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WSET 3 - Fall 2023 > The Growing Environment > Flashcards

The Growing Environment Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the five things a vine need ?

A

Heat
- sun
- reflected from soil

Sunlight
- sun,
- reflected from water

Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- atmosphere
-
Water
- rainfall
- irrigation
- water stored in soil

Nutrients
- soil particules
- humus
- fertiliser

  • vines uses sunlight to combien water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and odygen, process known as photosynthesis

The variations of these factors influence all aspects of annual growth, and affect quality and quantity of fruits.

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2
Q

What is the minimum temperature for a vine to grow ?

A

10°

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3
Q

Why heat is important for the vine ?

A

to grow, to successfuly flower, set and ripe.

The amount of heat in the growing season is the defining factor that determines which grape varieties can be grown where

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4
Q

What are the factors affecting heat ?

A
  1. Latitude (regional)
  2. Altitude (regional
  3. Ocean Currents, and large lakes (regional and site)
  4. Fog (site)
  5. Soil (site)
  6. Aspect (site)
  7. Continentality (regional)
  8. Diurnal range (regional)
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5
Q

What are the temperature hazards ?

A
  1. Winter
  2. Spring frosts
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6
Q

Exc

Explain Latitude and its influence on heat

A

Most vineyards are situated between latitudes of 30° and 50° North and South of the Equator

Closer to Equator is to hot and closer to the poles, too cold.

Other factors thant latitude can make are outside these limits suitable

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7
Q

Explain altitude and its influence on heat

A
  • As altitude increases , temperature drop
  • Regions at high altitude are colder and are suitable for different type of vines
  • You could grow vine closer to the equator with altitude
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8
Q

Explain ocean currents and their effects on heat

A

Major ocean currents transport large volumes or warm or cold water at the surface, leading to localised warming or cooling effect

Ex: Benguela Current of South Africa cool the region, and Gulf Stream warms north-west europe, which would be to hot or cold for grapegrowing otherwise

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9
Q

Explain Fog and its effect on heat

A

Fog can help cool area that may otherwise struggle to porude high-quality grape

ex. Someareas in California, Casablanca valley in chili

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10
Q

Explain soil and its effect on heat

A

Soils dark in colour or high stone and rock content absorb and reradiate more of the sun’s heat than lighter coloured soils.

This reradiated warmth can be critical for ripening fruit in cool climates.

Soils with high water content require more energy to warm and can delay budburst

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11
Q

Explain Aspect and its influence on heat

A

Aspect is the direction in which a slope faces

The vineyards with an aspect facing equator receive the most heat
- North Hemisphere - facing south
- South Hemisphere - facing north

Steeper slopes benefit more from thi effect

Particularly important in cool climate region when extra warmth can make the difference in ripening. Ex. Mosel, Germany

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12
Q

Explain Continentality and its effect on heat

A

- Continentality in the temperature difference between the coldest and hottest months

- Determines the lenght of the growing season, the total amount of heat available to the vine. This in turn influence the choice of grape varieties

high continentality = large difference
low continentality = less variation

Region close to **large body of water **are often moderated by the water warming and cooling effect, leading to low continentality.

Region far inland see more extremes and have a** high continentality**

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13
Q

Explain Diurnal range and its effect on heat

A
  • Difference between daytime and night-time temperatures
  • Cool nights help slow the loss of aromas and acidiity during ripening
  • Warm nights accelarte ripening

ex: In hot climate, a large diurnal range can produce fresher and more aromatic wine

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14
Q

What can influence the diurnal range ?

A

Diurnal range is affected by :
- Moderating effect of the seas and lakes (reduction of the diurnal range)
- Level of could cover, generally near seas and lake.

  • On clear nights, the temperature drop more quickly without insulating blanket of clouds (increasing range)
  • On cloudy day, the temperature rise slowly when sunlight cannot heat the ground (reducing range)
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15
Q

Explain the influence of winter on grapegrowing

A
  • Vines can be damaged or even killed from winter freeze
  • The part the most at risk is the graft
  • ## If the winter is mild or not present, the vine will not have a dormant period and may produce more than one crop each year. Its life will be shortened and the quality will suffer. The pests will also survive.
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16
Q

At which temperature a vine can be seriously damaged in the winter?

A

-20°

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17
Q

What is the process for protecting the graft during winter frosts?

A

Earthing up

Earth is used to cover up and protect the graft

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18
Q

Explain the influence of spring frosts on grapegrowing

A
  • Occurs when cold air below 0° collects at ground level and freeze water vapour that as settled of the ground or vine.
  • Can kill newly burst buds or young shoots
  • The damage on yields can be enormous
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19
Q

What are the four main forms of protection again spring frosts ?

A
  1. Heaters
  2. Wind Machines
  3. Sprinklers
  4. Thoughtful vineyard design
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20
Q

Explain how heater protects from spring frosts

A
  • Places throughout vinyeards if frost is forecast.
  • Heat they generate creates movement in the air preventing cold air from settling and causing frost
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21
Q

Explain how wind machines protect from spring frosts

A
  • Look like a large fan that draws warm air from above to keep the temperature at gount level above freezing
  • Some wind machines incorporate heaters.
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22
Q

Explain how sprinklers protect from spring frosts

A

-Sprinklers spray water onto the vines.
- As the water freezes, it releases some heat into the plant tissus protecting the buds and shoots

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23
Q

Explain how thoughtful vineyard design protects from spring frosts

A

Minimise the risk of frosts
- plant vineyards on slopes to avoid depressions in which cold air can collect
- vineyards planted on the middle of the slopes are noticeably less at risk from frost damage than lower areas
- Vines are trained high to avoid the worst of cold air

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24
Q

Explain how the temperature of the growing season has an effect on grapegrowing

A

Cold temperature
- In the spring, can delay budburst
- Shortens the growing season and may have an impact on ripeness
- Flowering and fruit set is disrupted by cold resulting smaller crop

Very hot temperature
- For a prolonged period of extreme heat, vine will slow and stop, even with sufficient water. Prevent grapes to ripen properly.
- hot and dry conditions increase the risk of fire. Vineyards can be damaged, or smoke, during ripening, cangive smoky or plastic-like aromas to the wine.
- There are techniques to minimise impact of smoke-tainted fruit, but impossible to eliminate completely

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25
Q

Why sunlight is important for the vine ?

A
  • The more ligth there is, the more a vine will photosynthesise and the greater the amount of glucose produced for growth and ripening grapes.
  • Flowering and fruist set also benefit greatly from plenty of sunlight
  • Do not need constant bright sunshine but intense cloudy or foggy conditions lead to reduction and photosynthesis
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26
Q

What are the factors affecting sunlight

A
  • Latitude
  • Seas and lakes
  • Aspect
27
Q

Explain the effect of latitude on Sunlight

A

Day lenght during the summer growing season is longer the further the vineyard is from the equator

Extra sunlight is important , ex, helps Riesling ripen in Germany

28
Q

Explain the effect of Seas and Lakes on Sunlight

A
  • the proximity to seas and lakes mean more cloud cover, and less sunlight
  • Vineyards situated above ribers or lakes can benefit from sunlight reflected from the surface of the water
29
Q

Explain the effect of aspect on sunlight

A
  • A slope’s aspect affects the amount of sunlight it receives
  • Steeper slopes benefit more from this effect
  • Vineyards that face the equator receive more sunlight
  • The fartest your are from equator, the more you will need to maximize sunlight with a favourable aspect.
30
Q

What are the Sunlight Hazards ?

A
  • Low light level from cloudy conditions, has an impact on flowering, fruitset, and photosynthesis
  • Intensely direct sunlight can cause sunbrun, leading to bitter flavours in the grape skins.
31
Q

How can you protect the vine from sunlight hazards ?

A
  • Manage the leaves of the vine (canopy management) to maximise or reduce sunlight
32
Q

Why is water important for the vine ?

A

The vine needs water for photosynthesis and to swell its grapes during ripening.

33
Q

Explain how to vine manages water

A
  • Accesses water through its roots and draws the water up to its leaves
  • The amount of water a vine needs is determined by the tempertaure
  • Water is lost via evaporation from the leaves, know as transpiration.
  • The warmer the temperature , the faster the transpiration, the more water it needs from the soil
34
Q

How limiting the supply of water is beneficial for the vine?

A
  • shortage of water means that the vine concentrates on grape ripening rather than further shoot growth
  • Advantage of reducing the impact of shadeing becausethe canopy does not grow large
  • You need to have a sufficient canopy of leaves before limiting supply
35
Q

What are the main source of water in grapegrowing

A

Rainfall and irrigation

36
Q

Name and explain the main irrigation techniques

A

Drip irrigation
- Most common
- Each vine has its own dripper that can be computer controlled
- Optimum amount of water

Sprinklers
- A pump that water and shower over the vines
- Waste a lot of water
- Create , like rain, damp conditions in vineyards increasing risk of disease
- If correctly design, can be used for frost protection

Flood irrigation
- Very cheap
- Only possible in flat or very gently sloping vineyards, that have access to large quantities of water

37
Q

What are the water Hazards ?

A

Drought
Too much water
Hail

38
Q

Explain the impact of drought on grapegrowing

A
  • Vine can **temporarily stop transpiration **in order to preserve its ressources
  • During prolonged drought, vines suffer from water stress, photosynthesis stops, leaves wilt and grape fails to ripen.
  • Can weaken and kill a vine
39
Q

Explain the impact of too much water on grapegrowing

A
  • Vine will continue to grow shoots and leaves, leaving less sugar for grapes
  • Extra shoots and leaves increase the shading wich restricts ripening
  • waterlogged soil can cause the roots to die
40
Q

How can you avoid watterlogging for too much water ?

A

By planting vine on a slope
On flat site, by installing drainage pipes to aide the flow of water away from the roots

41
Q

Explain the impact of rainfall and too much water on grapegrowing ?

A
  • timing and amount of rainfall is important
  • Heavy rainfall can disrupt flowering and fruit set, reducing number of grapes
  • damp conditions that follow rainfall encourage the spread of fungal diseases
  • Heavy rain before harvest can cause berries to swell excesively and dilute falvours, or split and attract fungal diseases.
42
Q

Explain the impact of Hail on grapegrowing

A
  • Can damage grapes and vine itself, in worst case, entire crops
  • Hail storms tend to be very localised
43
Q

How can you manage the impact of hail on crops ?

A
  • Protect the vines by netting. Very costly
  • To reduce risk of losing the whole crop, you can own several vineyard sites in different locations
44
Q

Why is the soil important for the vine ?

A

Soil supplies the vine with water and nutrients.

45
Q

Explain the soil composition

A
  • Soiil sits above the underlying bedrock,
  • From a few centimeters to several metres deep
  • Made up of tiny particles of various sizes, largers stones or rocks, and humus
46
Q

What is Humus ?

A

Organic matter, such as decomposing plants, animal materials, that are rich in plant nutrients and have excellent water retaining properties

47
Q

What are stones, sand and clay ?

A
  • Comes from underlying rock or later deposits laid on top of the rock
  • The size of the soil particles isi crucial
  • Stones are the largest soil particles and are not always in vineyard. On the surface, can help heat up a vineyard
  • The rest of the soil is made up of tiny particles, most importantly sand (largest) or clay (smallest)
48
Q

How is the water stored in the soil ?

A

By binding to clay particles or humus

49
Q

How the amount of clay, sand and stone affect water storage ?

A

Too much clay
- Can easily become waterlogged and kill vine’s roots

To much sand particles and stones
- do not hold water well and facilitate water drainage, leading to insufficient water

50
Q

What would be the best soil?

A

a made up mixture of sand and clay particles know as loam.

would have a good drainage , but retain enough water for vine growth

Soils’ suitability depends on climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall

51
Q

What is the ideal supply of water during a typical season ?

A
  • Good supply in the early season to support strong shoot and leaf growth
  • Followed by mild water stress after véraison to promote grape ripening
52
Q

What are the most important nutrients for a vine?

A

Nitrogen, Phorsphorus and Potassium

They are naturally occuring in the soil and taken up by the roots

53
Q

Explain the impact of level of nutrients on the vine

A

if levels are too high
- vine grows vigorously and produce dense leafy canopy that shades too much.

Lack of nutrients
- Chlorosis : Leaves trun yellow and the ability to photosynthesis is restricted.
- Grapes struggle to ripen properly and quality and quatity is reduced.

54
Q

How can grapegrowers compensate for lack of nutrients?

A

The soil become depleted over times and nutrients need to be replaced with natural or chemical fertilisers

55
Q

What is climate ?

A
  • Defined as the annual pattern of temperature, sunlight and rainfall averaged out over several years.
  • Does not change from one year to the next, though it can alter over a period of deades.
  • Climate change brings a sustained increase in average air and ocean temperature, climate variability and increased incidence of extreme events.
56
Q

What is a region’s weather ?

A

Annual variation that happens relative to the climatic average.

Some regions experience Greater variations : Bordeaux - wet vintage of 2013 vs warm and dry vintage of 2015
Or less : Central Valley in California

57
Q

How temperature is defined ?

A

Using the average temperature during the growing season

April - October - Northern Hemisphere
October - April - Southern Hemisphere

58
Q

Describe the 4 temperature terms used by WSET

A

Cool climates : Average growing season temperature of 16.5° or below

Moderate Climates : Average growing season temperature of 16.5° to 18.5°

Warm Climates : Average growing season temperature of 18.5° to 21°

Hot climates : Average growing season temperature in excess of 21°

59
Q

What does the three climate categories take into account ?

A
  1. Temperature categories
  2. Region continentality
  3. Sunlight
  4. Rainfall
60
Q

Name the three climte categories

A
  1. Continental Climate
  2. Maritime Climate
  3. Mediterranean Climate
61
Q

**

Describe continental climate

A
  • Greatest difference in temperature between the hottest and coldest months (high continentality)
  • Short summers with large, rapid temperature drop in autumn.
  • Dry summers, and if
  • the temperature is high, irrigation can be necessary
62
Q

What particularity should the grape varieties have in Cool Continental Climates ?

A
  • Cool continental climates are at risk from spring frost and low temperatures throughout the growing season. Therefore, you should chose a variety that bud late and ripen early
63
Q

Describe Maritime Climate

A
  • Cool to moderate temperatures and a low annual differnce between the hottest and coldest months (low continentality)
  • Rainfall tends to be evenly spread throughout the year. However, in spring and summer, can disturb flowering, fruit set and helath of the grapes at harvest
  • Grapes can ripen far into the autumn
64
Q

Describe Mediterranean Climate

A
  • Low temperature difference between hottest and coldest months (low continentality)
  • Warm and dry summer
  • Extra warmth and sunlight compared to maritime climate, leading to wine with fuller bodied, riper tannins, higher alcohol and lower acidity
  • Lower rainfall have a positive effect on helath but can lead to drought

WSET 3 - Fall 2023 (42 decks)

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