnerable to frost due to airflow
-More sun exposure
-Helps vines to balance on steep slopes

Question 24

What are the two advantages of CORDON pruning?

Answer 24

-Easier to prune
-Old vines are able to balance easier

Question 25

What are the two advantages of TRELLIS pruning?

Answer 25

-Provides shading for berries
-Manages rain and humidity in regions prone to fungal disease (e.g. Japan)

Question 26

At what temperature can frost hit?

Answer 26

At 2c or lower

Question 27

What are the 4 main ways to fight frost?

Answer 27

1. Heaters (pruned wood or candles)
2. Wind turbines/helicopters
3. Water sprinklers
4. Delay pruning

Question 28

What is the main detrimental effect of frost?

Answer 28

UV rays are amplified through the frost, burning and freezing the buds

Question 29

How much does a full bunch of grapes weigh?

Answer 29

.8 - 1.5kg

Question 30

What are the 4 roles of canopy management?

Answer 30

1. Increasing photosynthesis
2. Ripening grapes
3. Improved aeration
4. Protecting grapes from sunburn

Question 31

What is green harvesting? What is its benefit?

Answer 31

Removing extra grapes during fruit set, to improve overall ripeness and quality of grapes that remain

Question 32

What are the 2 advantages of machine harvesting?

Answer 32

1. Generally cheaper in large vineyards
2. Efficient

Question 33

What are the three advantages of hand harvesting?

Answer 33

1. Can be done everywhere
2. Can be more selective with quality of bunches
3. More gentle on the grapes, prevents oxidation

Question 34

What is downey mildew? What does it look like?

Answer 34

A disease caused by fungus which appears in humid conditions. It appears as yellow patches on the leaves, inhibiting ability to photosynthesise.

Question 35

What is powdery mildew?

Answer 35

A fungal disease that is cause by dust that settles on leaves and spreads its spurs. Deforms and curls leaves, inhibiting photosynthesis.

Question 36

What is grey mold/noble rot/botrytis?

Answer 36

A fungus that grows on and through the grape skin. Generally affects tight-bunch grapes in humid areas - e.g semillon - Bordeaux.

Question 37

What is the earliest that French wine producers can make a wine after planting new vines?

Answer 37

You can’t harvest before the 3rd spring after planting, other areas are longer e.g. Bandol is 8