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Viticulture/Vinification > The Growing Environment > Flashcards

The Growing Environment Flashcards

1
Q

What are the essential elements that a vine needs from its environment? Why?

A

Sunlight, water, and CO2 - for photosynthesis. Plus small amounts of nutrients

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2
Q

How does photosynthesis work?

A

Sunlight gives energy which enables chlorophyll in the leaves to combine water and CO2 to create sucrose. Sucrose is transformed to fructose and glucose in the vine

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3
Q

Why is glucose important?

A

Vine building block. Glucose molecules combine to make larger carbohydrates like cellulose (builds roots, trunk, shoots, leaves, fruit). Also is the base for tannins, acidity, flavor molecules.

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4
Q

Below what temperature is the vine dormant?

A

10 degrees C

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5
Q

At what temperatures is a vine working?

A

Above 10 C and below 25 degrees C when its metabolism increases and it needs more sugars. (Warmer climate = needs more sun, water, CO2)

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6
Q

When does vine growth peak?

A

22-25C. Metabolic needs increase faster than ability to photosynthesize sugar. Significantly slows growth at 30

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7
Q

What is climate?

A

The annual weather pattern of an area over several decades

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8
Q

What is a cool temperature climate?

A

Av mean temp during growing season (April-Oct or Oct-April) of below 16C

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9
Q

What is the temp of a moderate climate? Examples?

A

Av mean temp 16.5 to 18.5C

Bordeaux, Rioja, Piedmont, N Rhône

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10
Q

What is the temp of a warm climate?

A

Av mean temp = 18.5-21

Douro, S Rhône

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11
Q

What is the temp of a hot region?

A

Over 21C

Jerez, central Cali

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12
Q

What is continentality

A

The difference between the average mean temperature in hottest and coldest month. Large =continental, small =maritime

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13
Q

What characterizes a maritime climate?

A

Low annual temp range (warm summer mild winter) and high rainfall, much during growing season. Long growing season with moderate temps. Often near large water. Usually more cloud cover. Bordeaux, Rias Baixas

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14
Q

What characterizes a Mediterranean climate

A

Low annual temperature range but rain falls mostly during the winter. Usually dry and sunny during growing season. Fuller bodied wines generally.

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15
Q

What characterizes a continental climate

A

Wide annual temperature range. Short growing season usually, but temps could get very hot. Less sunlight during autumn. Tend to be drier. Could be cool or warm region.

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16
Q

What characterizes a tropical climate

A

Minimal temp variation. Vines have no time to rest. Not great for wine.

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17
Q

Mesoclimate v macro climate v microclimate

A 
Macro = regional
Meso = site
Micro = canopy (row or single vine)
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18
Q

What is aspect?

A

The direction a vineyard slope faces. Affects sunlight exposure

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19
Q

How does slope affect sunlight intensity

A

Sunlight intensity reduces as the slope increases. The available sunlight is divided out over a larger area of land.

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20
Q

In what aspect direction does a slope get the most sunlight?

A

The one that faces the sun during most of the day (south facing in the northern hemisphere and north facing in the south). Towards the equator!

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21
Q

What direction do many of the best vineyard sites face and why?

A

East facing. The suns rays are more direct/scattered less in the morning because the earth cooled overnight and the dust is settled. West facing have scattered sun and damper cooler conditions

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22
Q

Besides sunlight, why are sloping vineyards good?

A

Air movement: cold air settles at the bottom which makes a warm thermal layer mid slope. Air movement deters frost and helps ripening
Soils tend to be poorer, coarse, well drained

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23
Q

Why van slopes be bad?

A

Erosion

Higher costs

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24
Q

Are isolated hills good or bad? Why?

A

Good! No big currents of cold air from bigger hills

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25
Q

Why are bodies of water good in cooler climate? Why are they bad?

A 
Good:
Reflect rays
Store heat
Source of water
Reduce frost risk
Mists for noble rot
Bad:
Humidity = fungal diseases
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26
Q

Advantages/disadvantages of forests

A

Good:
Windbreaks
Store heat
Reduce erosion

Bad
Cool mesoclimate in warm weather
Increase humidity
Birds

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27
Q

What does a thick canopy do in a cool climate?

A

Retain acid (cool grapes)
reduce flowering and berry set
Reduce sugar accumulation
Compete for energy

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28
Q

How does temperature affect yield and quality?

A

Yield:
Vine vigor
Number of flower clusters and size
Fruit set success

Quality:
Yield
Accumulation of sugar and reduction to acidity
Development of aromas

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29
Q

What temperatures will injure vines?

A

Freeze begins at -15, is serious at -20, and is fatal at -25

If the temp falls below -20 once every 20 years no good for wines. Mean temp for coldest month should be above -1

30
Q

What is the most commonly used heat summation system?

A

Amerine and Winkler (1944)

31
Q

How is heat summation calculated?

A

Measure mean temperature for the month, subtract 10, and multiple by the number of days in the month. Total these numbers for the growing season months to get growing degree days.

32
Q

What is Category I?

A

Below 1370 GDD (Chablis, Mosel)

33
Q

What is Cat II

A

1370 - 1650 (Napa, BDX)

34
Q

CatIII?

A

1650-1930 (Barossa, Stlenbosch)

35
Q

CatIV?

A

Fortified

36
Q

CatV?

A

Bulk and drying grapes

37
Q

What limits the heat summation system?

A

It only relates to temperature. Variability, sunlight, and humidity do not necessarily correlate to heat.

38
Q

What is Smart and Dry?

A

A climactic index used in Australia that uses the mean temperature of the warmest month and corrects for contknentality, day length, rainfall, etc

39
Q

How does the EU classify climate?

A

Zones A through C according to climate with legislation for each (deacidification and chapitalisation). Minimum potential alcohol, level of must enrichment, and acid adjustments all change.

40
Q

Zone A regions and legislation

A

Germany except Baden and UK
Min natural alcohol: 8%
Max enrichment: 3% (4.5% in really bad years)
Max total alcohol from enrichment: 11.5% (12% reds)
Acid: -1 to 0 g/L

41
Q

Zone B regions legislation (natural alcohol/max enrichment/total alcohol from enrichment/acid adjustment tartaric)

A 
Baden, Loire, Champagne, Alsace, Austria
8%
2%
12%, 12.5 reds
-1 to 0gL
42
Q

Zone CI regions legislation (natural alcohol/max enrichment/total alcohol from enrichment/acid adjustment tartaric)

A 
BDX, SW France, Rhône, Spain, Hungary, Trentino-Alto Adige
9%
1.5%
12.5%
-1 to 2.5
43
Q

Zone CII regions legislation (natural alcohol/max enrichment/total alcohol from enrichment/acid adjustment tartaric)

A 
Languedoc, Provence, Northern Spain (not Atlantic) Italy 
9
1.5
13
-1 to 2.5
44
Q

Zone CIIIa regions legislation (natural alcohol/max enrichment/total alcohol from enrichment/acid adjustment tartaric)

A 
Bulgaria and Greece
9
1.5
13.5
-1 to 2.5
45
Q

Zone CIIIb regions legislation (natural alcohol/max enrichment/total alcohol from enrichment/acid adjustment tartaric)

A 
Portugal
Southern Spain
Calabria Puglia, parts of Greece, islands
9
1.5
13.5
0 to 2.5
46
Q

Why does a vine need water?

A

Photosynthesis
Access nutrients from soil
Ensure vine growth and yield and fruit
Prevent cells from collapsing

47
Q

What happens with too much water stress?

A

Halts vegetative growth and loses leaves

48
Q

How much water does a vine need in general?

A

Cooler: 500mm/yr
Warmer: 750mm/yr

49
Q

What affects the amount of water a vine needs?

A

Vine density (1mm rainfall on 1 sq meter = 1 liter of rain) - lower density=more rain for the vine
Soil water retention capacity
When the rain falls

50
Q

What does excess rain do?

A 
Cool mesoclimate
Difficult for machinery
Increase fungal disease
Reduce fruit set
Bunch compaction and Berry splitting 
Dilute must during harvest
51
Q

When is rainfall the worst?

A

Autumn (harvest). Winter doesn’t affect growth much unless it is stored. Moderate in spring can grow shoots. Summer can be good but watch out for diseases.

52
Q

How can a vintner in a cooler climate compensate for slower photosynthesis?

A

Increase the leaf area

53
Q

Why remove leaves before harvest?

A

Ensure full ripening without risk of sunburn. Also can reduce pyrazines

54
Q

How does day length affect the vine?

A

It doesn’t affect the developmental stages but it does affect capacity for photosynthesis (higher latitude = longer days in summer)

55
Q

How does sunshine intensity affect yield and quality?

A

Heat accumulation, bud viability and maturation/initiation of flowers, Berries, cane, and rate of photosynthesis

56
Q

How does sunlight relate to sugar in grapes?

A

Amount of photosynthesis balanced with grape’s other metabolic needs. Hot and cloudy could equal low potential sugar. Cool and sunny could equal high sugar

57
Q

How much sunshine does Vitis vinifera need to produce ripe fruit?

A

1250 hours

Pollution decreases available sunshine up to 10%!

58
Q

How do ocean currents affect climate?

A

Cooling currents - Pacific and Humboldt off of Chile, mists and fogs
Gulf Stream warms UK

59
Q

How much does annual temperature decrease according to elevation?

A

Mean annual temperature decreases by .8C with every 100m rise.

60
Q

How do mountains affect regions?

A

Protect from wind and rain

Altitude increases cooling winds

61
Q

What does soil compaction do?

A

Poor rain infiltration (pooling and erosion)

Poor soil structure (drainage, aeration, root penetration

62
Q

What micronutrients are present in soil?

A

Boron, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, zinc, cobalt, chlorine, silicon

63
Q

What are the major nutrients in soil?

A

Nitrogen: very important for plant growth. Component of chlorophyll, amino acids, nucleic acids. Stimulates photosynthesis and drives biochemical reactions

Phosphorus: key to energy fixation, encourages root growth and ripening

Potassium: regulates flow of water and sugar in plant (ripening)

Calcium: regulates cell acidity and cell walls

Sulfur: essential part of amino acids and enzymes

Magnesium: essential component of chlorophyll (regulates acidity and sugar metabolism, ripening)

64
Q

What element is present in fertile soils? What effect does this have?

A

Nitrogen

Encourages vigorous shoot growth and puts demands on sugars produced by photosynthesis aka less sugar for grape

65
Q

What planting density and soil type makes the best wine?

A

Densely planted small vines in infertile soils

66
Q

How to manage high soil fertility

A

Lower planting density and bigger vines which spreads out the nutrients

67
Q

What does the pH scale measure

A

The concentration of hydrogen ions in soil solution

68
Q

What are the values for acidic soil?

A

PH 4-6.9

69
Q

What are the values for basic soil?

A

7.1 to 8.5

70
Q

What is the lowest soil pH tolerable by vines

A

5 bc below this aluminum becomes available and poisons the plant

71
Q

What effect does pH have on nutrient availability?

A

Higher pH can inhibit uptake of iron and micronutrients increasing chlorosis

Viticulture/Vinification (7 decks)

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