Viticulture Flashcards
What are the climatic characteristics of the Comtats de Barcelona zone?
The climate of the Comtats de Barcelona zone has typically Mediterranean characteristics, with a long summer season, plentiful sunshine and high temperatures in spring and summer, providing optimum conditions for the ripening of the grapes.
What are the geographical characteristics of the Comtats de Barcelona zone?
The geography is characterized by valleys or depressions between low mountain ranges with different orientations, and different altitudes.
Name the synonym for Xarel·lo variety in Serra de Mar subzone?
Xarel·lo is widely known as “Pansa Blanca” in Serra de Mar. **
What are the determinants of the temperate climate in the Serra de Mar subzone?
The subzone is protected from the cold north winds in winter by the Serralada de Marina and the thermal moderation of the Mediterranean Sea. **
What is the dominant grape variety in the Serra de Mer subzone?
The Xarel·lo variety is dominant in the Serra de Mer subzone. ** [Macabeo is dominant overall in Cava.]
What is the dominant soil in the Serra de Mer subzone?
The vines are planted in the sauló soil that characterizes this subzone. **
What is sauló soil?
Sauló is a sandy, permeable, well-drained (granitic) soil that is not predominantly chalky. This soil contributes to a natural acidity which is ideal for long-aged Cavas. It is characteristic of the Serra de Mer subzone. **
In which specific areas of the Valls d’Anoia-Foix subzone do the various Cava grapes grow?
Xarel·lo dominates in the coastal areas, Macabeo in the valley and Parellada in the highest parts of the Valls d’Anoia-Foix subzone. **
What is the range of vineyard altitude in the Valls d’Anoia-Foix subzone?
Vineyards in the Valls d-Annoia-Foix subzone span from 100 to 750 meters above sea level. [Large variability]
What is the English translation of the Catalan subzone name Valls d’Anoia-Foix?
It is the valleys of the Anoia and Foix rivers that flow from the Montserrat.
What are the geographic characteristics of the Valls d’Anoia-Foix subzone that influence the climate?
The Montserrat offers protection from the north winds, resulting in a temperate climate, with mild winters and summers that are not too dry.
What are the geographic characteristics of the Conca del Gaià subzone?
This Cava subzone is formed by a plateau that is open to the sea, gently rising up to the mountains of the Coastal Range that frame it.
What are the climatic characteristics of the Conca del Gaià subzone?
A typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers, tempered by sea breezes.
What are the climatic characteristics of the Serra de Prades subzone?
It is a transitional Mediterranean climate with pronounced temperature contrasts. The influence of the Mediterranean is moderated by the continental winds blowing from the interior, This makes for the sensory attributes of white grapes that are typical of cold climatic zones.
What are the altitudes of the Serra de Prades subzone?
between 350 and 600 meters above sea level,
Which subzone has a microclimate that favors the cultivation of the native Trepat variety? What is the characteristic of that microclimate?
The Serra de Prades has a transitional Mediterranean climate due to continental westerly winds blowing creating a large diurnal variation. This subzone favors cultivation of Trepat.
What are the geographic characteristics of the Serra de Prades subzone?
the Serra de Prades to the south and the river Francolí ** [SPF]
What are the geographic characteristics of the Pla de Ponent subzone that influence the climate?
The continental climate with Mediterranean influences is dry with long hours of sunshine. It has a large diurnal variation. The vineyards are located at an altitude of between 200 and 400 meters, in an essentially flat landscape with gentle undulations.
What is the geographic location of the Valls d’Annoia-Foix subzone?
Valleys lying between the Massif del Gariff and the Catalan Coastal range.
What is the Massif del Gariff?
The Garraf Massif is a mountain range of the Catalan Coastal Range, Catalonia, Spain. Its cliffs reach the Mediterranean waters. Its highest point on the coastal side is La Morella, 593 metres above sea level.
Which subzone was a historic vineyard for the Romans?
Conca de Gaià subzone
Lleida is within which Cava subzone?
Pla de Ponent subzone [Conca del Gaià subzone borders Lleida.]
When is the rainfall in Pla de Ponent subzone?
Mostly in the spring ** [not the typical Mediterranean rains during the winter]
What is the dominant geographic feature of the Ebro Valley zone?
The proximity and influence of the river Ebro characterizes this Cava zone.
What are the climatic characteristics of the Ebro Valley zone?
It has a temperate continental climate which means that winters are quite cold and summers are hot and dry.
What is the level of rainfall in the Alto Ebro subzone?
It is a mild climate with moderate annual rainfall thanks to the mountain ranges to the north and the south that form a barrier which above all reduces clouds and precipitation.
What are the climatic characteristics of the Valle de Cierzo subzone?
Dry continental climate with a large diurnal variation.
Compare the grape varieties used in Valle de Cierzo and Alto Ebro subzones.
Both use Macabeo and Garnacha Tinta; Alto Ebro incorporates Chardonnay. **
What are the climatic characteristics of the de Almendralejo zone?
These vineyards enjoy a fairly dry continental climate, with mild winters and high summer temperatures that are accentuated by the warm wind known as the “viento solano”.
What is the name of the warm wind found in the de Almendralejo zone?
The high summer temperatures are accentuated by the warm wind known as the “viento solano”. [Note that this wind may be humid on arrival to the east coast of Spain, but is dry on arrival to Extramadura.]
What is the solano wind?
It is an easterly to south-easterly wind, a regional variation or extension of the sirocco. As the dry dusty air of the Sirocco travels northward across the Mediterranean Sea, it picks up much moisture because of its high temperature, and reaches Spain (known as Leveche, Solano, Jaloque or Xaloque).
What are the geographic characteristics of the Viñedos de Almendralejo zone?
The land here is nearly flat and is situated at between 200 and 450 meters above sea level. It is located in the Tierra de Barros area of the Badajoz province in the communidad of Extramadura. **
What is the unique grape variety used in the Viñedos de Almendralejo?
In addition to Macabeo and Parellada, one finds Alarije (Subirat Parent).
What are the climatic characteristics of the the Requena Zone?
The climate here could be described as dry meso-Mediterranean with a strong influence of the continental climate, influenced by the high elevation altitude, and it’s location 70 km from the sea. The defining aspects are the large diurnal variation and the long cold winters.
What are the geographic characteristics of the Requena Zone?
This zone is situated on a small inland plateau between the Mediterranean Sea and the Meseta Castellana, at a height of between 600 and 900 metros. It is bounded by the curve of the river Cabriel to the south and the hills of the Sierras Ibéricas del Molón to the north.
What are the main grape varieties used in the Requena Zone?
Macabeo, Garnatxa Negre and Chardonnay
When does the dormant period for the vine begin?
With leaf fall in mid-November **
When does the rise of sap for the vine begin?
Beginning of March **
When does the bud break for the vine begin?
End of March **
When does the flowering for the vine begin?
End of May **
When does the formation of clusters for the vine begin?
June **
When does the véraison for the vine begin?
end of July (the onset of the ripening of the grapes, aka the “change of color of the grape berries”) **
When does the ripening for the vine begin?
after the véraison **
When does the change in the color of the leaves and leaf fall for the vine begin?
in the autumn **
When does pruning occur?
while vines are dormant **
What are two different types of pruning?
There are two different types of pruning, one is what’s known as simple or double spur pruning (or Cordon) and the other is Guyot, the single or double “stick and thumb” method. **
What is the goal of pruning?
The aim of pruning is to limit the excessive development of the plant, controlling the grapes it will produce in terms of both quality and quantity.**
What are the required vineyard steps during dormancy?
- Soil preparation which may include ploughing and fertilizing if necessary
- Pruning
- Planting and grafting
At what temperature does the sap start to rise in the vine?
In the temperate climates of the northern hemisphere (as is the case for Cava) this usually occurs at the beginning of March when ground temperatures climb above 10ºC. **
What is the effect of the sap escaping through the cuts made by pruning? (“crying”)
It makes the vines more sensitive to frost.