Oenology 2 Flashcards
What are the two steps of the vineyard lifecycle?
1) Dormancy period
2) Vegetative period
Describe the dormancy period
When the sap is stocked in the roots.
December: Pruning work begins
January + February: Pruning continues.
Purpose of pruning?
Cutting down old shoots. Limits the expansion of the vine and renews the shoots.
What are the three common pruning techniques?
1) Guyot
2) Corden de Royat.
3) Cup pruning/Gobelet
How to pick the pruning method?
Depends on yields, desired quality, type of soil, grape variety and harvest method (manual or machine)
What happens in the vegetative period?
Sap rises from the roots and feed the top part of the vine. New buds are produced.
What happens in March?
Awakens from dormancy period.
What happens in April?
Production of new buds. After a few days the buds produce shoots –> leaves –> shoots are trained vertically on trellis.
What is the production of new buds called?
Bud break / budbrust
What is trellis?
Solid structure of wires made to hold the vine
What is the point of vine traling?
Maximises the amount of sun for the leaves.
What happens in May?
Spring frosts might happen. Treatment against pests funguses. These treatments can continue until September.
What happens in June?
Self-pollinates. Buds bloom into flowers.
What happens in July?
Thinning the leaves = air circulation. The grapes are exposed to sunlight. Phytosanitary products penetrates the leaves and reach the heart of the vine.
What happens in August?
The grapes change colour during the ripening called = veraison. he grapes swell, acidity decreases and sugar level increases. Tannins is developing. The vine needs warmth, sunshine and moderate water.
What is verasion?
The changing of colour in the grapes.
What is the maturation of a grape?
Sugar level increasing and acidity decreasing.
What happens in September-November?
Harvesting. November is rare. It’s meant for over-maturation. Late harvests like this are most common for sweet grapes.
What are the two ways of harvesting grapes?
1) Manually
2) Machine
What are the advantages of harvesting manually?
More precise, can immediately sort out the grapes.
What are the disadvantages of havesting manually?
More expensive and finding work force can be difficult.
What are the advantages of harvesting by machine?
Faster and cheaper.
What are the disadvantages of harvesting by machine?
Not as precise. Grapes can be damaged. Only single grapes can be harvested. Not suitable on sloped terrain.
What are the three main factors that influence the harvest date?
1) Weather conditions
2) White or red - light-bodied or full-bodied.
- For light-bodied whites the grapes are harvested first. End of August/beginning of September.
- Full-bodied white: during September or October.
- Reds are harvested after white following the above principle. The level of tannins is essential. The end of October is the latest.
- Sweet wines: end of October to December.
3) Variety of grapes
Appellation system definition?
Official specific area of land or a “terroir” from a legal point of view.
When was the appellation system created?
Created in the first part of the 20th century in France, Italy and Spain.
What is the main purpose of appellation system?
Protects wine produces from counterfeiters.
What is the appellation system of Australia called?
Geographical indications (GI)
What is the appellation system of the USA called?
American Viticultural Areas (AVA)
What are the 9 purposes of appellation systems?
1) Safeguarding wine from fraudulent ones.
2) Allows consumers to differentiate wine regions from each other.
3) Capsulates the oenological and viticultural practices of a specific area or terroir to ensure a min. quality.
4) Flavour profile of each appellation.
5) Guarantees that the wines are actually produced at the place where the label says so.
6) Branding of wines.
7) Benefit from collective reputation of a vineyard.
8) Improves revenue streams.
9) Preserve rural landscape by avoiding land speculation. E.G. purchasing land for building construction.
What are the three appellations of Europe?
1) Table wines
2) PGI
3) PDO
What does PDO mean?
Protected Designation of Origin
What does PGI mean?
Protected Geographical Indications
What identifies tables wines?
often cheaper and do not have a geographical indication other than starting the country of origin. The production rules standards are lighter. Grapes can be blended from different regions or countries. No obligation to use specific grapes.
What are the yields of table wines?
up to 150 hectoliters per hectare.
What identifies PGI?
Can be produced from a bigger area within a specific country. Must use limited number of grapes. Bigger options than PDO.
What are the yields of PGI?
Up to 90 hectolitres per hectare.
What identifies PDO?
Best wines carry this certification. Rules are strict and a small number of grape varieties can be used. Limited surface area.
Some appellations have specific rules: E.G. Barolo in Italy: the wine must be aged in oak before it can be sold.
What are the yields of PDO?
The average is 60 hectolitres per hectare.
What are the layers within PDOs of Italy?
DOC and the best is DOCG
Where is Grand Cru from?
Burgundy
What is the Grand Cru
Best possible wine, the fields are specific parts of the vineyards, that’ are the best ones. The yield is 30hcl-50hcl. The production is only 2%. The wines are very expensive. The min. price is 200-300CHF for a bottle.
What are the 11 steps of white wine production?
1) Harvesting white or red grapes and pressed
2) Must is racked off
3) Must transferred to concrete or stainless-steel tanks
4) Racking off
5) Malolactic fermentation
(6) Interruption of malolactic fermentation)
7) Filtrations
8) Ageing on lees
9) Racking off
10) Adding sulphites: Prevents oxidation.
11) Poured in a bottle, corked and labelled.
How long does the fermentation for white wine last?
2 to 4 weeks.
What should the temperature of the tank be for full-bodied white wine?
15 - 20
What should the temperature of the tank be for light-bodied white wine?
14-18
What is the aroma of malic acid?
Green apple
What is the aroma of lactic acid?
butter
What is another word for sediment?
lees
What are lees composed off?
Dead yeast and very fine grape particles
What flavour does keeping the lees give?
More aromatic and complex taste. The wine becomes fuller-bodied, rounder and creamier.
What is another word for clarification
Racking off
What is racking off?
Transferring the wine from one tank to another. The lees remain at the bottom and the wine is extracted.