Natural Factors in the Vineyard that can influence style, quality and price of a wine Flashcards
What is the one natural factor in a vineyard that does not change.
CO2
What are the four natural factors in a vineyard that are constantly changing
Temperature, Sunlight, water and nutrients
What is the natural factor during the growing season that determines which grape varieties can grow where
The amount of heat
What are the six factors that affect heat during the growing season
Latitude, Altitude, Ocean currents, fog, soil, aspect
Most vineyards sit between what latitudes
30 degrees and 50 degrees
What does temperature do when altitude increases
temperatures drop
How do ocean currents affect heat?
Major currents transport large volumes of cold or warm water across surface of ocean leading to localised warming or cooling in certain wine regions.
What is a natural factor that can help cool in an area that may otherwise struggle to produce high-quality grapes?
Fog
What are two examples of ocean currents that cool regions that would otherwise be too hot?
Humboldt Current off Chile and Benguela Current off South Africa
What is an example of an ocean current that warms a region that would otherwise be too cold?
The Gulf Stream warms NW Europe
What are a few examples of areas where fog is very important to keep vines cool?
California and Casablanca Valley in Chile
What type of soil assists in ripening fruit in cool climate regions ?
Either dark colored soils or soil that has high stone and rock content which absorbs and/or radiates heat more than light colored soils.
What can happen when a soil has high water content?
They require more energy to heat up and conduct heat from the vine more quickly than dry soils, this can delay budburst
What is the direction in which a slope faces?
Aspect
Vineyards with an aspect facing XYX get the most heat.
Equator
In what climate is aspect most important for ripening?
Cool climate
What is an additional natural factor in a cool climate that can even enhance the effect of a positive aspect?
A steep slope, example is the Mosel, German
Two natural factors that affect heat?
Sun and reflection from soil
Two natural factors that affect sunlight?
Sun and reflection from water
What is the primary concern of a grape grower during the growing season?
Overall amount of heat
What are two other factors heat related that can impact how well a vine performs in a region?
Continentality and diurnal range
The temperature difference between the coldest and hottest months?
Continentality
What is low continentality?
Regions with less variations in temperature throughout the year
What type of natural factor can have both a warming effect during the year and a cooling effect during a year?
Proximity to a large body of water
Vineyard regions near large bodies of water generally have what type of continentality?
Low continentality. The water has warming effect in winter and cooling effect in summer.
Vineyard regions that are inland generally have what type of continentality?
High continentality and extreme temperature changes
What will determine the length of the growing season of a region?
The continentality
The length of the growing season has what impact on the vine?
Total heat available to the vine
What is the difference between daytime and nighttime temperature?
Diurnal Range
What temperature factor helps slow the loss of aromas and acidity in the grapes during ripening?
Cool nights
What temperature factor helps accelerate ripening?
Warm nights
In a warm or hot climate, what factors can exist to ensure your wines are fresher and more aromatic?
Large diurnal range or cool nights
Vineyards near seas and lakes have what type of diurnal range?
small diurnal range
Other than climate, What is another natural factor that influences diurnal range?
cloud cover
What can cloud cover influence?
At night, it acts as insulation and keeps vineyards warm (decreasing diurnal range) and in the morning it can keep the sunlight from hitting the ground (decreasing diurnal range)
What are the temperature hazards that face a vineyard?
Freeze, Spring frosts, too mild of winter, cold temps in spring, hot temps in summer
What is the temp that a vine can be seriously damaged by freeze or killed
-20c
What part of the vine is most at risk when a freeze occurs?
The graft
What is the process used to protect the graft in the event of a freeze?
Earthing up
What happens if winter is too mild?
The vine may not have a dormant period causing lower quality grapes and more exposure to insects
What is a spring frost?
When cold air below 0 degrees celcius collects at ground level. Kills newly burst buds or young shoots
What are four ways to minimize risk of spring frosts?
Heaters, Wind machines, sprinklers and thoughtful vineyard design.
Where is frost most likely in a vineyard?
The lowest point on the vineyard as cold air sinks
What affect does cold temperatures in spring have?
May delay budburst, shortens growing season
What affect does hot temperatures in summer have?
slows vine activity and delays ripening, can kill vines
What are three factors affecting sunlight?
Latitude, Seas and Lakes, Aspect