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WSET 3 > The Growing Environment > Flashcards

The Growing Environment Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 5 key elements for the vine to strive?

A

Heat, Sunlight, Water, Nutrients, Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

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2
Q

What are 8 factors affecting heat?

A

Latitude, Altitude, Ocean Currents, Fog, Soil, Aspect, Continentality, Diurnal Range.

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3
Q

Why are vineyards closer to the equator warmer than vineyards closer to the pole?

A

Because vineyards closer to the equator receive more direct overhead concentrated sunlight.
Closer to the poles the sunlight hits vineyards on a more curved angle which spread sunrays on a larger surface: thus, it is cooler.

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4
Q

What are 3 wine regions with latitudes far from the equator?

A

Mosel (Germany)
Okanagan (Canada)
Champagne (France)

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5
Q

Why are vineyards in high altitude cooler than vineyards in the valley?

A

Heat rise is corelated to increased pressure in the air.
Because of earth gravity, there is less air pressure in high elevation than at sea level; therefore temperature drops as altitude rises.

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6
Q

List 3 regions where the climate is significantly moderated by altitude

A

Salta (Argentina)
Some Andean vineyards in Elqui, Colchagua and Maipo (Chile)
Ribera del Duero (Spain)
Some vineyards in the Etna DOC (Italy)

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7
Q

Why have ocean currents a moderating effect on costal vineyards?

A

Because they transport large volumes of cold or warm water.
This is enhanced by sea breezes filtering through coastal gaps

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8
Q

Name one warm ocean current and one wine region that benefits from its warming influence.

A

The Gulf Stream warms up the region of Bordeaux
(Located at 45° N - same as Montréal)

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9
Q

Name two cooling ocean currents and two regions that benefit from their cooling influences.

A

The Humboldt current has a cooling effect on the costal wine regions of Chile.
The Benguela current has a cooling effect on the coastal wine regions of South Africa.

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10
Q

Name two regions where fog has a cooling influence.

A

Some AVA’s in California (Napa)
Some Regions in Chile (Casablanca)

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11
Q

What are 3 features in vineyard’s soil that can have a positive impact on ripening in vineyards with cool climates?

A

Dark color soils absorb more heat
Stony & rocky soils absorb and radiate more heat
Free draining top soils warm up faster

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12
Q

What is “aspect” and how is it relevant to grape growing?

A

Aspect is the direction in which a vineyard’s slope is facing. In cool climate, a vineyard facing the equator will receive more sunlight and therefore will be more likely to ripen grapes.

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13
Q

Name 3 cool or moderate climate regions where south-facing aspect and slope is particularly important to successfully ripen grape

A

Mosel & Rheingau (Germany)
Wachau (Austria)
Côte Rôtie & Hermitage (France)

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14
Q

A large temperature range between summer and winter is largely due to….

A

Continentality (in-land locations that do not benefit from the proximity & influences of large bodies of water (Ocean/Sea/Lakes/Rivers) to regulate extreme temperatures bringing freshness during hot months and warmth during cooler months)

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15
Q

Name 3 continental or semi-continental regions?

A

Alsace, Champagne and Burgundy (France)
The Meseta Central (Spain)
Central Otago (New Zealand)
Most vineyards of Germany and Austria

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16
Q

Continentality contributes to large “diurnal range” which is….

A

The difference in temperature between day time and night time.

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17
Q

Why do maritime climates have less diurnal range than continental climates?

A

Because the mass of water nearby regulates temperatures and creates cloud cover, which blocks sunlight during the day and act as insulation blanket at night.

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18
Q

What are some effects that cool nights may have in a warm climate?

A

Cool nights slow ripening and help retain AROMAS and ACIDITY

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19
Q

What are some potential temperature hazards in the spring?

A
  • Spring frost after bud burst can kill young shoots
  • Spring cool temperatures can delay bud burst
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20
Q

What are some potential temperature hazards in the summer?

A
  • Summer heat, if extreme, can cause the vine to shut
    down photosynthesis as a protection mechanism, resulting in unripe grape.
  • Summer low temperatures can lead to unripe grapes
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21
Q

What are some potential temperature hazards in the Winter?

A
  • Winter freeze, if extreme (-20°C) can damage or kill vines.
22
Q

What is a wine region which particularly suffers from winter freezes?

A

The Columbia Valley AVA in Washington State, USA.

23
Q

What are 4 techniques a grower may use to protect a vineyard against spring frosts?

A
  • Heaters
  • Wind Machines - Sprinklers
  • Vineyard Design: Avoid lowest points in the landscape & train vines higher
24
Q

What are some French regions where spring frost is a hazard?

A

Champagne, Chablis and in-land parts of the Loire Valley.

25
Q

Simply put, sunlight is necessary to the vine for…

A
  • flowering and fruit set
  • glucose production for growth and ripening
26
Q

What are 3 factors affecting sunlight?

A

-Latitude
-Seas and Lakes
-Aspect

27
Q

Close to the equator, during the growing season, sunlight is…

A

Focused and more intense than close to the poles, but days are shorter.

28
Q

Close to the poles, during the growing season, sunlight is…

A

Diffused and milder than close to the equator, but days are longer.

29
Q

With regards to sunlight, what are two possible factors associated with seas and lakes

A
  • Cloud cover is more likely to occur
  • When vineyards are on slopes overlooking rivers or lakes, sunlight reflection can foster photosynthesis
30
Q

Why do steep slopes facing the equator are considered most desirable in cool climates?

A

Because the south-facing slope compensates for the curving angle of the earth, thus the vine foliage intercepts sunrays more directly, which helps photosynthesis and ripening.

31
Q

What are some sunlight hazards and how to address them?

A
  • Too low levels of sunlight: lack of ripeness can be managed by proper canopy management
  • Too high levels of sunshine: Sunburned grape skins can be managed by proper canopy management
32
Q

A vine needs water for 2 purposes:

A
  • photosynthesis
  • swelling grapes during ripening
33
Q

The amount of water needed by a vine largely depends on…

A

Temperatures (which cause evaporation of water in the leaves)

34
Q

Water in a vineyard may come from 2 sources:

A

Rainfall & Irrigation

35
Q

What are 3 irrigation techniques?

A
  • Drip Irrigation
  • Sprinklers
  • Flood Irrigation
36
Q

What are some characteristics of Drip Irrigation?

A

Advanced and expensive
Computer controlled and optimum efficiency

37
Q

What are some characteristics of Sprinklers?

A

Widely used and cheaper than Drip Irrigation
Wasteful of water
Create damp conditions (favorable to fungal diseases & rot)

38
Q

What are some characteristics of Flood Irrigation?

A

Cheap but only possible where there are large reserves of water and somewhat flat vineyards down below.

39
Q

Extreme drought can cause…

A

Water stress leading to stoppage of photosynthesis, weakening and death of the vine.

40
Q

Heavy rainfall (and too much water) and can cause…

A
  • Disturbing of flowering and fruit set
  • Overgrowth of the canopy instead of grape
  • Shading of the an overgrown canopy preventing ripening of grapes
  • Waterlogged causing root to die.
  • Grape to over-swell which dilutes sugar and flavors
  • Humidity and fungal diseases
41
Q

What wine region is particularly prone to hail?

A

Mendoza, Argentina

42
Q

What is the average temperature during the growing season of a COOL climate?

A

16.5°C or below

43
Q

What is the average temperature during the growing season of a MODERATE climate?

A

16.5°C - 18.5°C

44
Q

What is the average temperature during the growing season of a WARM climate?

A

18.5°C - 21°C

45
Q

What is the average temperature during the growing season of a HOT climate?

A

21°C and above

46
Q

Describe a Continental Climate:

A
  • High temp. diff. btw winter & summer
  • Short summer hot and dry summer & rapid temp. drop in the fall.
  • Risk of Spring frost.
  • More suitable for late budding /early ripening grapes.
47
Q

Describe a Maritime Climate:

A

Low temp. diff. btw winter & summer
- Long growing season with cool to moderate temp. with rainfall evenly spread throughout the year.
- Too much rain is a hazard in the spring at flowering and fruit set and at harvest because of fungal diseases

48
Q

Give 7 regions with a maritime climate:

A

Bordeaux (France)
Margaret River, Coonawarra, Tasmania (Australia)
Most of New Zealand
Rias Baixas (Spain) & Vinho Verde (Portugal)
Pays Nantais, western Loire (France)

49
Q

Describe a Mediterranean Climate:

A
  • Low temp. diff. btw winter & summer
  • Long growing season with warm and dry temp.
  • Easy to harvest a crop of healthy ripe grape with potential for higher alcohol and riper tannins than in cool or moderate wet climates.
50
Q

Name 4 Non-Mediterranean regions that have a Mediterranean climate

A

The coastal regions of:
- California
- Chile
- South Africa
- Eastern Australia

51
Q

What are the key components of a vineyard soil?

A
  • Stone, sand and clay (in various proportions)
  • Humus (rich in nutrients and high water retention)
  • Water
52
Q

What are the most important nutrients in a vineyard’s soil?

A

Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Potassium

WSET 3 (31 decks)

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