Unit 2 sida 1-43 Flashcards
Which are the three key factors for a vine to survive and grow in it’s environment?
Sunshine, Water & Carbon dioxide
What is the basic building block of the vine and threw what process is it created?
Glucose (sucrose) –> cellulose - builds the root, trunks, shoots, leaves & fruit. Also tannins, acid and flavourcompounds. Created threw photosynthesis.
Below what temperature does a vine go dormant?
10°C
In warmer conditions does a vine require more nutrients, water & sunlight etc?
Yes, the vines metabolism increases exponentially above 10°C to around 22-25°C. After this point the the metabolisms need surpass the potential of the photosynthesis and growth slows down.
What is the definition of a climate?
The Climate is the annual weather pattern of an area averaged over several decades.
Name all the regional climate (macroclimate) classifications both on temperature and continentality.
Cool Moderate Warm Hot Continental Maritime Mediterranean Tropical
In short sum up the temperature aspects of cool climates.
An average temp. of below 16°C during growing season. Suited for early ripening varities such as Chardonnay, P. Noir. Mostly light bodied wines.
In short sum up the temperature aspects of moderate climates.
An average temp. of 16,5-18,5°C during growing season. Suited for intermidiate-ripening varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese.
In short sum up the temperature aspects of warm climates.
An average temp. of 18,5-21°C during growing season. Suited for heat-loving varieties such as Greanche, Mourvedre and Ruby Cabernet. Even fortified wine, POrt, VdN Muscat.
In short sum up the temperature aspects of hot climates.
An average temp. of 21°C, For example Jerez and also San Joaquin Valley California. Often table-wine production or dried grapes.
Besides temperature what else can categorize a macro climate?
Continentality
What impact does continentality have on the climate?
The level of contrast between the hottest and coldest months mean temperature.
The further away from the coast a vineyard is the larger level of contrast in mean temperature between the years coldest and warmest month.
Explain a maritime climate
Low annual range of temperature moderated by the water retaining heat in autumns and cooling in spring times. Close to larger bodies of water, large lakes or oceans.
Reasonably long grape ripening period. Higher rainfall than continental and mediterranean climates during growing season leading to more cloud covering. Suitable for medium bodied wines with medium alcohol levels.
Explain a mediterranean climate
Low annual range temperature, warm, sunny summers and mild winters. Foremost dry summers and most rainfall during winter. Long grape ripening season, suitable for full-bodied wines, rich in texture and ripe tannins.
Explain a Continental climate
High annual range of temperatures, hot and sunny summers with cold winters. Low annual rainfall. Less risk of rot and problem related to late harvest.
Far away from the equator continental climate combined with more sunlight per day makes viticulture viable even though grape ripening period is shortened by falling temperatures in autumn. Here early ripening varieties are often chosen.
Both warm and cool continental climate give chances to ripen varieties that need long ripening periods. Example Mendoza Malbec/Wachau Smaragd/Alsace VT
Why is tropical environments not suitable for vine growing?
Due to the fact that there is no clear temperature drop the vine never goes dormant. Hence the production rate and lifespan of the vine is shortened.
What is the aspect of a vineyard?
The direction a vineyard slope faces, southern, eastern, etc.
A sloped vineyard has certain advantages compared to a flat, elaborate? Concerning sun exposure.
A sloped vineyard will take in more sunlight from an angle rather than solemnly from an angle of 90 degrees above. Which promotes ripening and flower- and later on fruitsetting.
Is there a difference between enjoying sun in the morning (east exposure) versus sun in the afternoon (western exposure)?
Yes, overnight the earth cools off, debris and particles settle and the early sunshine does not have to penetrate as much mass as afternoon sun. So the sun rays work more efficiently during morning time.
Therefore western exposure face more troubles and even generally colder and wetter weather conditions.
Name two advantages and disadvantages for sloping vineyards.
Advantage:
- Poorer soils, leading to good drainage and limiting vine vigour.
- Circulation of air, due to the incline of the slope. Layers of cold air sink, warm air rises and so on. This helps against frost, rot and helps ripening. Especially in cool climates.
What is the main advantage of vineyards on isolated hills?
No cooler airflows from surrounding mountains, ezpecially good in cooler climates. Example the hill of Corton, Hermitage and Montagne de Reims.
What advantages in cool climates does bodies of water give?
- Reflection of sun rays
- Store heat for longer ripening periods
- Provide water for irrigation(if needed)
- Reduce the risk of ground frost
- Morning mists and development of noble rot
Vegetation also has it’s dis- and advantages, name them.
They reduce erosion by fixating the earth with theri roots, store heat and acts as windbreaks.
They also cool mesoclimates in warm weather and increase humidity. They are also home to birds who can damage crops.
What is canopy management?
How one lets their vines stem/leaf/shoots develop.
What can canopy management effect?
In it’s own microclimate it determines the amount of shadowing from leafwork and stems. How well air passes threw the vines and grape-clusters.
Ultimately resulting in how much sun exposure flowers/grapes will have leading to both temperature cooling, reduce flower initiation and berry set, reduced maximum sugar content (shadowing) and competition between growing shoots and tips as opposed to berries.
How does temperature influence the yield in a vineyard?
- The rate of growth of the vines
- The number of flower clusters produced and their size
- The success of the setting of flowers into berrier
How does temperature influence the quality of a winegrape crop?
- Yields attained
- Accumulation of sugars and reduction of acidity in grapes
- Development of wine aromas
Amerine and Winkler came up with a “Heat Summation System” - explain what that is. (1944, California).
By taking the mean temperature of the month and subtracting 10°c and multiplying by the number of days of the month results in x GDD (Growing degree days)
What flaws do you come across using GDD - for evaluating potential vineyards?
It does not take into account, slope aspect, altitude, day lenght. Also temperature and vine growth is not linear.
At 30°C vine vigour slows down greatly at over 30°C.
How many different categories did Amerine and Winkler come up with and what is there GDD span?
- Below 1370°C
- 1370-1650°C
- 1650-1930°C
- 1930-2200°C
- over 2200°C
What difference does the system developed by “Smart and Dry for Australia” take in to account?
Instead they take the mean temperature of the warmest month with corrections for continentality, sunlight hours, day length(latitude), humidity, rainfall and evaporation.
How has EU chosen to categorize their wine-producing areas?
From A-C with C being divided into
CI and CII
CIIIa and CIIIb
Total of 6 zones.
There is three key factors in EUs categories. As the region gets warmer what happens?
- Minimum abv requirement increase
- Level to which must can be enriched decreases
- De-acidification becomes illegal, and acidification becomes legal
Name four factors why the vine needs water.
- Enable to carry out photosynthesis
- Allow it t access nutrients from the soil
- Ensure vine growth, yield potential and fruit quality
- prevent its cells from collapsing and thus function properly.
Is water-stress good at all during any parts of the maturation process?
Yes, some water-stress during berry maturation increases the quality of the crop.
What can be the disadvantage of water-stress?
It halts vegetative growth and can then cause leaf loss
What factors need consideration concerning annual precipitation?
- Vine densisty: How many vines per hectare leads to how much water is accessible by each vine.
- Soil water holding capacity: The more finely grained (sand/clay) the soil is the more water it can hold. A more gravelly deep soil will drain more of that water away. Higher risks in times of drought.
- When precipitation occurs: For example in mediterranean climates rainfall occur during winter. This water cannot be saved for growing season hence warm/hot climates need more water retaining soils. (Jerez and it’s Albarizza water soaking chalky soil for example).
How does precipitation effect yield and quality?
- Cool the mesoclimate
- Harder to work with machines
- Increased risk for fungal diseases
- Reduce fruitset
- Cause bunch compaction and later on berry splitting
- Dilute the must if rain occurs before harevst