Viticulture Flashcards
t/f:grapevines produce fruit twice per year
false. 1x
t/f: grapevines must spend several months in dormancy each year for optimum fruit quality
true
First green growth of the year; the beginning of the vineyard year
budbreak
Veraison
the beginning of fruit ripening
t/f: there are over 10,000 different varities
true
Phyloxxera feeds on the ____ of grapevines
roots
t/f: grapes contain thousands of flavor and aroma compounds
true
Name four common and important flavour compounds found in grapes
Esters
Terpenes
Pyrazines
Thiols
This flavor compound gives floral (eg rose and orange blossom) and citrus aromas to wine
terpenes
Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Viognier are famous for have a high quanity of this flavor compound
Terpenes
This flavor compound can give wine distinct green bell peppers notes, or a dried green herb flavor at lower concentrations
Pyrazines
t/f: pyrazines can be ripened out of expression in warmer climates
true
_____ gives grapefruit and passion fruit flavors to white wines and black currant and blackberry leaf flavors to red wines
thiols
name a couple grapes with elevated thiols
sauv blanc, cabernet sauvignon
This compound gives aromas and flavors of apple, white flowers, bananas, strawberry, raspberry
Esters
The shoots of a grapevine grow each year and are similar to the branches of a tree. What do they become when they harden?
canes
Sunlight is used by the plant to convert ____ _____ in the air into sugar and energy
carbon dioxide
Explain the differences in expression between cool cliamte, moderate climate, and warm climate chardonnay
cool: low alc, elevated, acidity, lemon, steel & wet stone
moderate: moderate alc, moderate to high aciditiy, lemon curd
warm: high alc, moderate to low acidity, yellow apple, pineapple, banana
Which has higher seasonal temperature swings: mediterranean or maritime climates?
maritime
t/f: rain falls throughout the year in maritime climates
true
Major threat for mediterranean climates
little rain over the summer can lead to droughts
from a cool climate or a warm climate would you expect a wine with more astringent tannins?
cool climate
regions closer to the equator tend to have _____ growing seasons
longer
Why don’t you often see west facing vineyards in the northern hemisphere?
west aspect vineyards can overheat in the afternoon
in the northern hemisphere, ___-aspect vineyards typically ripen earlier than other surrounding aspect vineyards as they receive all day sun
south
east facing vineyards in the northern hemisphere get this benefit …
morning light
What lies underneath the soil?
bedrock
Why is it bad for a vine to have too much access to water?
A vine with too much access to water will focus on developing leaves and shoots rather than developing its fruit
The average size of individual soil particles may be described as …
sand (largest), silt, clay
sandy soils tend to be better _____, while clay soils are better at..
draining / storing water and nutrients
t/f: loam soils are prized in viticulture
true
loam soils contain a mixture of ..
sand, silt, clay
loam soils have a good balance of…
drainage and water-holding capacity
generally, rocks are classified into these 3 different types
igneous
sedimentary
metamorhpic
Basalt and tuff are formed from…
cooled lava
Why are grapevines propograted from from cuttings rather than seeds?
each grape seed will result in a new variety
What does a vine’s “training system” refer to?
the shape of its permanent woood
What is a cordon?
horizonal extention of the trunk
What happens during pruning?
Most of the shoots that developed during the previous year are removed
The two basic types of pruning
spur pruning and cane pruning
Why are shoots often attached to a trellis system?
to encourage even ripening and improve air circulation
What does yield refer to?
the amount of fruit harvested per acre
How is yield measured in Europe?
by volume rather than weight
What does “green harvest” refer to?
(just after varaison) clusters with delayed maturity are removed
What does “fruit thinning” refer to?
(just after flowering) excess or unwanted clusters may be removed
When does harvest occur?
september to november in the northern hemisphere
march to may in the southern hemisphere
Describe Biodynamic farming
Organic farming with some esoteric practices
Biodynamic farming is based on…
a series of lectures given in the early 1900s by Rudolf Steiner
What is “regenerative” farming?
Focus on building healthy soil and microbiology
grapes were first domesticated near …. over 7000 years ago
Mesopotamia
