The Vine Flashcards
What are the two most important vine species?
• Vitis vinifera (produces nearly all the grapes used in winemaking)
• American vines (resistant to phylloxera, a pest that attacks the roots)
What are the two techniques to grow vines?
• Cutting - a section of a vine shoot is planted which then grows a new plant.
Note, can’t be done using seeds. Mostly used in nurseries.
• Layering - takes place in the vineyard. A cane is bent down and a section of it is buried. The cane tip points upward out of the ground. The buried section grows roots and then the cane linking to the original plant is cut.
What is is called when you create a new grape variety?
Cross-fertilization. The male part of one vine is transferred to the female part of another vine. The pollinated flower will grow a grape with seeds. The seed then gets planted.
Name the four GREEN parts of a plant?
• Buds - contains the structures that will become the shoot, leaves, flowers and tendrils the next year.
• Tendrils - vines use the to grip onto something to stay upright.
• Leaves - the engine. Responsible for photosynthesis.
• Flowers & berries - the reproductive organs. Have male and female parts. A bunch is called inflorescences.
Explain one year old wood versus permanent wood?
• One year old wood - shoots turn woody during winter and the buds they grew will be new shoots next year. The one year old wood will become a cane or spur.
• Permanent wood - more than one year old wood. The trunk and the arms (if any)
What is a crossing?
A new variety is produced from the same species. Examples are Müller Thurgau (Riesling x Madeline Royale), Pinotage ( Pinot Noir x Cinsault) and an old example is Cabernet Sauvignon (Cab Franc x Sauvignon Blanc)
What is a hybrid?
A vine whose parents come from two different vine species. Typically has one American parent present. Rarely used for winemaking (except Vidal). Has a crucial role as rootstocks.
What is phylloxera?
A pest native to North America. A louse that attacks the roots. American vines clogs the mouth of the louse with sticky sap. (Only places in the world free from phylloxera is South Australia, Chile, parts of Argentina)
What is the best way of controlling phylloxera?
By grating vitis vinifera onto an American vine.
The most popular technique of grafting is bench grafting. What is bench grafting?
• Short sections of cane of Vitis vinifera and the rootstock variety are joined together by machine.
• An automated process carried out by specialist plant nurseries.
What is head grafting?
• Used if a grape grower wants to switch varieties between seasons
• The existing vine is cut back to its trunk and a bud or cutting of the new variety is grafted onto the trunk. Takes 3 years to grow a commercial crop.
