Module 2- Climate and Terroir

Question 1

What defines a Mediterranean climate?

Answer 1

Warm dry summers
Mild wet winters
Low humidity
Low annual temp differences between hottest and coldest months

Question 2

The warm dry weather of a Mediterranean climate provides what benefits?

Answer 2

Reduces risk of dz and rot
Promotes health crop of fruit
Reduces risk of swelled berries and sugar dilution from the rain at harvest
Consistently fine vintages

Question 3

Does Napa have a short or long growing season?

Answer 3

Long

Question 4

what is the benefit of large diurnal temperature swing?

Answer 4

cooler evening temps slows ripening (photosynthesis slows at temps <50F, maintains acidity in grapes

Question 5

What are examples of cooling effects in Napa Valley?

Answer 5

Pacific Ocean,
Fog from San Pablo Bay
Winds from Petaluma Gap, gaps in western Mayacamas, Chalk Hill gap in Calistoga

Question 6

Why is the fog not harmful to the grapes in terms of humidity?

Answer 6

(usually) burns of by late morning

Question 7

What are the effects of higher elevations?
In the northern hemisphere, which slope face gets the most sun?

Answer 7

Cooler summer daytime temps, less diurnal temp swings
South facing slope

Question 8

What is a soil order?
Soil series?
Soil variation?
How many does Napa Valley have of each of the above?

Answer 8

Based on soil forming processes
Of similar evolution/formation, chemistry, physical property
Take into account vegetative material, climate, topography differences
33 soil series, 50%+ soil orders found in world, 100+ soil variations

Question 9

Define:
Alluvial soils?
Alluvial fan?
Fluvial soil?
What are traits of alluvial/fluvial soils vs thinner, rocky soils covering hillsides and slopes?

Answer 9

Soils created by runoff of a single creek from a hillside watershed
Pockets of alluvial soils spread out in fan like shape when streams form mountains become sediment laden
Soil made up from bedrock sediment from multiple watershed sources such as previous flooding
Deeper, more fertile, hold more moisture

Question 10

What happens if soil nutrients are too high? Particularly of what nutrient?
What are differences between particle size?

Answer 10

Nitrogen, vine grows too vigorously, produces dense canopy that may shade fruit too much
Small particles (e.g. clay) allow for water retention (sustains vines during summer, cooler environment for plant). Large particles (sand, gravel) allow for drainage, keep roots dry, less disease, encourage deep roots for vines