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WSET Level 3 - Wines > Section 2 - The Vine, Growing Environment and Vineyard Management > Flashcards

Section 2 - The Vine, Growing Environment and Vineyard Management Flashcards

The Vine The Growing Environment Vineyard Management

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1
Q

What are the two types of wine species used in modern viticulture?

A

Vitis vinifera - Main Eurasian species, producing nearly all grapes used in winemaking

American vines (vitis riparia, vitis ruperstris, vitis berlandieri) - Rarely used to produce grapes but resistant to phylloxera. Provides root systems to which vitis vinifera is grafted.

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2
Q

What is a shoot?

A

New growth that a vine produces

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3
Q

What is a node?

A

Leaf or flower / leaf and tendril

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4
Q

What is a bud?

A

Forms where a leaf stem joins the shoot and can be described as embryonic shoots. Once formed, they mature inside their casing during the growing season so that at the end of the year, each bud contains all the structures that will become the shoot, leaves, flowers and tendrils the following year.

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5
Q

What purpose do the leaves serve on the vine?

A

Where photosynthesis takes place. This is the process where the plant uses sunlight to convert water and CO2 into glucose and oxygen.

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6
Q

What is the purpose of glucose in the vine?

A

Glucose is a sugar that supports the vine growth and makes the ripe grapes taste sweet.

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7
Q

What are the three functions of glucose?

A

Vine combines glucose molecules into larger carbohydrates which is a building block for all other vine structures.

Provides energy to the plant when it needs it for other processes

Concentrated in the fruit which attracts animals to propagate the plant

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8
Q

What are tendrils?

A

Structures that the vines use to stay upright.

They wind themselves around the trellis wire to keep the structure upright.

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9
Q

What is the purpose of flowers and berries? What are inflorescences?

A

The vine’s reproductive organs.

Flowers are hermaphrodite (male and female)

Inflorescences are bunches of flowers.

Each flower that is successfully pollinated will become a berry, so eventually each inflorescence will become a bunch of grapes which is harvested at the end of the growing season.

The vine has evolved so that sweet grapes are attractive to animals that eat the grapes and disperse the vine’s seeds.

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10
Q

What is one year old wood?

A

Shoots that turn woody during the winter after they have grown. The following spring, this is one year old wood.

The buds that formed on them the previous year burst and grow into shoots.

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11
Q

Why is managing one year old wood vital for the grape grower?

A

Vines will normally only produce fruit on shoots that grow from buds that developed the previous year.

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12
Q

How does a grape grower manage one year old wood?

A

Every winter the vine is pruned and the one year old wood will either be called a cane or a spur depending on how many buds it is left with. (More detail in later sections)

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13
Q

What is a cane?

A

Long piece of one year old wood with 8-20 buds.

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14
Q

What is a spur?

A

Short piece of one year old wood with only 2-3 buds.

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15
Q

What is permanent wood?

A

Wood which is more than one year old. The wood is made up of a trunk and where present the arms of the vine.

Restricted growth by pruning in the vineyard.

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16
Q

What is the purpose of the vine root?

A

Absorbs the water and nutrients from the soil
Anchors the vine
Stores carbohydrates

In most modern vineyeards, most vinifera are grafted onto root systems from other species which are resistant to phylloxera

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17
Q

How do you grow a vine?

A

Not with seeds

Either through a cutting or layering

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18
Q

What is a cutting and how is it used to grow a vine?

A

A shoot is planted to make a new plant.
This creates an identical plant to the parent.
Main method used in commercial nurseries.

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19
Q

What is layering and how is it used to grow a vine?

A

A cane is bent down into the ground and buried.
The cane tip points out the ground.
The buried section takes root and forms a plant.
The section linked to the new growth is cut.
This creates an identical plant to the parent.

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20
Q

What method of growing a vine is used in commercial nurseries?

A

Cutting

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21
Q

What method of growing a vine is avoided by many due to the risk of phylloxera?

A

Layering

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22
Q

What is clonial selection / clones?

A

Vines that display positive mutations are layered / cut to make new plantings.

Grape growers can order specific clones from the nursery to have a vine with premium fruit / disease resistance.

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23
Q

What is cross fertilisation?

A

Male of one flower transferred to a female of another to fertilise.
This develops into a grape with seeds.

If a seed is planted and grows, it is a new variety as the genetics are different to the parent.
* This applies even if the parents are of the same variety.

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24
Q

What are the benefits of cross fertilisation?

A

New vine varieties created

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25
Q

What are the drawbacks of cross fertilisation?

A

Costly
Many fail in the first year
2-3 year wait for survivors to flower and produce grapes
Even more time to prove commercial viability

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26
Q

What are crossings?

A

Crossings are new varieties which come from two parents of the same species. This is every grape variety today.

The term is more commonly used for varieties bred by researchers.

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27
Q

What is an example of a crossing?

A

Cabernet Sauvignon = Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc

Pinotage = Pinot Noir and Cinsault

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28
Q

What are hybrids?

A

Vine variety with parents from different species

Typically one American vine to use as rootstock to prevent against phylloxera

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29
Q

What is the difference between a crossing and a hybrid?

A

Crossing - new variety from two parents of the same species

Hybrid - new variety from parents from different species

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30
Q

What is phylloxera and what problems does it cause a vine?

A

Insect native to North America
Vitis vinefera has no defence to this pest

1) Lives under the ground and feeds on the root
2) Infection enters the feeding wound
3) Over the years, the vine is weakened and died

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31
Q

Why are American vines resistant to phylloxera?

A

These vines produce a sticky sap which clogs the mouth of the phylloxera
This forms a protective layer behind the feeding wound to protect the vine

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32
Q

Where is phylloxera present in the world?

A

Everywhere with the exception of Chile, Argentina and South Australia

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33
Q

How do you treat a vine that is infected with phylloxera?

A

Quarantine the plant to prevent the spread

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34
Q

What is bench grafting?

A

Automated process carried out in specialist nurseries
Cane from vitis vinifera and rootstock variety are joined by machine and stored in a warm place to fuse before the vine is planted

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35
Q

What is head grafting?

A

Vine is cut back to the trunk
New bud or cutting is grafted on to produce the next vintage
Minimum 3 years from commercial crop to grow
This is cheaper and more flexible between vintages than bench grafting

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36
Q

What are the 5 things that a vine needs to grow?

A

1) Heat
2) Sunlight
3) Nutrients
4) Carbon dioxide
5) Water

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37
Q

What are the 11 factors which affect the amount of heat that a vine receives?

A

1) Latitude
2) Altitude
3) Ocean currents
4) Fog
5) Soil
6) Aspect
7) Continentality
8) Diurnal range
9) Winter
10) Spring frost
11) The Growing Season

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38
Q

Describe how latitude impacts the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

The best latitude is 30-50 degrees north and south of the equator for a vine to grow.

Other factors outside of latitude can make an area outside of this range suitable for a vine to grow eg: altitude.

Example: All vineyards in Italy.

39
Q

Describe how altitude impacts the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

An increase in altitude means that the temperature the vine receives falls.

This can mean that locations closer to the equator can sufficiently grow vines.

Example: Cafayate in Argentina, the altitude means the vines can grow despite the proximity to the equator.

40
Q

Describe how ocean currents impact the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

Ocean currents transport warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean to give a cooling or warming effect

Example:
Chile and Benguela current off of South Africa cool the hotter regions.
The Gulf steam warms NW Europe

41
Q

Describe how fog impacts the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

Fog cools areas that struggle to produce high quality grapes.

Example: Top vineyards in California and Casablanca Valley in Chile

42
Q

Describe how soil type impacts the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

Dark soils and those with high stone and rock content absorb and reradiate more heath than lighter soils.
In cooler climates, this can help the grapes ripen.

Soil with high water content needs more energy to heat.
This also means that heat is conducted more quickly than through dry soils, which can delay budburst.

43
Q

Describe how the aspect of a vineyard impacts the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

Vineyards with an aspect towards the equator receive the most heat.
Northern hemisphere - vineyards should be south facing.
Southern hemisphere - vineyards should be north facing.

This is particularly important in cool climates where the extra warmth and steeper slopes make a great difference in the ripening process.

Example: Mosel in Germany.

44
Q

Describe how continentality affects the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

Continentality is the variation in temperature between the summer and the winter.

High continentality = larger variation
Low continentality = smaller variation

Regions near water tend to have low continentality as they cool and heat more slowly (Mediterranean climates)

The continentality of a region determines the length of the growing season which has an impact on heat available to the vine.

45
Q

Describe how diurnal range affects the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

Diurnal range is the difference between the day and night temperatures in a region.

Large diurnal range regions produce fresher and more aromatic wines than those with a smaller range.

Proximity to water reduces diurnal range (vineyard retains heat)

Cloud cover means temperatures drop more quickly on clear nights (heat lost)

Cool nights = slow loss of aromas and acidity during ripening. (heat lost)

46
Q

Describe how the winter season effects the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give some examples.

A

Cold air below 0c collects and freezes on a vine. If this occurs on newly burst buds and young shoots, it will kill them.

Growers reduce the risk by using:
Heaters - keep cold air out

Wind machines - draw warm air from above and keep ground level about 0c. Some have heaters.

Sprinklers - spray water onto the vine to freeze and release the heat into plant tissue. This protects the buds.

Thoughtful vineyard design - plant on slopes away from depressions and train the vines high to avoid frost.

47
Q

Describe how the growing season effects the amount of heat that a vine receives.

Give some examples.

A

Cold spring temperatures delay bud burst and shortens the season as fruit set and flowering are disrupted.

Hot summers can slow and stop the vineyard even if there is enough water in supply. This can cause the vine to die.

48
Q

What are the 3 factors which impact the amount of sunlight that a vine receives?

A

1) Latitude
2) Seas and lakes
3) Aspect

49
Q

Why is sunlight required in a vineyard and for vine growth?

A

Required for photosynthesis.
More light = more photosynthesis = more glucose and ripening of grapes

Flowering and fruit set benefit from sunlight

50
Q

Describe how latitude impacts the amount of sunlight that a vine receives.

Give an example.

A

The length of the day is longer, the further from the equator you are.

Example: Riesling in Germany.

51
Q

Describe how seas and lakes impact the amount of sunlight that a vine receives.

A

Vineyards near water have more cloud cover.
Central vineyards receive more sunlight.
Vineyards near water can have more light reflected within them.

52
Q

Describe how aspect impacts the amount of sunlight that a vine receives.

A

Facing the equator = more sunlight
Steeper slopes = more sunlight
Greater distance from the equator = weaker energy from the sun

53
Q

What are the 2 hazards linked to sunlight in a vineyard?

A

Excessive cloud = slows photosynthesis giving small crops and grapes which taste less ripe

Sunburn = Bitter tasting grape skins
* The key for grape growers is to maximise canopy management to protect the vine from sunburn but also provide maximum sunlight which it requires to grow.

54
Q

Why is water required for a vine to grow and how does it support the growth?

A

Needed for photosynthesis and to swell grapes during ripening.

1) Water is drawn from the roots to the leaves through transpiration.
2) The amount of water a vine receives is affected by temperature, the warmer it is, the water quickly evaporates from the leaves more quickly so has to draw more up to compensate.
3) Once the canopy has grown, limiting the water that a vine receives can benefit the vine as it focusses on providing water for grape ripening rather than shoot growth.

55
Q

What are the 2 factors impacting the amount of water that a vine receives?

A

1) Rainfall

2) Irrigation

56
Q

Describe the 3 methods which can be used to irrigate a vineyard and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

A

1) DRIP IRRIGATION
2) SPRINKLERS
3) FLOOD IRRIGATION

57
Q

What are the 3 hazards linked to the amount of water that a vine receives in a vineyard?

A

1) DROUGHT
2) TOO MUCH WATER
3) HAIL

58
Q

Describe how drought can impact vine growth.

A

Causes vines to stop transpiration and puts them under water stress. With no photosynthesis the leaves wilt and no grapes ripen. This can kill the vine

59
Q

Describe how too much water can impact vine growth.

A
  • Vine produces too many shoots which gives less sugar in the grapes. With more canopy, there is less sunlight to help ripening.
  • Water logged roots can cause vine death. Avoid by planting on stoles or installing drainage pipes to aid water flow from root.
  • Damp increases spread of fungal diseases.
  • Rain before harvest can cause berries to swell which dilutes the flavour and can make them split, further attracting disease.
60
Q

Describe how hail can impact vine growth.

A

Destroys the grapes and vines.

Prevent with netting (Mendoza, Argentina)

61
Q

Describe the process of drip irrigation alongside its benefits and drawbacks in controlling the amount of water a vine receives

A

Most advanced, computer controls a dripper for each vine

Expensive to install and run

62
Q

Describe the process of flood irrigation alongside its benefits and drawbacks in controlling the amount of water a vine receives

A

Very cheap

Only possible in a flat vineyard/gentle slope where there is access to large quantities of water

63
Q

Describe sprinklers and their benefits and drawbacks in controlling the amount of water a vine receives

A

Widely used and cheap
If well designed, can be used to prevent frost
Waste lots of water
Can create damp which promotes disease and grey rot

64
Q

What is climate?

A

The annual pattern of temperature, sunlight and rainfall averaged out over several years.

Climate does not change year to year but can change over decades.

65
Q

What is weather?

A

Annual variation relative to the climatic average. Some regions vary more than others.

Example: Bordeaux has more variable rainfall.
Example: Central Valley in California is often hot and dry.

66
Q

When is the growing season in the northern hemisphere?

A

April - October

67
Q

When is the growing season in the southern hemisphere?

A

October - April

68
Q

How do we class a region’s temperature?

A

Average temperature during the growing season.

69
Q

What temperature is a cool climate?

A

16.5C and below

70
Q

What temperature is a moderate climate?

A

16.5C - 18.5C

71
Q

What temperature is a warm climate?

A

18.5C - 21C

72
Q

What temperature is a hot climate?

A

21C+

73
Q

What are the 3 climate categories which also factor in continentality, sunlight and rain?

A

Continental
Maritime
Meditteranean

74
Q

What is a continental climate?
What is it characterised by?
What varieties are suited to this climate?

A

Has the greatest difference in temperatures between the hottest and coldest months (high continentality)

Characterised by:
Short summers
Large temperature drop in autumn.

Cool continental climates are at risk from spring frost, low temperatures affecting flowering, fruit set and ripening eg: Chablis and champagne.

This climate is suited to varieties that bud late.

75
Q

What is a maritime climate?
What is it characterised by?
What varieties are suited to this climate?

A

Low difference in hottest and coldest months (low continentality)

Characterised by:
Cool to moderate temperatures
Even rainfall throughout the year which means grapes ripen into autumn

This climate is suited to thick skinned varieties which struggle to ripen, but can be harmful to flowering, fruit set and health of the grapes at harvest.

Example: Martime Bordeaux can ripen Cabernet Sauvignon which may normally struggle at this altitude

76
Q

What is a Mediterranean climate?
What is it characterised by?
What varieties are suited to this climate?

A

Low difference in hottest and coldest months (low continentality)

Characterised by:
Warm and dry summers
Low rainfall (be cautious of drought)

This climate is suited to varieties that require a lot of heat and sunlight to ripen.
Extra warmth and sunlight gives fuller bodied, riper tannins, higher alcohol and lower levels of acidity in wines.

Examples: Mediterranean, coastal California, Chile, South Africa and South East Australia

77
Q

What are the 5 factors that affect climate?

A

1) Altitude
2) Frost
3) Latitude
4) Aspect
5) Cooling effects from the ocean

78
Q

Describe how latitude impacts the climate of a vineyard.

A

Lower temperatures are present in high altitude vineyards.

Advantageous in areas that are close to the equator.

79
Q

Describe how frost impacts the climate of a vineyard.

A

Cold air descends and hot air rises

Place the vineyard where cold air can flow away easily to prevent damage to the vine.

80
Q

Describe how latitude impacts the climate of a vineyard.

A

The sun’s energy is more concentrated at the equator.

At the poles, the energy is spread over a wider area.

81
Q

Describe how aspect impacts the climate of a vineyard.

A

Slopes facing the sun receive the most heat and light.

Slopes receive the most heat and light in their centre.

82
Q

Describe how cooling effects from the ocean impact the climate of a vineyard.

A

Cool ocean current cool the coastal wine regions.
Cool air and fog blow from the shore which enhances the effect.
Warm ocean currents have the opposite effect.

83
Q

Why does soil provide a vine with?

A

Nutrients and water
Sits above the bedrock and can be a few cm deep
Made up of particles of different size, rocks and humus

84
Q

What are the largest particles in soil?

A

Stones
Not present in all vineyards
When on the surface of the vineyard, they can help heat the vineyard

85
Q

What is the smallest particle in soil?

A

Clay

Holds water

86
Q

What is humus?

A

Decomposing plant and animal materials

Rich in nutrients with excellent water retention

87
Q

What is the relationship between soil and water for the vine?

A

Soil provides water which the vine needs for bud growth.

Later it needs mild water stress after verasion to promote grape ripening.

88
Q

What particles in soil store water?

A

Clay

Humus

89
Q

What is the effect of having too much clay in a soil?

A

Soil becomes waterlogged

90
Q

What is the effect of having too many stones and lots of sand in soil?

A

Lots of water drainage which can mean irrigation is necessary for the vine to grow

91
Q

What is the best soil made up of? Why?

A

Sand + Clay = Loam
Good drainage as well as retention however, the best soil does depend on other climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall

92
Q

What are the three most important nutrients in soil for the vine?

A

NITROGEN
PHOSPHORUS
POTASSIUM

  • naturally occur in soil and are taken up into the vine by the roots
93
Q

What happens if there are too many nutrients in a soil?

A

Vine grows vigorously.
This creates a canopy which shades the fruit and the nutrients are depleted.
Nutrients then need replacing with natural or chemical fertilisers.

94
Q

What happens if there are not a lot of nutrients in the soil?

A

Causes chlorosis

  • Yellow leaves, no ability to photosynthesise
  • Grapes struggle to ripen and the quality and quantity is reduced

Can be fixed with fertilisers

WSET Level 3 - Wines (34 decks)

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