The Vine

Question 1

What is the main species of vine originating in Europe?

Answer 1

Vitus vinifera

Question 2

How many important species of vine are native to North America?

Answer 2

Three

Question 3

Are the species of vine native to North America used to make wine? Why?

Answer 3

No. The grapes are considered to have unattractive flavours.

Question 4

Why are American vines important to the worldwide wine industry?

Answer 4

The vines are resistant to Phylloxera and, therefore, provide a valuable source of rootstocks onto which V. vinifera vines are grafted.

Question 5

How many grape varieties belong to the V. vinifera species?

Answer 5

Thousands

Question 6

What are the principal differences between grape varieties?

Answer 6

Colour, flavour, resistance to certain diseases, budding & ripening times

Question 7

What are the two ways grape varieties are grown or propagated?

Answer 7

Cutting or layering.

Question 8

Describe the process of layering.

Answer 8

Layering takes place in the vineyard. A cane is bent down and a section is buried in the ground. The buried section takes root and is then cut away.

Question 9

What is the predominant method for propagation of varieties? Why?

Answer 9

Cuttings. Eliminates the risk of Phylloxeria.

Question 10

Individual vines of a grape variety are genetically identical. However, it is still possible to observe variations or mutations between them. What are these variations called?

Answer 10

Clones

Question 11

Name some grape varieties that are mutations of the ancient grape variety called Pinot.

Answer 11

Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Meunier.

Question 12

Describe how new grape varieties can be created, other than through random mutation.

Answer 12

New varieties can be created using cross-fertilization. Pollen from the male part of the flower is transferred to the female part of the flower of another vine. The pollinated flower develops into a grape with seeds. The seeds are planted resulting in a new variety, even if the parent vines are from the same grape variety.

Question 13

What is a new variety called that is produced from two parents of the same species? What is an example of a crossing?

Answer 13

A crossing. Pinotage - a crossing between Pinot Noir and Cinsault.

Question 14

A vine whose parents come from two different vine species is called a ____________.

Answer 14

Hybrid

Question 15

Hybrids and American vine crossings are used throughout the world as ____________.

Answer 15

Rootstocks

Question 16

What is Phylloxera?

Answer 16

A native North American insect that attacks the roots of grape vines. American vines are resistant and used throughout the world as rootstock.

Question 17

Describe the use of American rootstock to grow V. vinifera varieties.

Answer 17

V. vinifera is grafted onto the rootstock of American vines and hybrids.

Question 18

What is the most common technique used to join a rootstock to a V. vinifera variety?

Answer 18

Bench grafting. Another form, head grafting, is used between seasons. A bud or cutting of the new variety is grafted onto the trunk.

Question 19

What are the four sections of the vine?

Answer 19

Green parts, one-year old wood, permanent wood, and roots.

Question 20

What is the principal structure of the green parts of the vine?

Answer 20

Shoots. Along the length of the shoot are leaves, buds, tendrils, and flowers or berries.

Question 21

Describe the function of the tendrils on the vine.

Answer 21

Provide supporting structure by gripping the trellis/wire to keep the shoot upright.

Question 22

Where do buds form?

Answer 22

Between the leaf and the shoot.

Question 23

What is the function of the buds?

Answer 23

Each bud contains all the structures that will become shoot, leaves, flowers, and tendrils the following year.