Seminar 5

Question 1

What are the qualities of a good winegrower?

Answer 1

Strong motivation
technical skills
hard work
perservance
keen sense of observation and reflection
strong distrust of routine
humility

Question 2

What makes the winegrower’s profession unique?

Answer 2

More a set of trades then a single trade. They need to be a renaissance person – botanist, biologist, chemist, gardener, trader, accountant, etc

Question 3

What similarities exist between a wine grower and a chess player?

Answer 3

They are both strategist. The winegrower’s battlefield is their estate.

Question 4

What factor is likely to trigger a change of the wine map?

Answer 4

Economic conditions (production and market).

Question 5

What characterizes the distrubtion of cultivars in the world?

Answer 5

13 cultivars acccount for 33% of vineyards in the world.

33 culitvars account for 50% of vineyards in the world.

Question 6

What changes has the wine maps of the world undergone recently?

Answer 6

Fewer vineyards in the world. Between 2000 and 2020 vineyards areas fell by 8%.

While the new world has planted masses of vineyards in that period, they haven’t planted enough to make up the difference.

Question 7

Do growers really worry about climate change? Why?

Answer 7

Yes and no. Optimists don’t think it’s an apocalypse for now, but if things don’t change there will be problems by 2050.

The bigger problem with climate change isn’t the warming of temperatures but rather the sudden variations (spring frost and hailstorms) as well as uncertain rainfalls.

Question 8

What is the effect of a 1 degree Celsius temperature increase on vineyards?

Answer 8

A 1 degree celsius increase corresponds to a 180 km northward move of the vineyards. Now a 1 degree celsius increase is forecasted between 2035 and 2050.

Question 9

Is wine likely to be the same in the future as it is today? What changes can be foreseen?

Answer 9

Yes. In many regions it will be difficult to make wines whose alcohol content is below 15%. Also, we can expect to see irregular ripening of grapes. The sugar content rises faster than the ripening of tannins which leads to the risk of astringency.

Question 10

What major problem due to climate change will Southern vineyards face?

Answer 10

It will entail lower yields. Also, with the extreme droughts leads to an increase risk of wild and brush fires.

Question 11

What gas is more harmful to the atmosphere than CO2?

Answer 11

Nitrogen protoxide (NO2)

Question 12

Has climate change been detrimental to Northern vineyards so far?

Answer 12

So far it’s benefited Northern vineyards. For example, before the warming temperatures England was considered too cold to produce wine. It will eventually have a bigger impact on white wines then red wines.

Question 13

What would happen by 2050 if growers took no action?

Answer 13

Vines will suffer from lack of water.
Vine diseases and illnesses will multiply.
Dramatic decrease in yields.
Strong decline in quality.

Alarmist vision: vineyards could diminish by 25-75%.

Question 14

What has always characterized winegrowers attitude to crises in history?

Answer 14

Their ability to adapt.

Question 15

What solutions can Bordeaux find to solve the problems entailed by climate change?

Answer 15

They could plant more Petit Verdot as it’s a late ripening cultivar and it combines the qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Similarly, Colombard could provide as an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 16

In what way could genetics help solve the problems entailed by global warming?

Answer 16

Growers could plant late ripening clones, so far growers have rejected clones with higher acidity rates but they could be useful in times of climate change.

Question 17

Should Burgundy adpot Syrah? What should Burgundians do instead?

Answer 17

Syrah would be in interesting choice, additionally Sauvignon blanc could work too. Also, there are 1000 clones of pinot noir. Why not explore the diversity of this existing cultivar as well.

Question 18

What is the advantage of resorting to the Guyot-Poussard pruning technique?

Answer 18

When you prune late, you likely postpone the grape harvest by a few days.

Question 19

What was Henri Jayer’s vision concerning Cros Parentoux?

Answer 19

Selected the plot that nobody wanted due to it’s NE aspect and stony soils. Jayer selected it because of it’s geology and promixity to other famous Grand Crus. Had to use dynamite to plant the vines.

Question 20

What are ancestral cultivars?

Answer 20

They are ancient vine types that fell into disuse especially after the phylloxera crisis. Examples are: Pinot Beurot, Molette, and Romorantin

Question 21

What style of wine are today’s consumers looking for?

Answer 21

Lighter, fresher styles.

Question 22

What right prospects are there for English viticulture?

Answer 22

They are have the same soil as Champagne, Kimmeridgian soil.

Question 23

Why is there a general distrust of nurseries?

Answer 23

Poor quality of plants winegrowers buy from nurseries. Too many nurseries don’t care for the quality of plants they sell. Nurseries mass produce these plants and a lot of them turn out to be diseased.

Question 24

What are hybrids?

Answer 24

Hybrids are when you graft one plant on two a different plant’s rootstock. Can do it with Vitis vinifera X vitis americana or vitis vinifera x vitis vinifera.

When cross vinifera x americana these plants tend to be more disease and phylloxera resistance.

Question 25

Why are hybrids not a miracle solution?

Answer 25

Roots are phylloxera resistant and their leaves were not vulnerable to mildews but they produced mediocre wines.

Question 26

What are infraspecific hybrids? Give an example.

Answer 26

Result from the crossing between 2 vitis viniferia cultivars. They are not immune to phylloxera or fungus diseases.

Pinotage: Pinot Noir x Cinsault
Muller Thuragu: Riesling x Madeline Royale
Mareslan: Cabernet Sav x Grenanche

Question 27

What is the principle of GMOS?

Answer 27

Genetically modified organisms. It’s the introduction of “alien genes” into the cultivar. For example you cross a plant (say a leek or a bean) that is heat resistance with a grape vine to get a crossing of that which is more produces heat resistance grapes.

Question 28

Why has research on GMOs been stopped in France?

Answer 28

They are too controversial.

Question 29

Why are the French facing difficulties with rootstocks?

Answer 29

Poor quality of the plants they are buying.

Question 30

What kind of rootstocks should be chosen by growers?

Answer 30

Plant rootstocks:

That are better adapted to dry spells.
Phylloxera- resistant.
Nematode-resistant.
Adaptable to the soil.
Limestone- resistant.
Adaptable to acidic soils.
Lastly, they must be compatible with the cultivar.

Question 31

Why is it necessary to establish conservatories?

Answer 31

Conservatories main objective is to keep genetic heritage. They can be used for clonal selection as well.

Question 32

What are the advantages of vitiforrestry?

Answer 32

Vitiforrestry mixes the plantings of trees into the vines. Not only does this help fight erosion, it protects vines against wind and provides shelter for the fauna, it brings water. Also it brings freshness and humus due to the falling leaves. They have far reaching roots that develop mycorhizes a complex network of roots and mushrooms which fertilizes the soil and favor microbiological life.