Sustainable Viticulture

Question 1

What are the three themes of sustainable viticulture?

Answer 1

1. economic sustainability
2. social sustainability
3. environmental sustainability

Question 2

What are the 5 aims of sustainable viticulture?

Answer 2

1. promote the natural ecosystems in the vineyards
2. maintain bio diversity
3. manage waste
4. minimize applications of chemicals and energy use
5. reduce the impact of viticulture on the wider environment

Question 3

What are some of the practical techniques for sustainable viticulture?

Answer 3

• grower develops in-depth understanding of the lifecycles of the vine and vineyard pests
• monitor weather forecasts to predict and prevent a pest or disease outbreak before it occurs
• time spraying so that they have the greatest impact so that fewer applications are needed

Question 4

What is integrated pest management?

Answer 4

• builds on part of organic, but prepared to use chemical interventions when necessary
• identifying and monitoring pests
• setting up preventative measures
• setting thresholds for when intervention is needed

Question 5

Four guidelines to IPM?

Answer 5

1. know at what stage in the growing season to look for different pests
2. know what signs to look for
3. identify pests
4. know how to calculate thresholds when treatment is warranted

Question 6

When would a sustainable grape grower intervene and spray?

Answer 6

Only intervenes before they reach an economic threshold (i.e. when the level of damage will exceed the cost of intervention)

Question 7

Why do sustainable viticulture guidelines vary from region to region?

Answer 7

• differing circumstances (e.g. dry vs. wet climates)
• they are more about setting in place a way of working
• regions will have different requirements, challenges, and hazards

Question 8

4 examples of sustainable viticulture guidelines

Answer 8

1. LODI RULES (Lodi, CA)
2. Sustainable Winegrowing (New Zealand)
3. Sustainable Winegrowing South Africa
4. Comite Champagne

Question 9

4 advantages of sustainable viticulture

Answer 9

1. a more thoughtful approach to grape growing, with attention to the economic, social, and environmental impacts of viticulture
2. the development of a scientific understanding of the threats to successful grape growing (pests and diseases) to minimize the number of interventions needed
3. a reduction in the spraying of synthetic and traditional treatments
4. cost saving that has incentivized grape growers to work in a more sustainable way

Question 10

Name 2 disadvantages of sustainable viticulture

Answer 10

1. the term is not protected and therefore can be used to promote win without a clear set of standards
2. the danger that nationwide standards for sustainability can be set too low