VINEYARD MANAGEMENT Flashcards
What 5 things does a vine need to grow?
Sunlight, heat, water, nutrients, CO2
What is a clone?
A clone is a cutting of a variety and planting it in a different area. Over time there will be subtle DNA differences
What is a crossing? What are examples?
A crossing is when you fertilize 2 of the same vine species together (e.g. Vitis Vinifera X Vitis Vinifera)
Examples include Müller Thurgau (Riesling x Madeleine Royale) and Pinotage (Pinot Noir x Cinsault)
What is a hybrid? What’s an example?
A hybrid is when you fertilize 2 different species of vines together, such as a Vitis Vinifera x American rootstock. An example is Vidal.
How is heat, sunlight, water, CO2 and nutrients essential? What do they do for the vine?
Heat promotes growth and survival. Sunlight combines CO2 and water to make Glucose and Oxygen (photosynthesis). Glucose is combined with nutrients from the soil to promote growth.
What are the 6 steps in a vines lifecycle?
- Budburst
- Early shoot and lead growth
3.Flowering & Fruit Set - Verasion
- Harvest
- Winter Dormancy
What is coulure? What happens and why does it happen?
Coulure is when more flowers than regular fail to fertilize. This greatly affects the yield and is due to bad weather conditions in the spring such as heavy rain or wind.
What is Millerandage? What happens?
Millerandage is when grapes form without seeds and remain small. This reduces the yield and can take energy away from other grapes.
When does budburst occur? At what temperature
In the springtime and when the daily temperature is above 10 degrees
Explain budburst. What do buds contain?
When the buds grow into new shoots during the springtime. The buds carry the genetic makeup of the grape varietal.
Explain early shoot and leaf growth.
Early shoot and leaf growth begins in the Spring. Vines store carbohydrates throughout the winter and use this energy to grow leaves that will support photosynthesis.
What are inflorescences?
Inflorescences are tiny round green parts of the vine that grow into flowers.
What is Verasion? When does it occur?
Verasion is when the grapes begin to change colour and ripen. This occurs near the end of the summer. During Verasion sugars rise and acids drop.
What conditions are ideal for harvest? Why?
Harvest conditions should be dry. Excess rain during harvest can cause grapes to swell and sugars to dilute. Increased risk of rot!
What is the number 1 challenge in the spring? In what climates especially?
The number 1 challenge is frost, especially in cool continental climates.
What is canopy management?
Canopy management refers to dealing with the green parts of the vine. Cutting leaves to provide the grape more energy, or leaving them to protect the grapes from sun burns or overly ripening.
What is humus? What does it do?
Humus is dead animal and plant matter with excellent water retaining qualities.
What is a diurnal range?
The difference of temperature between night and day.
Classify the temperature in each climate
Cool climate: below 16.5
Moderate climate: 16.5-18.5
Warm climate: 18.5-21
Hot climate: above 21
Classify the following:
Continental climate
Maritime climate
Mediterranean climate
Continental - landlocked, greatest differences in hottest and coldest months (high continentality) cool to moderate climates
Maritime - cool to moderate temperatures, low difference between hottest and coldest months. High annual rainfall. (Low continentality)
Mediterranean - low difference between hottest and coldest months, summer tends to be warm and dry. Mod-warm climates.
What is winter freeze? When can it occur?
Winter freeze occurs at -20 or below and can kill buds and vines, affecting the yield.
How do Vitners battle frost?
Smudge pots/ burners - small fire pits placed throughout vineyards to keep temperatures hotter.
Sprinklers - energy exchange of water changing states of matter on grape creates heat and warms the grape.
Wind machines - pushes warm air down into vineyard
Thoughtful vineyard design - planting in middle of slope, aspect, drainage, etc.
What are nematodes?
Small worms that attack roots
What is VSP?
Vertical shoot positioning - vines are trained in a wire or trellis to grow and maximize sun exposure and airflow
Explain head grafting vs bench grafting
Head grafting is done in the vineyard to respond to changes in demand and save time from growing new rootstock.
Bench grafting is done on a bench and calluses with bandage. e.g. usually done to graft American rootstock with Vitis Vinifera
What is phylloxera?
An insect found in America that kills Vitis Vinifera roots
How do wine makers prevent powdery mildew?
The use of the Bordeaux mixture (copper based spray)
What are the skins of the grape called, containing ambient yeasts
The Bloom
