Viticulture

Question 1

Roughly how many cultivars are in commercial production?

Answer 1

1400

Question 2

How do feeder roots and permanent roots differ?

Answer 2

Feeder roots grow new each year and reach very deep in the soil

Permanent roots only go down the first few feet of topsoil

Question 3

What is a scion?

Answer 3

The above ground portion of the vine that has been grafted onto rootstock

Question 4

What is more fruitful: dormant buds on one year old wood or dormant buds on old wood?

Answer 4

One yar old wood - older turn into “Suckers”

Question 5

On average, how many clusters are there per shoot?

Answer 5

1-3

Question 6

What are “infloresences”?

Answer 6

Flower clusters only found on fruitful shoots

Question 7

How can a vines vigor be quantified?

Answer 7

By pruning and weighing the amount that was pruned

Question 8

What factors can impact the vigor of a vine?

Answer 8

Site selection
Rootstock
Choice of trellising system
Pruning
Irrigation or lack thereof

Question 9

What is the difference between a crossing and a hybrid?

Answer 9

A crossing are two cultivars of the same species being interbred
A hybrid is two different species within the same genus (vitis) being interbred

Question 10

What is a clone?

Answer 10

A variant within a grape variety that shows some different characteristic than the original

Question 11

Generally speaking, which is more productive: a pure vinifera vine or a hybrid vine?

Answer 11

Hybrid

Question 12

Is Vitis Riparia drought tolerant?

Answer 12

No - in the wild grows on banks of rivers/creeks and up trees - Riparian areas

Question 13

What species does St. George belong to?

Answer 13

Vitis Rupestris

Question 14

Where is Vitis Berlandieri native to?

Answer 14

Texas

Question 15

Macroclimate is defined as:
What affects these areas

Answer 15

Larger region (Think all of Tuscany)
Mountain ranges, Massifs of France, etc.

Question 16

Mesoclimate is defined as:
What affects these regions?

Answer 16

Smaller area than macro climate - can be single vineyard all the way up to a region (think of Brunello di Montalcino vs. Vino Nobile)
Rivers, lakes, topography, soils, etc.

Question 17

Microclimate is defined as:
What affects this area?

Answer 17

Area right around the vine or the fruit itself
Vine training, canopy management, distance of fruit to soil, etc.

Question 18

What are the four major climate classifications?

Answer 18

Mediterranean
Continental
Maritime
Subtropical

Question 19

What is transpiration?

Answer 19

Vines “Sweating” to regulate temperature - opens or closes stomates

Question 20

Would a vine rather die from starvation or dehydration?

Answer 20

Starvation (stopping photosynthesis)

Question 21

Where is the Winkler Index used?

Answer 21

The United States and not much elsewhere

Question 22

Where is the Huglin Index used?

Answer 22

Outside the US - Europe especially

Question 23

Does the Winkler Index account of day length?

Answer 23

No - this is a major drawback
Only accounts for heat accumulation

Question 24

What does the Huglin Index account for that the Winkler Index doesnt?

Answer 24

Latitude

Question 25

How many leaves are generally needed to ripen one cluster of grapes?

Answer 25

Between 12-16

Question 26

Are shaded buds more or less fruitful than those with sunlight?

Answer 26

Less fruitful

Question 27

Are shaded shoots (for following vintage) more or less fruitful than those with sunlight?

Answer 27

Less fruitful

Question 28

Do shaded berries ripen slower or faster than those with direct sun exposure?

Answer 28

Slower but direct exposure can also increase microclimate temperature which can interrupt ripening too

Question 29

Are acid degradation and tannin ripeness more closely related to temperature or light exposure?

Answer 29

Temperature

Question 30

Phenolic compounds are produced in light or shaded conditions?

Answer 30

Light - helps break down pyrazines

Question 31

What is the minimum amount of sunshine hours needed for a vine to ripen?

Answer 31

1250

Question 32

Generally speaking, when is water desired throughout the growing season?

Answer 32

Early prior to verasion

Question 33

Generally, is late season rainfall good or bad?

Answer 33

Bad - especially around harvest time
- Yields more diluted wine due to grape swelling
- Excessive swelling can split grapes and invite disease into the vineyard

Question 34

In windy conditions, do vines require more or less water?

Answer 34

More - severe wind can cause vines to close stomates
Reduces moisture in the vineyard

Question 35

Are vines more or less vigorous in windy conditions?

Answer 35

Less

Question 36

What are two ways in which vines can be protected from harsh winds?

Answer 36

Vine shelters/windbreaks (Lanzarote)
Planting parallel to the wind w/ low training (Provence, Rhone)

Question 37

What is the rough formula for temperature change as altitude increases?

Answer 37

For every 300 feet (100m) in elevation - temperature drops 1 degree fahrenheit

Question 38

How much more sunlight do vines get per 100 feet in elevation?

Answer 38

2% more sunlight exposure due to thinning atmosphere

Question 39

In a maritime climate, are diurnal shifts more pronounced above or below the inversion layer?

Answer 39

Below

Question 40

In the Southern hemisphere, which aspect gets the most amount of sunlight? Vineyards facing North, South, East, or West?

Answer 40

North