The Vine Flashcards
What is the main species of vine originating in Europe?
Vitus vinifera
How many important species of vine are native to North America?
Three
Are the species of vine native to North America used to make wine? Why?
No. The grapes are considered to have unattractive flavours.
Why are American vines important to the worldwide wine industry?
The vines are resistant to Phylloxera and, therefore, provide a valuable source of rootstocks onto which V. vinifera vines are grafted.
How many grape varieties belong to the V. vinifera species?
Thousands
What are the principal differences between grape varieties?
Colour, flavour, resistance to certain diseases, budding & ripening times
What are the two ways grape varieties are grown or propagated?
Cutting or layering.
Describe the process of layering.
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.
What is the predominant method for propagation of varieties? Why?
Cuttings. Eliminates the risk of Phylloxeria.
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?
Clones
Name some grape varieties that are mutations of the ancient grape variety called Pinot.
Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Meunier.
Describe how new grape varieties can be created, other than through random mutation.
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.
What is a new variety called that is produced from two parents of the same species? What is an example of a crossing?
A crossing. Pinotage - a crossing between Pinot Noir and Cinsault.
A vine whose parents come from two different vine species is called a ____________.
Hybrid
Hybrids and American vine crossings are used throughout the world as ____________.
Rootstocks
What is Phylloxera?
A native North American insect that attacks the roots of grape vines. American vines are resistant and used throughout the world as rootstock.
Describe the use of American rootstock to grow V. vinifera varieties.
V. vinifera is grafted onto the rootstock of American vines and hybrids.
What is the most common technique used to join a rootstock to a V. vinifera variety?
Bench grafting. Another form, head grafting, is used between seasons. A bud or cutting of the new variety is grafted onto the trunk.
What are the four sections of the vine?
Green parts, one-year old wood, permanent wood, and roots.
What is the principal structure of the green parts of the vine?
Shoots. Along the length of the shoot are leaves, buds, tendrils, and flowers or berries.
Describe the function of the tendrils on the vine.
Provide supporting structure by gripping the trellis/wire to keep the shoot upright.
Where do buds form?
Between the leaf and the shoot.
What is the function of the buds?
Each bud contains all the structures that will become shoot, leaves, flowers, and tendrils the following year.
