Standard Natural Factors & Growing Environment

Question 1

What effects does a cool climate have on sparkling wine grapes?

Answer 1

• Vines struggle to ripen
• Creates just-ripe fruit flavours
• Grapes retain high acidity
• Slow sugar accumulation gives low potential alcohol of 9-11%. (Second fermentation adds another 1-2%)

Question 2

What benefits do higher yields have in cooler/marginal climates?

Answer 2

• Insures against crop loss from weather pressure and disease
• Encourages high acidity, low potential alcohol and delicate flavour
• Can maximise vineyard output

Question 3

What diseases and problems is Chardonnay prone to?

Answer 3

• Early budding - vulnerable to spring frost
• Powdery mildew
• Grapevine yellows
• Botrytis in wet periods before harvest
• Coulure and millerandage

Question 4

What makes Chardonnay an attractive option for sparkling winemakers?

Answer 4

• Can achieve high yields without loss in quality
• Subtle Apple and citrus notes complement autolysis
• More disease resistant than Pinot Noir
• Early ripening is beneficial in cool climates
• Retains high acidity and low alcohol

Question 5

What diseases and problems is Pinot Noir susceptible to?

Answer 5

• Early budding - vulnerable to spring frost
• Loss of quality as yields rise
• Thin skinned so disease prone. Powdery mildew especially
• Downy mildew, fan leaf, leaf roll, botrytis

Question 6

Which factors in the grape influence the final style of wine?

Answer 6

• Aroma intensity. Aromatic vs neutral
• Ability to retain acidity during ripening
• How the base wine responds to autolysis e.g. Chardonnay becomes creamy, Xarel-Lo develops smoky, toasty notes

Question 7

What are the benefits of early harvesting?

Answer 7

• Achieves desirable high acidity and low alcohol
• Minimises risk of autumn rain and fungal disease
• Helps producers who also make still wine to manage workload

Question 8

What are the advantages of hand harvesting?

Answer 8

• Permits sorting during and after picking - diseased and damaged grapes can be removed
• Minimises crushing and splitting and therefore oxidation
• Good for whole bunch pressing
• Marketing

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of hand harvesting?

Answer 9

• Expensive
• Slow
• Requires skilled labour
• Can’t be done at night

Question 10

What are the advantages of machine harvesting?

Answer 10

• Fast
• Cheap
• Can be done at night - the cooler the grapes the less oxidation
• Less skilled labour required

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of machine harvesting?

Answer 11

• Can rupture grape skins, causing phenolic extraction and oxidation
• Can’t be used on steep land, only flat
• Less able to sort diseased and damaged fruit

Question 12

Why is clean, healthy fruit a priority for sparkling winemakers?

Answer 12

1. Off flavours from diseased fruit can be enhanced by the effervescence of the finished wine.
2. Laccase (enzyme) released by botrytised grapes can cause serious oxidation

Question 13

What types of land may grapes for inexpensive sparkling wines be grown on?

Answer 13

• Cheaper land that is easier to cultivate; flat fertile plains
• Often land that is unsuitable for still wine grapes (grapes struggle to ripen)