Viticulture Flashcards
Vine Growing
Between which latitudes does the majority of vine growing on Earth take place?
30 and 50 degrees latitude in the northern and southern hemispheres
Describe the area encompassed in a macroclimate.
The climate of an entire wine region
Describe the area encompassed in a mesoclimate.
The climate of a particular vineyard
Describe the area encompassed in a microclimate.
The climate of a single row of vines or even a specific vine
Which climate type is defined by:
1. Strong annual variation in temperature
2. Hotter summers and colder winters
Continental
Which climate type is defined by:
1. Mild temperatures that can fluctuate from year to year, causing vintage variation
Maritime
Which climate type is defined by:
1. Hot and dry summers, aside from areas directly next to coastal areas
2. Along the coast summers are mild
3. Storms are common due to the conflict of cold water currents and warm air temperatures colliding
Mediterranean
Which climate type is defined by:
1. Hot and dry summers
2. Dramatic temperature drops overnight
High desert
Define “diurnal shifts”
The difference between daytime high and nighttime low temperatures
Define “Degree Days”
Days during the growing season are
assigned individual growing degree-days according to the number of days that the average temperature exceeds the threshold of over 50°F.
What are the three climatic threats to viticulture?
- Frost & Freeze
- Hail
- Strong Winds
What is green harvesting?
A crop thinning method of dropping or cutting unripe grape bunches off the vine before harvest to decrease yields and allow the vine to focus its energy and nutrients on fewer, higher quality bunches.
What is a rain shadow
A dry area on one side of a mountain opposite the wind, rain, and generally poor weather.
How many degrees does the temperature drop for every 100 meters of elevation?
1 degree Fahrenheit
What are the six climate-moderating factors?
- Altitude
- Bodies of Water
- Diurnal Shifts
- Rain Shadow
- Sunshine Hours
- Wind
What is a hybrid vine?
Two vines from different species are combined to produce a new variety.
Ex. Vitis Vinifera x Vitis Labrusca
What is it called when two vines of the same species are combined to create a new variety?
Cross
Ex. Vitis Vinifera x Vitis Vinifera
What are clones?
Identical genetic reproductions of a single vine.
Ex. Pinot Noir Clones (Pommard, Wadenswil, 667, 115, 777, etc.)
Concord and Catawba are examples of what vine species?
Vitis Labrusca
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, etc. are all examples of what vine species?
Vitis Vinifera
What is the best way to counter phylloxera in the vineyard?
Grafting Vitis Vinifera onto Vitis Labrusca rootstock
What is Pierce’s Disease?
A bacterial disease spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The disease renders the vine incapable of producing chlorophyll, leading to the demise of the affected vine.
What is the difference between phenolic ripeness and sugar ripeness?
Phenolic ripeness is the ripeness of the skin, seeds, and stems.
Sugar ripeness is the amount of sugar in the grapes.
What is the benefit of harvesting grapes at night?
Harvesting at night, when it is cooler, helps to preserve acidity.
