Level 4 Viti Flashcards
Define a Low Vigour site What planting density should be used? What type of trellising?
<0.5m deep, limited water in growing season, low fertility Hi Density >5k plants/ha (unless where water very limited) VSP with single or double guyot
At what temp is a vine dormant?
<10c
How thick, how long should shoots be?
Pencil thick 12~15 nodes long
What rootstock might you use in areas with very cold Winters?
Vitis Amurensis
What element is shot into the sky to disperse hail? What else protects against hail?
Silver Iodide Towers charged with static electricity Netting Site diversification
What temp is considered too cold for grape growing
One that is below -20c more than once every 20yrs Or Has a mean temp <1c for the coldest month
What are the 4 stages of Berry growth / ripening?
Herbaceous phase Veraison Maturation Sur-Maturation
What is ‘Floral Initiation’?
Where embryonic flowers develop in the dormant bud the year preceding budburst
What planting density for Poor soil?
High density
What is preparation 501?
Horn Silica, fine ground Silica buried in cow horn over the Summer. Sprayed on vines 2~4 times a year. Supposed to improve photosynthesis
What are Anthocyanins and where, in the grape, are they found?
Provide red wine colour, found immediately beneath grape skin (Peripheral Pulp)
What factors increase / decrease water requirements in the growing season?
Vine density, soil water holding capacity, time of rainfall, wind
A sandy soil in a high rainfall area is likely to be deficient in which nutrients?
Potassium, Calcium, Sulphur
What is a really good rootstock to use where the soil is dry and stony and prone to drought?
110R Richter
Which rootstock performs best in saline soils?
1103P Paulsen
What are the symptoms of Downy Mildew (Peronospora)? How does it like to grow? How is it treated?
Fungus. Lives in (not on) vine tissue. Damages green part of vine esp. young leaves. Yellow oil spots on surface of leaf w white downy patches underside. Needs rainfall/water and warm temps. Highest risk years are rainy Winters, Springs and stormy/warm Summers Control canopy management to avoid leaf bunching Spray Bdx mix (Lime and Copper Sulphate) every 20mm rain, 15~20cm growth, 10~14 days
How are Cordon de Royat, GDC and Sylvoz normally pruned?
Cordon / Spur pruned
Your vine has stunted shoots with small yellow cupped leaves, the grapes are OK but yield is substantially decreased. What is the disease and how did it occur?
Eutypa dieback / Dead Arm / Dying arm Fungus entered pruning wounds
Who original proposed the concept of Biodynamic farming?
Rudolf Steiner
What are the symptoms of Leafroll Virus? How does it like to grow? How is it treated?
Symptoms seen in Autumn; red (black grapes) and yellow (white grapes) leaves with downward rolled edges. Reduce yield -50%. Sugar -30%, delay maturity 4 weeks. Wines made less colour, alcohol, flavour and body Disease spread by planting infected cuttings and vines Mealybugs a poss vector in S. Africa No cure! Dig up vineyard and re-plant
What are three key elements of a vineyard site assessment?
Soil profile Water supply Soil fertility
What is the main effect of Canopy Management?
Affects the climate in the fruiting zone, therefore style and quality of wines
What is the difference between ‘Prompt’ and ‘Latent’ buds?
A Prompt bud breaks in the same year A latent bud breaks the following Spring
What 4 things can affect the chemical composition of a grape?
Grape variety Climate and soil (terroir) Viticultural management Seasonal / weather variations
What is Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI)?
The use of water stress to manage vegetative growth
What is the main advantage / disadvantage of Cordon pruned systems?
They are easier to prune and can be re-pruned mechanically Retain large volume permanent wood = maintain carb reserves Disadvantage is carb reserves enable the vine to be more vigorous than with replacement cane. Also loss of growing points along the cordon
How are Sylvoz and Len-Moser systems usually pruned?
Cordon/spur pruned
What soil is a balanced mixture of clay, silt and sand?
Loam
What does ‘GDD’ mean?
Growing degree days
What is the definition of a vine’s ‘vigour’?
The weight of wood produced annually
What is perhaps the most classic wine region to find Slate soil?
Mosel
How are young vines treated in the nursery ensure not carrying any disease?
Thermotherapy
Your vine is showing malformed shoot growth with double nodes, leaves are distorted and bunches are smaller with poor fruit set leading to millerendage. What is it and how is it cured?
Fanleaf virus No cure!
What does a vine do when it Photosynthesises?
It creates Sucrose
What is an Intraspecific crossing?
A crossing of one Vinifera variety with another
What is the word for when enough flowers fail to become berries?
Coulure
Below what pH can vines not survive and why?
<5pH Too acidic Aluminium poisons the plant
What type of insecticide become trapped in the soil to stop new weeds starting?
Pre-emergence insecticides
What is Vidal a crossing of?
Uni Blanc x 4986 Seibel
What are the symptoms of Eutypa dieback (Dead Arm/Dying Arm)? How does it like to grow? How is it treated?
Stunted shoots w small yellow cupped leaves, reduced yield Fungus enters thru pruning wounds, needs mild temps and moisture. Kills water conducting tissue Controlled by v’yard hygiene, pruning wounds covered with fungicide paste
List 4 key factors for vineyard site selection
Water availability Regional climate (temp and sunshine hours) Soil type and quality Access to the site Availability of labour and resources Proximity to the market
List 4 factors in grape variety selection
Genetics Performance in potential site climate (sugar, acid, pigments, tannin, fruit flavours) Winemaking influence Fashion - will it sell? Yields Disease Legislation
What is Physiological Ripeness
The point at which the grape has reached max sugar and size BUT Grapes not always allowed to reach this stage and are picked earlier
What is the skin of a grape called?
Epidermis
What type of insecticide is absorbed by the leaves (roots) and carried round the plant by the sap killing the whole plant?
Systemic herbicides
What disease is spread by glassy winged sharpshooters and/or mealy worms?
Pierce’s Disease
When would Nitrogen be added to soil?
In the Spring
How much less sunlight will a vineyard near a large town or city get and why?
Up to 10% less due to pollution
Why are Late Harvest grapes harder to ferment
Contain less Glucose, more Fructose
Define a ‘Tropical’ climate
Minimal annual temperature variation Hot Summers and warm Winters
What are the 6 mains aims of canopy management?
Max light interception = Max photosynthesis Min canopy shading - shaded leaves use energy Uniform microclimate for the fruit Balance between fruit and leaf Minimise disease Optimise mechanisation - Prune, pesticide, harvesting
What is the ‘best’ climate for growing grapes?
One that is only just suitable for grape growing
What is the Peak Vine growth temperature range?
22~25c
Name regions in EU Zone CIIIa
Parts of Bulgaria and Greece
3 effects of temperature on yield?
Rate of growth Number of flower clusters and size Success of setting the flowers into berries
What is the ideal vine canopy?
15 shoots / metre 1~1.5 leaves thick
What are the symptoms of Fanleaf Virus? How does it like to grow? How is it treated?
Shoot growth malformed with double nodes, short internode length and zig zag growth. Bunches smaller w poor fruit set = 80% crop loss. Finally vines stop fruiting esp. Cab Sav Spread by infected plant material. No cure, buy from reputable nurseries
A vineyard with a Heat Summation of 1900 is best suited to growing what grapes?
Full bodied reds e.g. Shiraz
List 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of allowing weeds
+Prevent soil erosion +Prevent Nitrate leaching +Encourage biodiversity +Reduce excess vine vigour +Improve soil structure +Warn of disease/nutrient deficiencies -Compete for water and nutrients -Increase frost risk -Act as host for pests and diseases
What is Pinotage a crossing of?
Pinot Noir and Cinsault
What is IFOAM? What does it relate to?
International Federation Organisation of Agricultural Movements Relates to Organic agriculture