Viticulture

Question 1

What is viticulture?

Answer 1

The art of vine growing.
The conditions and practices that affect the character and quality of finished wines.

* How and where grapes are grown

Question 2

List the Factors of Production

Answer 2

1. Location/geography
2. Climate
3. Topography/aspect
4. Soil
   5. Grape Varieties Planted
   6. Viticultural Practices
   7. Vinification Practices
   8. Harvest
5. Yearly weather/vintage variation
6. Terroir
   11. Regional Wine Laws
   12. Historical Background

Italics are human influenced, regular font is natural, bold is both

Question 3

Location/Geography

Answer 3

Where the vineyard is located.

Affected by:
1. Site Selection of winery and vineyards
2. **Goals **of winery/winemaker
3. Regional Laws and what they allow in terms of vine varieties and growing/production practices
4. Financial Considerations regarding the cost of land juxtaposed against credibility, quality, intention, etc.

Question 4

Climate

Answer 4

The climate of a region determines what types of grapes can be grown, if any.

Affected by:
* Latitude (mostly between 30-50 degrees)
* Macro/Meso/Micro climates
* Type: Continental (Cool), Maritime (Moderate), Mediterranean (Warm), High Desert (Hot)
* Diurnal Shifts
* Sunshine Hours
* Threats (Frost/Freeze, Hail, Wind)
* Moderators (Bodies of water, Mountains, Altitude/Elevation, Wind

Question 5

At what latitude does most vine growing occur?

Answer 5

30 - 50 degrees in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres

(It is possible to grow grapes outside these regions)

Question 6

Macroclimate

Answer 6

Big picture climate of an entire region

Question 7

Mesoclimate

Answer 7

Medium picture climate of a particular vineyard

Question 8

Microclimate

Answer 8

Small picture climate of a single row or vine within a vineyard