The Vine Flashcards
Vitis Vinifera
Main Eurasian species used to make wine for centuries
American Vines
Rarely used for winemaking due to the unattractive flavours the grapes produce. It is resistant to phylloxera unlike Vitis Vinifera and rootstocks are used for this reason with vitis vinifera vines grafted to them
What factors does a grower have to take into consideration when choosing which Grape Varieties to plant?
When selecting a grape variety to grow they will take budding and ripening times into consideration and try to match this to the climate/conditions.
What are Clones?
Although all individual vines are identical it is possible to identify variations through mutations. Some mutations are positive and can enhance flavours in grapes as well as increase resistance to disease. Such mutations have such a significant affect they are treated as new variations such an pinot blanc, Pinot Gris Pinot noir
How are New Varieties made?
Researchers are always looking for new varieties which are responded to different soil types or certain climates. They can be made using cross fertilisation where pollen from the male part of the flower in transferred to the female part. This fertilised flower then turns into a grape with seeds. New variations rarely reach the market due to consumer resistance to unknown varieties
What are Crossings and name two notable new varieties?
This is when a new variety produced from two parents of the same species for example both vitis vinifera. Almost all varieties are a crossing. They are normally reserved for new varieties such as pinotage or thurgau
What are Hybrids
A vine which comes from two different parents. Typically one parent being American. Example Vidal from Canada
What is Bench Grafting ?
An automated process carried out by specialist plant nurseries. Short sections of cane are joined from the rootstock and vitis vinifera vine in a warm environment to encourage them to fuse together.
What is Head Grafting and what are the benefits?
This is when a grape grower with an established vineyard wants to change grape variety between seasons. The existing vine is cut back to the trunk and a bud or cutting is grafted to the existing trunk. This is a quicker method of changing variety should market forces dictate. The vine should be ready to produce the next season and within three years they are ready for wine production
What are Buds ?
Form in between the leaf and shoots and are embryonic. They mature inside their casing during growing season and will form leaves shoots and tendrils next season
Tendrils
Vines are unable to support themselves so they produce tendrils which keep the vine upright. Once they sense a structure such as trellis wire they will wind themselves around tightly
Flowers and berries
Flowers are the vines reproductive organs which have male and female parts. Each flower that is pollinated will become a berry. Bunches are inflorenscences. Vines have evolved so that the sweet grape is eaten by animals who can disperse the seed.
One year old wood
Shoots turn woody during winter when they can no longer grow. Winemakers have to manage this and cut the wood away from the trunk because vines will only produce fruit on shoots which grow from buds grown the year before. A cane is long and has 8-20 buds. Spurs are shorter and only have 2 or 3 buds
Leaves
Leaves are principally for photosynthesis. This is where plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This is what makes the grapes sweet
Permanent wood
Older than one year and limited by pruning. Just trunk and arms only
