Viticulture

Question 1

How many acres of land are planted with grapes on the planet

Answer 1

More than 20 million acres

Question 2

What a is the latitude parallels that is best for growing grapes

Answer 2

Between the 30th parallel and the 50th parallel of latitude.

Question 3

What is the canopy

Answer 3

The vines leaves and shoots which often need to be controlled through different practices to shade the grapes, maximizing leafs exposure to sun or allow air circulation

Question 4

What is viticulture

Answer 4

The art and science of growing grapes for the purpose of making wine

Question 5

What is a mutation

Answer 5

A vine that has developed different characteristics, flavored or qualities from an imperfect genetic reproduction

Question 6

What are three mutations of the Pinot Noir grape

Answer 6

Pinot Grigio Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunière

Question 7

What is a cross

Answer 7

If the pollen of one varitale is used to pollinate the flowers of another the resulting seeds in the grape produced through reproductive actions will be different from the seeds of the two-parent vines

Question 8

What are two crosses and what grapes were used for to make those crosses

Answer 8

Cabernet sauvignon is a cross of Cabernet franc and Sauvignon blanc.
Pinotage is a cross between Pinot noir and cinsaut.

Question 9

What is a clone

Answer 9

A clone is a vine that is an exact DNA copy of another vine, achieved through asexual reproduction

Question 10

What is veraison?

Answer 10

This is when the color of the grape changes and turns red for varietal with pigment in their skin and the grapes soften allowing the flow of water and sugar from the leaves

Question 11

What is the typical time from bud break to harvest

Answer 11

Four to six months

Question 12

What is vintage

Answer 12

The annual growing cycle of the vine

Question 13

What is grafting

Answer 13

Taking a cutting from one plant and attaching it to another. In viticulture this most commonly involves taking cutting from a donor Vine called a mother vine and attaching it to the rootstock of another plant. Using a special V shaped cut that fits both pieces firmly together

Question 14

What is a bench grafted vine

Answer 14

A cutting and rootstock that was already grafted at a nursery

Question 15

What is dry farming

Answer 15

The procedure of growing vines without using irrigation . Many areas that receive ample rainfall do not have to worry about irrigation, but in those regions that do, limiting irrigation water will put vines under very stressful conditions

Question 16

What are old vines

Answer 16

The older the vine gets the slower it produces. Wines made from old vines are typically more intense, complex and concentrated

Question 17

What is green harvest?

Answer 17

If causing stress in vines is not possible, growers can simply lessen the yields by cutting a percentage of the vines grapes when they first form. This forces the vine to send energy, sugar and flavor to the remaining grapes, concentrating their flavors.

Question 18

What does the French term “virile vignes” mean

Answer 18

Old vine grapes

Question 19

What is the German term for old vine grapes

Answer 19

Alte Reben

Question 20

Vigna vecchia means what in Italian

Answer 20

Old vine wine

Question 21

What is the Spanish term for old vine wine

Answer 21

Vinis viejas

Question 22

What is diurnal temperature

Answer 22

A term that means it is warm during the day and very cool at night allowing the grapes to develop enough sugar from the sun and enough acid from the cool air for better balance in the grape

Question 23

How does soil drainage effect the grapes

Answer 23

Soil that have slower drainage like clay will cause more vigorous growth on the vine. Soil that has better drainage like sand, or gravel will hold less water slowing growth and in turn stressing the grape more

Question 24

True or false - the more stress a grapevine is under, the more the grape will produce.

Answer 24

False, the opposite is true the higher the stress the lower the yield and better the concentration of flavor

Question 25

Grapes grown in a warmer climate will produce wines with _______________ than a wine from a cool climate

Answer 25

Less acid and more alcohol

Question 26

The name of the genus made up of grapes is called

Answer 26

Vitis