Maderia 4.1 Growing Enviro Flashcards
Madeira is where?
Portuguese island in the Atlantic Ocean
600 KM from coast of Morocco
discovered in 1419 by Portuguese merchants and labors
Initial agriculture venue for Madeira- what crops and how prepare the land?
Forests were burnt to provide room for agriculture & increase the fertility of the soil
terraces and irrigation channels built
grew sugar, wheat, vines - crops for exports
16th century in Madeira?
- *sugar industry** declined from competition from other countries
- *wine** became main export
17th and 18th century in Maderia?
British merchants arrived in Madeira
sent their wine to their colonies in North America and West Indies
-found that long periods of pitching and rolling in holds improved the quality of the wines
19th and 20th centuries in Madiera’s wine trade?
Powdery mildew and then phyllloxera hit the island destroying vines
Prohibition in the USA, two World Wars, and the Russian Revolution negatively impacted major trade markets
world stability came at the end of the 20th century but tastes had changed
Madeira’s original wine governing body ?
- *1979** - Instituto do Vinho da Madeira was founded
- *1986** - Portugal became apart of the EU when further regs were introduced
- *EU subsidies** led to improvements in quality which continued into the 21st century
Madeira’s current wine governing body?
2006- Instituto do Vinho do Bordado e do Artesanato da Madeira (IP-RAM) or IVBAM.
Madeira’s climate
expreiences warm summers 20–22°C / 68–72°F and mild winters 16–17°C / 61–63°F
range of microclimates being a mountainous island 1,800m with temps cooler at higher altitudes
moist air and humid winds arrive rom the north to cool, condense into rainclouds
north and center are considerably cooler and wetter than south
majority of rain falls in fall and winter
Madeira’s topography and growing conditions?
range of microclimates being a mountainous island 1,800m with temps cooler at higher altitudes
vineyards are at 800 m in altitude
only 450 ha of Madeira’s 74,000 ha are under vine
forests covering the mountainous center of the island
soil is volcanic origin and high in nutrients
plentiful rain, provides fertile condition = vigorous vines
Most esteemed grapes prior to 19th century Phylloxera in Madeira?
IN 19th century: varieties such as Malvasia and Terrantez- highly esteemed, Verdelho most grape planted (later was eclipsed by Tinta Negra after Phylloxera as most planted)
19th century’s phylloxera issues change the makeup of grapes on the island how?
Vinifera varieties decimated, and replaced by the more resistant American hybrids
could produce large reliable crops
but could not produce the same quality as the vinifera
Given the low quality of American Hybrids in the production of Madeira, what was the resulting thing to do next?
EU schemes helped a significant proportion of these vineyards to be replanted back to Vinifera
still have American Vines and hybirds but these grapes are not used to make Madeira
Vinifera varieties that are permitted for the production of Madeira are categorized into what groups?
- *Traditionally** the categories were: Noble, Good, and Authorized
- *New categories**: recommended and authorized (varieties that came about after Phylloxera that have not shown the same potential qualities as recommend)
Name the Madeira’s noble grapes?
- *Sercial**
- *Verdelho**
- *Boal**
- *Malvasia**
Tinta Negra -and sweetness level?
- *2015** producers allowed to state variety on label
- used to produce wines at all levels of sweetness
before ___is used to make wines where a level of sweetness rather than a grape variety appears on the label
Tinta Negra describe (plantings and categorized)
variety that has been planted since the arrival of Phylloxera,
able to produce high yields, easy to grow
once categorized as good but now is the recommended
most planted variety on the island
Sercial’s wine is know for and is used for?
grape know for high acidity
used in driest styles
Sercial characteristics in the vineyards
late ripening - especially in cool sites
last variety to be picked, barely above minimum levels of potential alcohol
resistant to powdery mildew,
susceptible to botrytis bunch rot
can experience poor fruit set
plantings are small
Verdelho is know for?
2nd most planted vinifera variety
high acidity but slightly lower than Sercial
Verdelho hazards in the vineyard?
botrytis bunch rot,
coulure
downy and powdery mildews.
Boal (Cachudo) is also called? used for what level sweetness?
umbrella term for many grape varieties
also named Malvasia Fina - as in found in white port
typically used to produce semi sweet wines
Boal (Cachudo) describe in the vineyards?
grows best on the warm lower altitudes in the south of the island
susceptible to drought and therefore needs adequate irrigation to thrive
Malvasia describe names?
umbrella term for a number of grape varieties
- *Malvasia Cândida** was historically the most important Malvasia- highly prized for its quality
- *Malvasia de São Jorge** is the most common
Malvasia describe hazards in the vineyard,
Malvasia Cândida - susceptible to powdery mildew, limit yields, small plantings
Malvasia de São Jorge - -can produce high yields but susceptible to botrytis bunch rot
Terrantez hazards in the vineyard ?
Planting is limited
susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis
therefore picked as soon as it reaches 9% abv potential
vines are generally trained and trellised into a pergola system on Madeira, called what? and what is the benefit?
- *Latadas**
- which allows air circulation above and beneath the vine which helps reduce incidence of fungal disease in the humid climate
- *other crops** can grow beneath
- *effective use of a small land holdings**
vine training in a cordon trained, VSP trellised is called what on Madeira?
Espaldeira
Humid climate of Madeira causes what disease pressures? and managed how?
- *downy mildew**
- *botrytis** bunch rot
- *Phomopsis**
- all can be reduced through canopy mgt techniques such as shoot positioning and leaf removal, fungal sprays still needed
irrigation is widely practiced, rainwater is carried from the center of the island to the vineyard areas by what?
Levadas small irrigation channels
irrigation is more required in the south of the island
when is harvest in Madeira?
harvest date is set by Instituto do Vinho, do Bordado e do Artesanato da Madeira, IVBAM in consultation with producers and growers
Usually at the end of August or beginning of September
done by hand
minimum potential ABV is 9%, generally picked with potential of no more than 11 ABV
how is price for the grapes determined in Madeira?
based on grape health and variety
Traditional varieties of Sercial, Verdelho, Boal, Malvasia, and Terrantez fetch more than Tinta Negra
High yields of ____ hL/Ha are not unusual due to what?
150 hL/Ha
plentiful water and fertile soils
max permitted yield varies according to the vintage
