Slide Pack 8

Question 1

100 acres of grapes equals how many acres of cotton but with less irrigation?

Answer 1

1000-3000

Question 2

Texas is 5th in wine production and what in grape production?

Answer 2

7th

Question 3

Ways to prevent/correct issue of high pH (low acidity) in both vineyards and winery are?

Answer 3

1) Crop load balancing
2) Blending
3) Tartaric acid addition
4) Verjus

Question 4

Due to warm growing conditions, grapes mature rapidly to lose acidity so it is important to harvest early but then it is?

Answer 4

Difficult to achieve phenolic ripening (ripening of tannins)

Question 5

High pH wines can be conducive to?

Answer 5

Microbial growth and spoilage

Question 6

High pH wines can also?

Answer 6

Lose color

Question 7

Texas is the only one of the top five US wine producing states that is not based on?

Answer 7

1) An export model
2) The CA Set - Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot and Chardonnay

Question 8

To overcome the need for Texas grapes, Texas must:

Answer 8

1) Plant more grapevines
2) Develop Varietal selection and vineyard practices to resist freezes
3) Develop Varietal selection and vineyard practices to reduce PD damage
4) Overcome herbicide issue

Question 9

While Texas state government has supported university research and ag extension, it has?

Answer 9

Done little recently to support wine marketing

Question 10

Vineyard site selection alone is the?

Answer 10

Most important criteria for a big investment of time and money over years or decades

Question 11

Vineyard site selection job one is to?

Answer 11

Analyze the soil for type, pH, nutrients, and pathogens

Question 12

Other site selection criteria for vineyard are?

Answer 12

1) Lay of the land for both water and cold air drainage
2) Availability, volume and quality of irrigation water
3) Proximity to other wineries and vineyards

Question 13

Vineyard layout involves:

Answer 13

1) Where on the property to best place vineyard
2) Row orientation for fastest ripening and production of wine quality
3) Aesthetic reasons for a dramatic view like creating a perfect wedding photo

Question 14

Recent studies show that N-S, NE-SW and NW-SE oriented rows tend to?

Answer 14

Ripen faster and produce better wine quality

Question 15

Other row orientation issues to consider:

Answer 15

1) Cold air and water drainage
2) Field shape
3) Available row length
4) Harvesting methods

Question 16

What is most important criteria for selecting grape varieties to plant?

Answer 16

Varieties in high demand by wineries

Question 17

Grape selection criteria for warm regions like Texas are:

Answer 17

1) Adaptation for warm climates
2) Cold hardiness
3) Late budbreak
4) Loose cluster for air circulation and spray penetration
5) Thicker skinned varieties for disease resistance
6) Varieties in high demand by wineries

Question 18

Grapevine rootstock selection is important to overcome or offset:

Answer 18

1) High pH soils - nutrient limited
2) Diseases
3) Overly fertile soils
4) Saline soils
5) Saline irrigation water

Question 19

Starting your vineyard you must:

Answer 19

1) Know the costs to start a vineyard
2) Drill down on costs - years to payout (3 years to first crop)
3) Know potential sales
4) Know the local risks
5) Know the Texas weather

Question 20

Estimated vineyard cost establishment per acre?

Answer 20

$18,500 to $28,500 excluding land, well, equipment, fencing, tractor, air blast sprayer, herbicide sprayer and mower

Question 21

Tempranillo pros and cons:

Answer 21

Good quality dependable producer but problems with high juice pH

Question 22

Mourvedre’ pros and cons:

Answer 22

Excellent quality, easy to manage in vineyard, late bud break, good demand

Question 23

Petit Syrah:

Answer 23

Excellent quality but tight clustered, need more planted

Question 24

Malbec:

Answer 24

A Bordeaux variety but has shown high quality if crop is limited correctly. Need to thin.

Question 25

Montepulciano:

Answer 25

Good quality cold hardy in winter high plains

Question 26

Sangiovese:

Answer 26

Quality OK but light color, susceptible to spring frost and downy mildew

Question 27

Syrah/Grenache:

Answer 27

Quality can be excellent but site and clone specifics need consideration. Need more in Texas

Question 28

Aglianico:

Answer 28

Quality excellent, handles heat well, maintains pH well, limited name recognition

Question 29

Viognier:

Answer 29

Early budding like Chardonnay, delicate aroma, consumer awareness and acceptance, fast ripening - love hate variety

Question 30

Roussanne:

Answer 30

Great quality, late budding, retains acidity, but tight clusters with potential disease and rot problems

Question 31

Vermentino:

Answer 31

Great quality, loose clusters, dependable producer, potential freeze issues, more vinestock needed

Question 32

Other red varieties of growing interest in Texas:

Answer 32

1) Tannat
2) Touriga Nacional
3) Grenache
4) Barbera
5) Counoise
6) Teroldego
7) Black Spanish

Question 33

Other white varieties of growing interest in Texas:

Answer 33

1) Blanc du Bois
2) Albarino
3) Marsanne
4) Picpoul Blanc
5) Semillon