Vineyard Establishment Flashcards
Site Selection
Site selection is critically important as the growing environment will have a huge influence on the style quality and price of the wines.
High volume inexpensive wines may want a flat fertile site in a warm dry location (Chile’s Central Valley): can irrigate, will reliably ripen, dry so no fungal disease reducing costs, flat for mechanization.
Premium or super would have very diff: style vs cost a priority; might look for slopes, or altitude, or breezes, etc.
Key Considerations: Price of land within GI’s (Grand Cru more expensive than regional); location, layout, and topography may have cost implications (frost pocket may be unreliable and slower return or require expensive protection; steep slopes unsuitable for mechanization and high labor costs; irrigation and water source and cost, ease of access to the vineyard and distance from winery, proximity to towns.
Many sites are subject to rules like PDO in EU; investing in expensive PDO land and producing a PGI wine might not make sense.
Soil Preparation
Need to assess and potentially fix are drainage and structure, mineral composition and presence of pests or unwanted plants. In some cases the topography may be modified. Rectifying issues now is easier than after planting.
Structure has sig influence on root penetration, water drainage, nutrient holding capacity, and workability.
Very large rocks may be removed, a plough pan broken down (sub soiling)
If vines or other have been uprooted , need to ensure old roots are removed and burnt (can harbor disease). If weeds are problematic, may use systematic herbicide.
Manuar, compost, fertilizer may be applied to increase nutrients and organic matter. Ploughing incorporates them into the soil.
Now can adjust soil pH. Acidic soils (Beaujolais) lime (a calcium based substance) can be spread and ploughed in.
Costly changes to topography may be necessary like terracing in the Douro
Planting Materials - Grape Varieties
Over 1,000 in commercial use
Number of ways grapes can be more or less suited to their climate
Timing of budding: early budding (Chard) at risk for spring frost compared to late budding like Riesling
Duration of annual life cycle: early ripening (Chard and Pinot) better suited to cool climates to ensure they reach suitable ripeness before cooler wetter weather begins. Late ripening (Mourvedre) are better suited to warm and hot. Early ripening in hot would gain sugar and lose acid too quickly
Drought tolerance: varieties that can withstand water stress (Grenache) are better for dry climates like Southern Rhone, inland Spain, and McLaren Vale
Disease Resistance: Some are less susceptible to fungal disease and so need less montoring / treatment in damp climates. Cab Sauv is less susceptible than Merlot which is useful to have them both in Bordeaux
Winter Hardiness: Vidal and Riesling are tolerant of very cold temps so suitable for Finger Lakes / Ontario.
Vigor: If high vigor varieties like Sauv Blanc are grown on fertile soils with lots of water vigor will need careful management.
Then in additon to climate….
Style of Wine: Characteristics of grape should be consistent with style of wine want
Yield: high yielding varieties may be good for making inexpensive wines
Cost: some varieties are more difficult and therefore more expensive
Law: in many EU countries, legislation restricts varieties. Presecco must be Glera
Availability: risk of spreading pests and disease means strict quarantine procedures are in place when introducing new planting material. In some places large range of material, others not
Market Demand: to be commercially successful a producer must identify the demand and route to market and plant varieties accordingly.
Rootstocks
Vast majority of vines grafted onto rootstocks. Mainly to protect from phylloxera. A range with diff characteristics exist. Many are hybrids of two diff species to take advantage of diff characteristics.
Pests: phylloxera tolerance, root-knot nematodes (Ramsey and Dog Ridge both Vitis champini)
Water: V. rupestris and V. berlandieri hybrids (110R) are highly drought tolerant because they root deeply and quickly. V. riparia based (Riparia Gloire) are tolerant of water logged soil so good for high rainfall and/or water retaining soils. V. berlandieri (1103P) are tolerant of high salinity soils.
Soil pH: can help alleviate problems caused by high or low pH. 99R and 110R, both hybrids of V. rupestris and V. berlandieri are examples of high tolerance to acidic soils. Those based on V. berlandieri like 41B are tolerant of high lime content (high pH).
Vigor: Moderate or enhance vigor. Low vigor can advance ripening and good for cool climates, usually based on V. riparia (420A and 3309C). High vigor like V. rupestris can be useful to boost vigor in dry unfertile conditions. Or for style. High vigor for sparkling grapes.
