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WSET 3 - Fall 2023 > Vineyard Management > Flashcards

Vineyard Management Flashcards

1
Q

What must be taken into consideration when doing the site selcection for a new vineyard?

A

Environmental conditions
- use data to work out the potential site’s average rainfal, sunlight hours, fertility of the soil and drainage; Will influcence the choice of grape, density of planting, system of training and trellising

Business considerations
- Proximity to the utility infrastructure, availability of workforce, accessibility of machinery and cost of the land for financial viability

Grape variety
- Must suit the climatic conditions, demande for grapes, legal restrictions

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2
Q

Describe the best conditions for planting vines

A
  • Site is cleared of any existing vegetation
  • Fertility of the soil is tested and fertilisers are appplied
  • Young vines are bought pre-grafted and planted by hand of machine
  • Young vines are protected against animals by platic sleeves
  • Irrigation is sometime allowed to help young vines

First yield usually comes in the third year aftr planting

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3
Q

Explain why and how do you replant vines

A

Vines are replaced between the ages of to 50 years
Some estates use the term “old vine” to denote a wine made with well established plants with exceptionnal quality
The quantity of yield decreaes with age and is more susceptible to disease so the quality/profitability is not balanced

Land is left fallow (unplanted) for 3 years or more after the vines are dug up so it can recover.
Replanting cycle ensures that as little of the vineyard as possible i out of productin at any one time

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4
Q

What are the techniques to manage the vine ?

A

Training
Pruning
Trellising
Density of the vine

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5
Q

What is vine training ?

A
  • Refers to the shape of permanent wood of the vine
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6
Q

What are the two categories of vine training?

A

Head training
Cordon training

Both can by low-trained of high-trained

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7
Q

What are the advantages of low-trained and high-trained vines ?

A

Low trained : Benefit from heat retained by the soil
High-Trained: Avoid frosts

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8
Q

Explain Head Traning

A
  • Relatively little permanent wood
  • Some only have a trunk
  • Some have a few short arms of permanent wood growing from the top of the trunk

Can be supr-pruned of replacement cand-pruned.

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9
Q

Explain Cordon Training

A
  • Typically have a trunk with one or more permanent horizontal arms or “cordons”
  • Normally ave one or two cordons, but can also be used to creat big vine structures where shoots may grow from four or more cordons.
    -Usually spur-pruned
  • Cordons training takes longer because of the greater amount of permanent wood.
  • Makes mechanisation in the vineyard easier
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10
Q

What is vine pruning ?

A
  • Removal of unwated leaeves, canes and permanent wood
  • Shapes the vine and limits its size
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11
Q

When pruning takes place ?

A

In the winter and summer

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12
Q

What is the purpose of winter pruning ?

A

Determine the number and location of the buds that will frm shoots in the coming growing season
It is important to make sure that the buds are not close together. This helps with canopy management

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13
Q

What is the purpose of summer pruning ?

A
  • Trimming the canopy to restrict vegetative growth and direct sugar production to the grape
  • Leaf stripping so that bunches of grapes have optimum exposure to sunshine
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14
Q

What are the two styles of winter pruning ?

A

Spur pruning
Replacement cane pruning

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15
Q

What is Spur pruning?

A
  • Takes place in the winter
  • Spurs are** short sections of one-year-old wood that have been cut down to only two to three buds**
  • The spurs are either distributed along a cordon of permanent wood (cordon training) or around the top of the trunk (head training)
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16
Q

What is replacement cane pruning ?

A

Canes are longer sections of one-year-old wood and can have anything between 8-20 buds
- One or two canes are retained and tied horizontally to the trellis for support
- Type of pruning most seen on head trained vines
- More complex and require large skilled labour force
- Referred to as Guyot training: One cande in Single Guyot, two in** Double Guyot**

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17
Q

What is the canopy of the vine ?

A

Made up of all the green parts of the vine

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18
Q

What is a Trellis ?

A

Trellises are permanent structure of stake and wire that are used to support any replacement canes and the vine’s annual growth

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19
Q

How can you manage the canopy annual growth ?

A

By Trellising

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20
Q

Explain why the use of untrellised vineyards is better or worst in certain region

A

Best suited for Warm or hot, dry sunny regions
- Extra shade protect the grapes
- Ex. Southern rhône, Barossa Valley

Not suited for Cool or wet regions
- Restrict airflow and promote disease
- Ex. avoided in beaujolais

Not suitable for mechanical Harvesting

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21
Q

What are untrellised vines are called ?

A

Bush vines

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22
Q

Are untrellised vineyards adapted to mechanical harvesting ?

A

NO

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23
Q

How are bush vines pruned ?

A

Typically Head-trained and spur-pruned

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24
Q

How beaujolais wines are usually pruned ?

A

Head-trained, spur-pruned vines, to help expose bunches to air and sunlight

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25
Q

What is a trellised vineyard ?

A

Each row of vines requires a line of posts joined by horizontal wires. Vine’s canes and shoot ar tied to the trellis.
This is known as canopy management

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26
Q

What are the three reasons for trellising ?

A
  • Arrangement of young shoots to control the amount of sunlight that gets in the canopy (Keep close to shade, in hot regions to avoid bitterness caused by sunburn, keep appart to maximise expore in cool region, and help ripen successfully)
  • Management of canopy to help air circulation throught the leaves and grapes. Important in wet climate , because stagnant air promotes fungal diseases.
  • Aid mechanisation in the vineyard. Positioning the grapes in one area and leaves in another help mechanical harvest. Sparing of insecticides and fungicides is more effective
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27
Q

What is te most widely used Trellising system?

A

Vertical Shoot Positioning

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28
Q

What is Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) and what are the advantages?

A
  • A system of trellis
  • can be used with Cane or spur-pruned vines
  • Vine’s shoots are trained vertically and are tied in place onto the trellis forming a single narrow canopy

Keeps the canopy open, well aerated and shade free

In hot conditions, VSp is adapted so that the tops of te shoots are not tied but flop over creating some shade to protect the fruit. It would be used instead of bush vine for mechanical harvesting

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29
Q

Explain Planting Density?

A
  • The number of vines that are planted in a given area
  • Expressed as the number of vines planted per hectare (100M X 100M)
  • From as low a 100 vines per hectare to as high as 10 000 vines per hectare
  • The choice is made depending on a lot a factors, the most important being the availability of nutrients and water.

1Acre is around hectare

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30
Q

What would be the planting density in a region with very limited water availability ?

A

Low planting density can be beneficial
Allo vine’s roots to take up water from a large volume soil without having to compete against the roots of neighbouring vines

31
Q

What would be the planting density in a region with low levels of nutrients and sufficient rainfall ?

A
  • Vine thrives with little nutrients, so could grow canopy too vigorously with sufficient rainfall.
    -** Vines are planted at high density to provide enough competition for ressources between vines and restrict vegetative growth**
  • Important to ensure that the vine has the correct number of buds aftre winter pruning, so each have just enough energy to grow and ripen.

High planting density with strict control of the number of buds on each vine is common.

32
Q

What would be the planting density in a region with high levels of nutrients and sufficient rainfall ?

A
  • This promote vigourous vine growth
  • High-density planting is not enough to limit the growth.
  • The solution is to use low-density planting using vines with multiple cordons or canes
33
Q

What is Yield ?

A

Yield is a measure of the amount of grapes produced.
May be measured in term sof weight, such as tonnes of grapes per hectaure
May be measure by volume, such as hectolitres of wine per hectar

34
Q

Why is it important for a producter to manage and predict Yields ?

A
  • Need to observe legal requirements
  • Contractual obligations
  • ## To know how much tank space they need
35
Q

How can you predict Yield ?

A

Estimate made from the number of buds left on the vine after winter pruning (put can be lower/ frost damage, poor fruit sets, pests and diseases)

36
Q

How can you reduce yield if the prediction is too high ? What is the risk ?

A

Removing immature grapes shortly after véraison, also called Green Havesting

Risky becaue at a bad time, the vine will compensate for the loss by increasing the size of the remaning grapes, diluting flavours

37
Q

Is there a link between Yields and Quality

A

There was a view that high fruit quality could only be achived by ow yield but it is in fact hard to make any solid link

38
Q

What are the effects of pests and diseases on grapes?

A
  • Drop in yields and reduction of the quality of the fruit
  • Damages to leaves reduce photosynthesis and limits the vine’s ability to ripen the grapes
39
Q

What are the pests that affect vines?

A

Phylloxera
Nematodes
Birds and mammals
Insects

40
Q

What is Philloxera and how does it affect vine ?

A
  • Insect that lives undergrounds and feeds on the roots of the vines.
  • Infections enter through the feeding wounds and over the course of the years, the vine is weakened
  • American vines are able to inhibit the underground louse by clogging its mouth with sticky sap, an by forming protective layers behing the feeding for stopping second infection.
41
Q

What are nematodes and how do they affect vines ?

A
  • Microscopic worms that attack the roots of vines
  • Interfers wit water and nutrient uptakes
  • Can transmit viruses
42
Q

How can you treat vines affected by philloxera ?

A

You can’t really treat plants. You have to use American roots and grafts to make sure that philloxera don’t make any damages

43
Q

How can you treat vine affected by nematodes ?

A
  • Prevention is better than cure
  • Sanitising the soil before replanting
  • Using resistant rootstock is also successful
44
Q

How Birds and mammals affect vines and how can you prevent it ?

A
  • Consume large volumes of graphes
  • Half eaten or crushed grape can lead to risk of fungal disease.

Use of Nets agasint birds, and fence to deter mammals such as rabbits, deer or wild boar.

45
Q

How insects affect vine and how can you prevent it ?

A

Insects feed on grapes and leaves

You can avoid that by sprayin pesticides, and integrate pest management.

46
Q

What are the fungal diseaes that affect vines ?

A

Downy mildew
Powdery mildew
Grey rot

47
Q

What is Downy Mildew and its effect on vines?

A
  • Fungus that thrives in warm, wet and humid conditions
  • Affect all of the green parts of the vine
  • Appear as yellow spots on the upper side of leaves , of furry grey patches on the underside
  • Can cause leaves to drop prematurly
  • Inflorescences and young rapes can be affected, causing reductions in yield
48
Q

What is Powdery mildew and its effect on vines ?

A
  • Fungus that thrives in warm, shady conditions with some humidity
  • Affect all green part of the vines, including leaves and grapes
  • Appear as grey-white powdery-coating
  • Leaves can dry up and drop off the vine prematurely
  • Grapes shrivel and split, or fail to ripen properly
49
Q

What is Grey rot and its effect vines?

A
  • Fungus Botrytis Cinerea
  • Thrives in damp conditions and typically attacks grapes
  • Taint grape flavours and lead to colour loss in black grapes
  • In certain conditions and for certain white grapes, botrytis cinerea is beneficial and help produce the finest sweet wines
  • Alo called noble rot
50
Q

How can a grapegrower manage fungal diseases ? Explain the process

A

Controlled by using chemical sprays (fungicides)
- Usually done by tractor
- More spraying required in maritime climates with high rainfall
- Must stop close to harvest time so that there are no harmful residues
- Powdery mildey = sulfur-based
- Downy mildey = bordeaux mixture

But new treatments exists !

Using appropriate canopy management
- open vine canopy allows gerater flow of air, which promotes evaporation and keeps the vine dry.
- Financial and environmental advantages of reducing the usag of chemical sprays, and if use, reach all part of canopy easily

51
Q

Explain the impact of viruses on the vines and how to eradicate it ?

A
  • Most do not kill the vine but limit its ability to function and reduce yield and quality
  • Viruses are contagious and persistend and are spread by cuttings or nematodes
  • No treatments or cures
  • The only way is by diggin up the vines and sanitising the land
52
Q

Explain the impact of bacterial diseases on the vines and how to eradicate it ?

A
  • Many just reduce grape quality and quantity, but some may kill the vines
  • Spread by small insects called sharpshooters .
  • Strict quarantine procedures and interrupting the lifecycle of the sharpshooters are the ony ways of preventing the spread.

No treatments or cures

  • As for viruses, once a vine is infected, only eradicated by diggin up the vine and sanitising the land.
53
Q

Name the steps of the annual growth cycle of the vine

A
  1. Budburst
  2. Early Shoot and Leaf Growth
  3. Flowering and Fruit Set
  4. Véraison and Berry Ripening
  5. Harvest
  6. Winter Dormancy

April-October Northern hemisphere
October-April Southern hemisphere

54
Q

Annual growth cycle of the vine

Explain Budburst

A
  • In spring, when daily temperature exceeds 10°, depending on the variety
    ex. Chardonnay and Pino noir bud at low temperature and are early budding and Cabernet sauvignon is a late-budding variety
  • Buds swell and burst, growing into new shoots
  • New shoots can be killed by spring frosts
  • Spraying against fungal diseases and pests begins at this times

March April in Northern H.
September-October in Southern H.

55
Q

Annual growth cycle of the vine

Explain Early Shoot and Leaf Growth

A
  • whoots grow rapidly until the vine flowers
  • Fuelled by the vine’s carbohydrate reserves store over winter, but as the leaves mature, via photosynthesis
  • Need good supply of water and sufficient nutrients early in the season
  • Shoot are tied to trellis ie practice
  • spraying continues

March - May N.H
Septembre - November S.H

56
Q

Annual growth cycle of the vine

Explain Flowering and Fruit Set

A
  • When inflorescences start flowering, vines needs warm temperatures , sunshine and little or no rain (to not disrupt pollination)
  • Fruit set occurs when flower starts to develop into a grape. Unpollinated flowers drop off
  • Spraying continues
  • If more than normal flowers fail to fertilise, it’s called coulure
  • Grapes can also form without seeds and remain small, its called Millerandage

May-June N.H
November -December S.H

57
Q

Annual growth cycle of the vine

Explain Véraison and Berry ripening

A

Grapes start to grow from 6-8 weeks
Grape are green and hard
Véraison is the point when grapes begin to ripen and change colour
Between Véraison and harvest, grapes swell and fill with water
Sugar levels rise and acid levels drop
Colour pigements and flavours compounds accumulate and tannins develoop
Warm sunny conditions are ideal
Mild water stress inhibits whoot growth

Pruning can take place to remove excess foliage
Green Harvesting (removing portion of grape bunches) can take play shortly after véraison to control yield

Sparying continues

July-September N.H
January- March S.H

58
Q

Annual growth cycle of the vine

Explain Harvest

A

Harvest perios should be dry
Excess rainfall can cause grape swelling, diluting the juice and increase risk of rot

Spraying must have finished early

September- October N.H
March-April S.H

59
Q

Annual growth cycle of the vine

Explain Winter dormancy

A

The shoots become woody and from this point are known as anes
Leaves fall and vine stores reserves of carbohydrates in roots

Winter freeze can kill buds or vine. Earth me be piled up for protection

Winter pruning takes place

December-March N.H
June - September - S.H

60
Q

What are the viticultural practices to reduce the use of chemicals in vineyards ?

A

Sustainbale agriculture
Organic agriculture
Biodynamic agriculture

61
Q

Explain Sustainable agriculture

A
  • Man-made chemicals are restricted
  • Growers are encouraged to analyse the growth cycle of their vines, and prevention method to limit the use of calendar of spraying
  • Integrated pest management is key. The predator of certain pests are introduce in the vineyard to control naturally
  • Avoid monoculture by supporting a range of plants (provide habitats for predator of pests and provide nutrients)
62
Q

Explain Organic agriculture

A
  • Same as Sustainable agriculture but with much higher restriction of traditional treatments, and in smaller quantities.
  • Accreditation is required to didsply the credentials on the label
  • The exact standards are different depending on certification bodies.
  • Vineryard must undergo a period of conversion working to organic before it can be certified
63
Q

Explain Biodynamic Agriculture

A

Based on the work of Rudolf Steiner and Maria Thun
Adopt Organic practices and incorporates philosophy and cosmology
Vineyard soil is seen a part of a connected system with the planed earth, air and other planets
Grape growing practices coincide with the cycles of the planets, moon and stars
Homeopathic remedies called “preparations” are used to fertilise soil, treat diseases and ward off pests
Certification bodies for biodynamic agriculture.

64
Q

What is the colour evolution of black and white grapes from véraison ?

A

Black varieties turn red then purple
White varieties become translucent and golden

65
Q

How is the ripening process tracked ? How can you tell a grape is perfectly ripe ?

A

By monitoring the rise in sugar levels

The ideal balance between sugar-acid-flavour-tannin will vary depending on the grape variety, the climate, and the style and quality of the wine being produced.

66
Q

When begin the harvest ?

A
  • When the grapegrower have the qualities they need for their style of wine.
  • If poor weather conditions cause growesr to bring the harvest forward to save their crop (hail for example)

They need to coordinate the arrival of the fruit at the winery to make sure it is not suddenly overwhelmed with fruits

67
Q

What influence the choice of harvesting by hand or by machine ?

A

How the vineyard is planted
Labour availability
Cost
Topography of the vineayrd
Weather conditions
Winkemaking choices (premium wine can be machine or hand harvested)

68
Q

How machine harvesters work ?

A

By shaking the trunk of the vine and collectin gthe ripe berries as they fall off, leaving the stalks behind

They collect everything (unripe damage grape, insects, contaminents).
These are referred to as Matter other than grapes.
Unwanted elements or removed during sorting at the winery

69
Q

What are the advantages of Machine Harvesting ?

A

Speed
- if the vintage is threatened by bad weather

Can work at night
- Which allows cool grapes to be brought to the winery

70
Q

On what type of land could machine harvesting work ?

A

Falt or gently sloping land

71
Q

What grapes can’t be machine harvested?

A

Grapes that could be easily damaged, and grapes for wine styles that require whole bunches (such as Beaujolais or Champagne)

72
Q

What are the advantages of Hand-picking/hand harvesting ?

A

Does allow grape selection to take place
- rotten or unripe grape can be left on the vine
- Essential for noble rot

Less damage to the grapes and the stems aare retained, for very clean, pure juice when pressed in white winemaking and whole bunch red winemaking

Work on steep slopes

73
Q

What are the disdvantages of hand picking ?

A

Slower
More labour intensive
More expensive

WSET 3 - Fall 2023 (42 decks)

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