Viticulture

Question 1

Viticulture

Answer 1

Grape growing;
Factors occurring from nature plus decisions made in the vineyard by people that affect wine quality

Question 2

What factors affect wine style & wine quality, aka 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
9. Yearly weather / vintage variation
10. Terroir
11. Regional wine law
12. Historical background

Question 3

What is aspect?

Answer 3

Degree and direction that a slope faces on a hillside or vineyard slope;
Facing the equator gives more sunlight & warmth

Question 4

What are some location & geography considerations when selecting a vineyard?

Answer 4

1. Site selection
2. Producer goals - i.e. large scale poducion or boutique, machine harvesting
3. Regional laws
4. Financial considerations

Question 5

Define climate.

Answer 5

The composite or prevailing weather conditions in an area in general over a long period of time.

Question 6

What components of climate are relatively stable from year to year?

Answer 6

1. Temperature
2. Humidity
3. Air pressure
4. Rainfall
5. Sunshine & cloudiness
6. Wind

Question 7

What is the difference between macro-, meso-, and microclimates?

Answer 7

Microclimate: of a wine region
Mesoclimate: of a vineyard
Microclimate: around a single vine, i.e. canopy management

Question 8

What are the latitudinal wine growing zones?

Answer 8

30 to 50 degrees N and S of equator

Question 9

What are common climate descriptors?

Answer 9

Continental, maritime, Mediterranean, tropical, desert / arid

Cool, moderate, warm, or hot of each

Question 10

What is the difference between seasonality and diurnality?

Answer 10

Seasonality: 4 distinct seasons, hot summers and cold winters

Diurnality: range of temperatures between day and night

Question 11

Describe a maritime climate.

Answer 11

Proximal to a body of water, more moderated temps and less diurnality, more humidity and more precipitation

Question 12

Describe a Mediterranean climate.

Answer 12

Proximal to a body of water, warmer temps overall, more dry

Question 13

Describe a continental climate.

Answer 13

Within a large land mass, high seasonality, high diurnality

Question 14

Describe a tropical climate.

Answer 14

Proximal to a body of water, hot temps, more humidity

Question 15

Describe a high desert / arid climate.

Answer 15

Within a land mass, hot & dry, dramatic temperature drops overnight

Question 16

What are climate factors & moderators?

Answer 16

Diurnal shifts, sunshine hours, threats (frost, hail, wind), bodies of water, mountains & rain shadow effect, altitude

Question 17

What is the rain shadow effect?

Answer 17

Mountains tend to trap rain on one side and block weather from the other side; grape-side is typically warm, dry, & sunny

Andes, Washington State, Alsace

Question 18

Define topography.

Answer 18

Surface features of land;
Local elevation or altitude;

Vineyard features - slopes, steep hillsides, valley floors

Question 19

Examples of common soil types.

Answer 19

Granite, limestone, chalk, marl, schist, clay, sand, gravel

Question 20

List important soil properties.

Answer 20

1. Drainage or water retention
2. Sun reflection
3. Nutrient content
4. Temperature regulation
5. Pest resistance

Question 21

Name some common vitis vinifera (genus species) grapes varietals.

Answer 21

10,000 varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, etc.

Question 22

How are grape varieties chosen?

Answer 22

Regional wine law, climate compatibility, soil compatibility, marketability

Question 23

Define the anatomy of a grape.

Answer 23

Pulp - majority water, acid and sugar offset during ripening

Seeds or pips - bitter

Grape skin - provide tannin, color, aromas and flavor

Question 24

What defines vineyard architecture?

Answer 24

1. Vine spacing
2. Vine training
3. Vineyard orientation
4. Aspect
5. Terracing

Question 25

How do you measure yield?

Answer 25

How much the vine produces
- Tons per acre
- Hectoliters per hectare
- Pounds or kilos per vine

Question 26

What aspects of grape growing are part of vineyard management?

Answer 26

Canopy management, green harvest, irrigation, managing pests & vine disease, fertilizers, pruning, and anti-fungal treatments

Question 27

Describe phylloxera.

Answer 27

Microscopic vine louse; mid-19th century destroyed many vineyards in France.
Solution: grafting vines on P-resistant American rootstock

Question 28

What determines the timing of harvest?

Answer 28

Weather, style of wine being made, producer goals, number of vineyard passes, method of harvest, regional wine laws, grape maturity (sugar, structure and flavor, tannin ripeness)

Question 29

Define Brix.

Answer 29

Amount of sugar in a grape as measured by a refractometer in degrees Brix. Usually 20+ at ripeness.

Question 30

Name some method of harvest options.

Answer 30

Hand picking vs mechanical
Bin size - large or small

Question 31

Define hybrids, crosses, and clones.

Answer 31

Hybrids - vines of 2 or more different species combined to produce a new variety, i.e. vitis vinifera x vitis labrusca

Crosses - vines of the same species combined to create a new variety

Clones - identical genetic reproductions of a single vine

Question 32

Define terroir.

Answer 32

The entire set of factors that influence the development of the vines fruit and characteristics the fruit will show once vinified.