Natural Factors in the Vineyard

Question 1

Why are botrytised wines commonly made in Hungary?

Answer 1

Bodrog and Tisza rivers and their tributaries generate early morning humidity necessary for the development of noble rot

Question 2

Describe the climate and 2 moderating influences of Northern Italy

Answer 2

Moderate climate with short dry summers and cold winters.
Moderated by (1) water bodies inland (Lake Garda) and (2) altitude, for vineyards in the foothills of the Alps.

Question 3

Friuli-Venezia Giulia has two distinct winegrowing areas with different climates. Describe them. Which area is more premium?

Answer 3

Northernmost vineyards are in the foothills of the Alps, with a moderate continental climate cooled by cold air from mountains. More premium.
Southern vineyards (“Friuli Grave”) are in the flat plain near the Adriatic Sea with a warm maritime climate, tend to produce simple and fruity whites.

Question 3

Describe the climate of the Veneto region and two moderating factors. What is the main climactic threat?

Answer 3

Warm climate with moderate rainfall, cooled by altitude (giving foothill vineyards a large diurnal range) and breezes from Lake Garda (cooling western vineyards).

Moist air and fog from the Po River presenting disease pressure in the flat plain, frequently requires spraying.

Question 4

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Question 5

What is the climate of Piedmont? Three notable climactic features?

Answer 5

Moderate continental.
(1) Northern mountains provide rain shadow against northern winds.
(2) Long, cold winters
(3) Summers prone to thunderstorms, hail and fog

Question 6

What notable GIs lie in south-east Piedmont? Why is ripening slow here?

Answer 6

Gavi, Cortese di Gavi and Gavi di Gavi DOC.
Ripening is slow here due to cooling influnece of altitude and sea breezes.

Question 7

What is the overall climate of Central Italy and what are the two main moderating influences?

Answer 7

Warm continental climate.
(1) Altitude (Apenning Mountains)
(2) Cooling sea breezes in the coastal regions

Question 8

How does the climate of southern Tuscany differ from Northern Tuscany? How does this affect the wines?

Answer 8

Warmer than the North–lower altitude, albeit still moderated by south-western maritime breezes. The resulting wines are more intense and full-bodied than those from Chianti (i.e., Brunello and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano).

Question 9

What are the two main climactic zones in Southern Italy? Two moderating influences?

Answer 9

• Hot and dry inland; hot and humid near the coast
• Cooling influences are altitude (many vineyards on slopes within the Apennines) and sea breezes (on the Puglian peninsula)

Question 9

What are the three distinct climactic zones in Spain?

Answer 9

• North and north-west coast: MODERATE MARITIME climate dominated by Atlantic weather systems; high rainfall
• East coast from Catalunya to Levante: WARM MEDITERRANEAN climate (hotter further south), with many vineyards moderated by influence of the sea or altitude
• Meseta Central: HOT CONTINENTAL climate with high winter-summer temperature differences and limited rainfall, though high-altitude sites have cool nights

Question 10

What are the main climactic threats outside North and North-West Spain and how do grapegrowers mitigate these?

Answer 10

Drought and heat.

Mitigated using low-density, bush-trained vineyards which: (1) maximize water available to each vine; and (2) shades vine from heat, as shoots hang low almost to the ground to shade the fruit.

Question 11

Describe the three distinct climactic zones within the Penedes region.

Answer 11

o Coastal plain – Mediterranean climate; hottest
o Inland valleys – cooler than plains but still warm
o Hills – vines up to 800m above sea level; climate moderate

Question 12

How does the climate change as one moves downstream along the Ebro River?

Answer 12

North of the Ebro River, the weather is cooler due to: (i) altitude (Cantabrian Mountains - Rioja Alta and Alavesa are planted at 500-800m) and (ii) Atlantic influences (moderated by the Cantabrian Mountains acting as a weather shield)

Moving south towards Rioja Oriental (and continuing into Carinena and Catalayud), the climate is warmer and less maritime: hotter summers, harsher winters, and low annual rainfall.

Question 13

Three features of the climate in Priorat?

Answer 13

(1) Long, hot and dry summers with (2) very low annual rainfall, but (3) cool nighttime temperatures

Question 13

Contrast the climates in Rias Biaxas, Bierzo and Ribera del Duero.

Answer 13

The climate in Rias Baixas is moderate maritime, with high annual rainfall and humidity.
The climate in BIerzo is also moderate with a cooling maritime influence, but located in mountains between Galicia and Meseta Central.
The climate in Ribera is continental as it is cut off from maritime influence by a ring of mountains: summers are short, hot and dry with cold winters and a high diurnal range.

Question 14

2 reasons Priorat wines tend to be expensive?

Answer 14

Mechanization almost impossible due to bush vines and steep slopes
Low yields due to old vines and low-nutrient licorella soils)

Question 15

What do Rias Baixas and Vinho Verde have in common (4 points)?

Answer 15

1. Both have a moderate maritime climate form the Atlantic influence.
2. High annual rainfall can lead to excessive canopy growth and disease pressure.
3. Pergola is traditional in both regions to promote airflow
4. But moving towards spur-pruned VSP which promotes airflow while allowing mechanisation

Question 16

Compare and contrast the climate of Howell Mountain and Los Carneros

Answer 16

Howell Mountain sits above the fog line and is cooled by altitude. San Pablo Bay by contrast is cooled by San Pablo Bay fogs and breezes.

Question 17

What characterizes the climate in the California North Coast (4 points)

Answer 17

(1) strong oceanic influence (2) with fog and cool breezes (3) flowing through gaps in coastal ranges and river valleys, (4) affecting temperatures and diurnals

Question 17

Three effects of the California Ocean Current? What is California’s climate without the ocean influences?

Answer 17

(1) Cold air, often with fog, is drawn in from the ocean in the late afternoon and evening
(2) Lowers nighttime temperatures and increases diurnal range, helping to retain acidity
(3) Cools vineyards well into the day due to the time taken for the sun to burn off the fog

Without the oceanic influences, California is HOT (see Central Valley).

Question 18

Compare and contrast the wines of Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain District.

Answer 18

Howell Mountain: Vineyards planted on west-facing valley sides and exposed to hot afternoon sun, so the wines are FULLER BODY with HIGHER ABV
Spring Mountain: Vineyards planted on east-facing slopes with less afternoon sun exposure, so they are LIGHTER BODY with LOWER ABV

Question 19

What four factors characterize regions with a continental climate?

What are the two main climactic threats associated with a continental climate?

Answer 19

(1) High continentality (large summer-winter temperature differences and diurnal range)
(2) Short, dry summers
(3) Large, rapid temperature drop in autumn
(4) Cold winters

Threats: (i) spring frost; and (ii) low temperatures in the growing season

Question 19

What kind of grape variety is best-suited to continental climates?

Answer 19

Those that bud late (avoids spring frost) and ripen early (better-able to cope with autumn temperature drop).

Question 20

What four factors characterize regions with a maritime climate?

What is the main climactic threat associated with a maritime climate?

Answer 20

(1) Cool to moderate temperatures
(2) Low continentality
(3) Consistent levels of rainfall through the year
(4) Grapes can continue ripening into autumn due to moderating influence of consistent rainfall

Threat: rainfall through spring and summer that may harm flowering, fruit-set and grape health at harvest. Weather variation results in vintage variation.

Question 21

What factors characterize regions with a Mediterranean climate?

What are the two main climactic threats associated with a Mediterranean climate?

Answer 21

(1) Low continentality
(2) Long, warm and dry summers
(3) Often moderated by a large body of water
(4) Rain mostly falls in winter

Threats: (i) drought and (ii) sunburn

Question 21

In what conditions does spring frost occur (3 points) and why does this threaten vine growth?

Answer 21

(1) When temperatures go below zero in spring, (2) causing air at temperatures below freezing to collect at ground level and
(3) freezing water vapour on the vines, forming frost.

This is a threat to vines because budburst typically occurs in spring, and young buds and shoots are very vulnerable to frost.

Question 22

In what conditions does a winter freeze occur and how can grapegrowers mitigate this risk?

Answer 22

When temperatures fall below -20 deg C in winter, potentially killing the vine. Mitigate by earthing—essentially, burying the vine.

Question 22

Name the 6 stages in a vine’s growing cycle, beginning in spring.

Answer 22

(1) Spring - budburst. Once temperatures exceed 10 deg C, new buds form, swell and burst, and grow into young shoots. Shoots and leaves continue to grow, fuelled by photosynthesis (requires good nutrient supply early in the season).
(2) Late spring/early summer - flowering and fruit set. The vvine flowers and fruit-set occurs when every flower (inflorescence) develops into a small grape.
(3) Summer - growing season. The grapes grow but remain hard, green, high-acid and low-sugar.
(4) Late summer/early autumn - veraison. Grapes (i) change color to blue/black/pink/gold (ii) swell with water (iii) increase sugar levels while acid levels drop (iv) develop tannins and (v) develop color pigments and flavor compounds.
(5) Autumn - harvest. Excess rainfall during this period can swell grapes and dilute flavors, and increase rot.
(6) Winter - dormancy. Defined as the period where the vine has no green parts, which is important for vine health.

Question 23

Name and explain 8 natural factors that influence the amount of heat received by a vineyard.
(FODALACS)

Answer 23

(1) **Fog **- cools warm areas (usually from Pacific Ocean)
(2) Ocean Currents - may be warming (Gulf Stream) or cooling (Humboldt; Benguela)
(3) Diurnal Range - cool nights slow loss of aromas and acidity
(4) Altitude - higher altitude, lower temperature
(5) **Latitude **- 30-50 north and south of Equator is the sweet spot
(6) Aspect - (i) steep slopes (ii) facing Equator get more heat
(7) **Continentality **- temperature difference between coldest and warmest months affects length of growing season (proximity to water bodies = lower continentality as water bodies heat up and cool down more slowly than landmass)
(8) **Soil **- soils that (i) are dark in color or (ii) have a high stone and rock content, absorb and radiate more heat than lighter soils, while water-raining soils require more heat to warm up

Question 23

Name and explain 3 natural factors that influence the amount of heat received by a vineyard.
(LAW)

Answer 23

1. Latitude (longer daylight hours during growing season helps ripening)
   2. Aspect (slopes facing Equator get more sun)
2. Water bodies (reflect sunlight - but also increase cloud cover)

Question 23

Three important vine processes that require sunlight?

Answer 23

1. Photosynthesis
2. Flowering
3. Fruit-set

Question 24

2 important vine processes that require water?

Answer 24

1. Photosynthesis
2. Swelling of grapes during ripening

Question 24

Why might you want to limit water supply to a vine?

Answer 24

Provided a sufficient leaf canopy has grown, limiting water supply (hydric stress) may force vine to concentrate on **ripening grapes **rather than shoot growth, while still permitting photosynthesis. This helps control the canopy size and shade.

Question 24

Name 3 irrigation methods. What are their disadvantages (if any)?

Answer 24

1. Drip irrigation (each vine has a computer controlled dripper)
2. Sprinklers (cons: (i) creates dampness (disease pressure) and (ii) wastes water)
3. Flood irrigation (limited to: (i) flat or gently sloping vineyards and (ii) areas with access to large quantities of water)

Question 24

Identify and describe three water-related weather hazards for vinegrowing.

Answer 24

1. Hail (damages both grapes and vine)
2. Excess rainfall ((i) may lead to excess vigor, leaving less sugar for grape ripening and increasing canopy shades and (ii) disrupt flowering, fruit-set and harvest, including by diluting and splitting grapes and (iii) creating disease pressure
3. Drought (can cause vine to stop (i) transpiration (ii) photosynthesis and (iii) ripening)

Question 25

Water-retaining soils are always a good thing, since vines need water to survive. Discuss.

Answer 25

This statement is untrue. Ideally, vines require (i) a good supply of water early in the season to support strong shoot and leaf growth and (ii) mild water stress after veraison, so that vines concentrate on grape ripening rather than canopy and shoot growth

Question 25

What is coulure? When does this usually occur?

Answer 25

Coulure is where more flowers than normal fail to fertilize / remain unpollinated. Occurs when weather is too cold, cloudy or rainy during the pollination period.

Question 25

What is millerandange?

Answer 25

Millerandange is where grapes form without seeds and remain very small. Occurs when weather is too cold, cloudy or rainy during the pollination period.

Question 25

What is the significance of veraison?

Answer 25

This signals the point at which grapes start to ripen.