Viticultural Practises And Harvest Flashcards
What is sustainable agriculture?
This practise does not prohibit the use of chemical fertilisers or man made fungicides but restricts the use of them. Growers are encouraged to follow weather forecasts and track the lifecycle of pests and use chemicals in a targeted way rather than using them all the time for prevention
What is Integrated Pest Management?
This is where growers are encouraged to allow predators or pests to live in the vineyard to prevent disease spreading
How is Integrated Pest Management carried out?
Growers should support the growth of a range of plants which will attract the pest predators. This also reduces carbon dioxide in the vineyard and provides nutrients for the vines
What is organic agriculture?
Similar to sustainable agriculture however only a few traditional methods are allowed to be used in small doses.
Who invented biodynamic agriculture?
Rudolf Steiner and Maria Thun
What is biodynamic agriculture?
It combines organic agriculture with philosophy and cosmology, the key principle being that the soil is connect to the air and other planets and mirrors the cycles of the moon and stars.
What are preparations with regards to biodynamic agriculture?
Preparations are homeopathic remedies which fertilise soil, ward off pests and disease
When does harvest stert and what are the factors which start it?
Harvest follows Veraison and is decided by the grower. There is no hard and fast rule it depends on whether the sugar levels are right, acidity has dropped and tannins become less astringent
What natural factors affect the growers decision to start harvest?
Wet weather - this will bring harvest forward if there is wet weather around Hail - this will damage grapes so the grower may choose to harvest earlier
The coordination of the grapes arriving at the winery
What factors affect whether the harvest is hand or machine picked? (6)
How the vineyard is planted
Cost
Labour availability
Topography of the vineyard
Wine choices
weather conditions
How does machine harvesting work?
The machine will work along a row of vines shaking the trunk and collecting grapes which are ripe and fall off the vine
What are the down sides of machine harvesting with regards to selection?
The machine is selective and therefore unhealthy unripe grapes are collected as well as insects and leaf. This will need to be sorted at the winery but on a large scale this may not be possible. They also do not pick whole bunches or the stem
What are the benefits of machine harvest?
Speed - this is particular beneficial if there is wet weather around.
Also for particular varieties such as Sauvignon blanc which can become over ripe quickly
What are the other benefits of machine harvesting?
They can work through the night when it is cool which will save energy as the grapes temperature will not need to be reduced in the winery ready for fermentation
Can machines be used on sloped vineyards?
No they can only be used on flat vineyards with grapes that are not easily damaged
