Viticulture Flashcards
Which one of these is not a reason for selecting a grape variety to grow:
- Budding times
- Rippening times
- Leaf colour
- Resistance to certain diseases
- Leaf colour
Which vineyard has the aspect to give it the highest amount of sun:
North facing slope in the northern hemisphere
South facing slope in the southern hemisphere
North facing slope in the Southern hemisphere
A flat vineyard at 50° Latitude.
North facing slope in the Southern hemisphere
What factors can affect sunlight?
Latitude - Day length greater further from Equator
Seas, Lakes and Rivers - Near large bodies of water = more cloud cover, but some rivers or lakes can also reflect sunlight. Centre of landmasses tend to be sunnier.
Aspect - A slopes aspect affect the amount of sunlight, steeper slopes = more benefit
What are the 4 Climate (temp) classifications?
Cool - Avg GROWING season (Apr-Oct) 16.5c or below 61F
Moderate - Avg 16.5-18.5c / 61-65F
Warm - Avg 18.5-21c / 65-70F
Hot - Avg above 21c / 70F
How does Phylloxera kill vulnerable vines?
Insect that feeds on the roots of the vine allowing infections to set in, over the course of a few years, the vine dies.
The Picture Below is an example of what type of training? Describe both types of training.
Head Training, rather than Cordon Training. Refers to the shape of the permanent wood of the vine.
At what age are most vines replaced?
What are the pros / cons of “old vines”?
Most replaced between 30-50 years
Old vines produce higher quality fruit (more concentrated flavour) partly due to lower yield per vine.
Lower yield might not be cost efficient, andolder vines more susceptible to disease.
What climate type is this?
Greatest difference between the hottest and coldest months, low rainfall, and a very sunny growing season
Continental Climate
Name 2 diseases that threaten vines and how they are controlled.
Powdery and Downy mildew - Likes warm, humid. If affected grapes lose fruity flavour.
Powdery treated with sulfur based spray. Downy treated with Bordeaux mixture copper based spray. Can also be managed by canopy management to max air flow. More spraying in Maritime climates where there is more rainfall.
Grey rot (Botrytis cinerea) - Likes damp. Taints flavours and colour loss in red grapes. Best managed by canopy management and not picking too late.
Viruses - spread by nematodes of cuttings. No cure, dig up the vines, sanitize the land.
Bacteria - spread by sharpshooter insects. Quarantine and kill insects, or dig up the vines.
New grape varieties can be created through cross pollination. What is ‘cross pollination’?
The pollen from the male part of the flower of one vine is transferred to the female part of the flower on another vine and fertilisation occurs.
Name the 2 most common training techniques for vines.
Head training - Little permanent wood (some only trunk), then shoots are trained
Cordon training - Trunk plus one or more permanent horizontal arms (cordons). Takes longer to establish but makes mechanisation easier
What climate type is this?
Low temp difference between hottest and coldest months (low continentality), low to medium rainfall mainly in Winter, and a sunny and dry growing season.
Mediterranean
The following are all examples of what type of climate?
Mod -> Chianti, Carneros
Warm -> Chateauneuf, Napa Valley
Hot -> Murray-Darling
Mediterranean Climate
Which soil type has the largest warming effect?
Gravel, it re-radiates warmth
Which of the following inputs to a vine will vary least from season to season?
CO2
Heat
Sunlight
Nutrients
CO2
Which is not a method of controlling yield in a typical season?
Green harvesting (removing immature grapes) Winter pruning Irrigation Mechanical Harvesting
Mechanical Harvesting
In which regions has Phylloxera not reached?
Chile, some parts of Argentina and South Australia. It hasn’t reached due to strict quarantine procedures and inhospitable climate
Why is vine bud management important?
The vine stores Carbohydrates over Winter. If too few buds each will have access to too much energy and will grow too vigorously.
If too many buds, each will not have access to enough energy and the vine will struggle to ripen its crop load.
What are the 3 ways to grow grapes to reduce intense chemical usage?
Sustainable agriculture - Chemicals permitted but minimised by growers understanding life cycles of pests and introducing predators of the pests. Wide range of plants in the vineyard. Monitor weather to prevent pest or disease before it occurs.
Organic agriculture - Small doses of traditional treatments permitted only. Accreditation is required, and vineyard must undergo a period of conversion.
Biodynamic agriculture - Organic practices + philosophy and cosmology. Grape growing based on cycles of planets, moon and stars with homeopathic treatments.
Put the growth cycle in order:
Veraison, Budburst, Flowering, Fruit set, Ripening
Budburst, Flowering, Fruit set, Veraison, Ripening
Budburst, Flowering, Veraison, Fruit set, Ripening
Budburst, Veraison, Flowering, Fruit set, Ripening
Budburst, Flowering, Fruit set, Veraison, Ripening
How can VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) be used in hot, sunny climates and why would a grower choose to use this system?
The method is adapted so the tops of the shoots are not tied but allowed to flop over creating some shade in the canopy to protect fruit. A grower would choose this system to enable mechanical harvesting.
Frost flows in a similar way to:
Ice
Water
Steam
Water
Describe the annual cycle of the vineyard.
Spring
Late Spring / Early Summer
As Summer progresses
Late Summer / Early Autumn
Later in Autumn
Spring - Budburst, new shoots begin to grow
Late Spring - The vine flowers and small grapes form
Summer - Grapes grow but still hard in texture, high acid/low sugar
Late Summer/Early Autumn - Grapes ripen, sugar rises, acidity drops and flavours develop. Marked by grape colour change; véraison
Later in Autumn - Grapes harvested
What is the difference between Climate and Weather?
Climate - Annual weather pattern over several years
Weather - Variation in a specific year
What are the 5 things a vine needs?
Heat, Sunlight, Water, Soil nutrients, CO2
Pinot Noir, as a grape variety, is known to randomly change. For example, in the past it has suddenly produced a grey version and was renamed Pinit Gris, a white grape version has appeared and is called Pinot Blanc. All 3 grapes are related to each other and can be considered what?
Mutations
What is a Cordon?
A more permanent arm of a vine made up of 2+ year old wood.
What are the 4 main techniques to manage a vine?
Training (head vs cordon)
Pruning (Spur vs Replacement Cane)
Trellising/canopy management (VSP vs untrellised bush vines)
Planting density (Limited water, Low Nutrient + High water, High Nutrient + High Water)
What are day / night temperature differences known as?
Diurnal range
An aspiring wine maker in Bordeaux decides to create his own version of Cabernet Sauvignon. He polinates a Cabernet Franc with Sauvignon Blanc. The resulting seed is what?
A new variety of grape
What 3 things should a grower consider when selecting a site for a new vineyard?
Environmental - Temp, rainfall, sunlight, soil fertility and drainage.Factors effect grape selection, planting density and trellising etc.
Business - Proximity to power and water, avail of labour, accessibility for machinery and cost of land.
Grape variety - Must suit climate and meet demand. In EU might be legal restrictions on types used.
What are the 3 main techniques for irrigation?
Drip - Computer controlled dripper for each vine - Expensive
Sprinklers - Also used for frost protection. Waste water and can create damp conditions promoting disease - Cheaper than Drip
Flood Irrigation - Cheapest where water is freely available. Only used on flat or gently sloping vineyards
Briefly explain the effect of:
Latitude, Altitude, Ocean Currents, Fog, Soil, and Aspect on vine development and grape growing.
Latitude -Usually between 30-50 degrees N and S of the Equator, but day length increases farther from the equator helping Riesling ripen.
Altitude - As altitude increases temp drops allowing growth closer to Equator
Ocean Currents - Deliver localised warming/cooling in certain regions
Fog - Can cool an otherwise unsuitable growing area e.g. California, Casablanca Valley, Chile
Soil - Provides nutrients. Stones on surface heat up a vineyard. Dark soils reradiate more heat than lighter. High water retaining soils (clay) take longer to warm up, sand/stone do not retain water, HUMUS retains water.
Aspect - Direction slope faces, facing Equator get most heat. Steeper slopes accentuate effect.
What 5 things does a vine need to survive
Heat, Sunlight, Water, Nutrients, Carbon Dioxide
Name 4 vineyards pests and how to control them
Phylloxera- Use resistant rootstock
Nematodes (worms) - Use resistant rootstock and sanitise soil before re-planting.
Birds and mammals - Birds - Netting / Mammals - Fencing
Insects - Insecticides or Integrated pest management
What is Inflorescence?
The complete flower head of a plant including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers
Planting seeds doesn’t work in viticulture, what are the two ways to grow more vines?
a. A cutting (a section of vine shoot is planted and grows), usually in a nursery.
b. Layering (a section of vine is buried and, in time, takes root). No longer used in the vineyard since the rootstock will not resist phylloxera.
Which statement about soils is FALSE
- Light coloured soils reflect the suns energy and don’t radiate heat into the vineyard.
- Wet soils take longer to warm up and tend to cool the vine
- Rocky soils tend to absorb and radiate heat warming the vineyard.
- Rocky soils on slops near rivers tend to pull the water up a hill making vineyards wet and susceptible to frost
Rocky soils on slops near rivers tend to pull the water up a hill making vineyards wet and susceptible to frost
A Spur is what?
1 year old wood pruned often with 2-3 buds and is quite short.
How is American rootstock resistant to Phylloxera?
They clog the insects mouth with sticky sap and form a protective layer behind the feeding wound to prevent secondary infections.
What are 3 water/nutrient conditions and their effect on planting density?
Very Limited Water - Low density allows vines to take water from a large volume of soil without competing against the roots of neighbouring vines.
Low levels of nutrients and sufficient rainfall - Risk is vigorous vegetative growth rather than fruit. High density planting provides competition for resources to limit vegetative growth. Bud management is also important. High density and strict bud control common in Europe (e.g. Bordeaux)
High nutrients and sufficient rainfall - High density planting not enough so, instead, low density with vines with multiple cordons or canes. New World.
What is ‘Coulure’?
When more flowers than normal fail to fertilise.
Usually from cold/cloudy/rainy weather.
When plants are photosynthesising which of the following equations is correct?
02 + Sunlight + Chlorophyll => Sugars + CO2
C02 + Sunlight + Chlorophyll => Sugars + O2
02 + Heat + Chlorophyll => Sugars + O2
C02 + Sunlight + Veraison => Sugars + O2
C02 + Sunlight + Chlorophyll => Sugars + O2
Which part of the grapes does not contain tannins:
Stems
Bloom
Seeds
Skin
Bloom
Name and briefly explain the two common methods of grafting.
Bench Grafting - Automated process, both parts joined by machine and stored in warm environment to encourage both parts to fuse together
Head Grafting - Vine is cut back to its trunk and a bud or cutting of the new variety is grafted on to the trunk
What are the four parts of a vine?
Green parts of the vine
One year wood
Permanent wood
The roots
What are the four main forms of frost protection?
Heaters
Wind Machines
Sprinklers
Vineyard design - slopes are less at risk
Describe Continental climate
High Continentality, low rainfall and a sunny dry short Summer, with a quick temperature drop in Autumn. Chablis & Champagne. Best suited to varieties that bud late, and ripen early.
American vines are rarely used to make wines, what is their main use?
Providing Phylloxera resistant rootstock for Eurasian species to be grafted onto.
What are Tendrils?
The structure the vine uses to support itself by winding themselves tightly around trellis wires to keep the shoot upright
Which statement is NOT true about Permanent Wood?
It is at least 2 years old
It has bark
Cordon is an example of permanent wood
Buds typically burst from permanent wood
Buds typically burst from permanent wood
The following are all examples of what type of climate?
Cool -> Champagne, Mosel
Mod -> Burgundy, Central Otago, Barolo
Warm -> Ribera Del Duero, Mendoza
Hot -> La Mancha, Port/Douro Superior
Continental Climate
How long after new planting is first yield?
Third year after planting
The following are all examples of what type of climate?
Cool -> Muscadet
Mod -> Bordeaux, Rias Baixas
Warm -> Auckland
Maritime Climate
Which statement about Root stock is false?
- Root stocks are used because they are disease resistant
- Root stocks allow the grower to match different Root stocks to different soils
- Changing Root stocks while the plant is growing is called ‘head grafting’
- Root stocks can be used to manage yield
Changing Root stocks while the plant is growing is called ‘head grafting’
What is an untrellised vineyard?
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Vines not trellised, shoots hang down as far as ground.
Bush vines typically head trained and spur pruned. Best suited to warm/hot, dry, sunny regions (S. Rhone, Barossa Valley), extra shade helps protect grapes. Not suited to cool climates as shade can impede grape ripening and airflow (disease). Not suitable for mechanical harvesting.
Which one of these is the odd one out?
- Grey Rot
- Nematodes
- Powdery Mildew
- Downy Mildew
Nematodes
What are the objectives of Summer pruning?
Trimming the canopy to restrict vegetative growth and direct sugar production to the grape rather than shoots and leaves. Can also involve leaf stripping for max exposure of bunches to sun. Green harvesting can remove a portion of grapes to control yield.
Describe a Maritime climate
Low Continentality, cool to moderate temps, medium to high rainfall all year long & often a cloudy growing season
What is ‘Millerandage’?
When some grapes in a bunch form without seeds and remain small (hens and chicks).
A Cane is what?
1 year old wood pruned leaving with 8-20 buds and is quite long.
Describe the 3 main climate types.
Continental - Greatest diff between hottest and coldest months, usually short dry Summers with rapid temp drop in Autumn .e.g. Chablis and Champagne
Maritime - Cool to moderate temps, low annual difference between hottest and coldest months (low continentality), rainfall spread thru the year, which moderates temps allowing Cabernet to ripen into Fall. e.g. Bordeaux
Mediterranean - Low temp diff hottest and coldest months (low continentality), but Summers usually warm and dry, can lead to drought, e.g. Mediterranean, Coastal Calif, Chile, South Africa and SE Australia
If you gave a vine cutting to someone and a vine grew, it is a what?
Crossing
Clone
Hybrid
Mutation
Clone
What is this picture is an example of?
Cordon & Spur
What is Phylloxera?
An insect native to North America
Other than red or white or established varieties what other considerations are there for a grape grower when considering grape variety?
e.g. Budding and ripening times, resistance to pests and diseases
If temperature is too low or too hot the vine stops photosynthesis. What is the safe range?
10-35c / 50-95F
Which of these statements about too much rain near harvest is false?
The Grapes become bigger
Flavours and sugars will be diluted
The size of the crop increases
Increases the colour in red wines
Increases the colour in red wines
VSP (Vertical shoot positioning) is a trellising system often used when growing e.g. Chardonnay in a cool climate. Why would a grower use this system?
In cool climates grapes can struggle to ripen fully. A grower can help the grapes to ripen by increasing exposure to sunlight and heat. In VSP, the shoots are trained up the wires, meaning the grapes are not shaded by any shoots that might otherwise hang down. Their exposure to sunlight and heat is therefore maximised.
When does vine pruning take place?
Every Winter and Summer
What are the pros and cons of Machine and Hand harvesting?
Machine (shakes the trunk)
- Not selective, often collecting unhealthy, unripe and damaged grapes. Can only be used on flat or slight incline vineyards
+ Speed, can work through the (cool) night meaning no need to cool grapes before fermentation. Can harvest quickly preventing overripe crop.
Hand
- Slower and more Labour Intensive = more expensive
+ Used on steep vineyards e.g. Douro, Mosel, N. Rhone. Allows grape selection ‘on the go’, less damage to grapes, stems retained = clean, fresh juice for white and essential for red ‘whole bunch’ winemaking.
Which of these about vineyards near oceans is NOT true?
Vineyards often experience wetter conditions
Diurnal temperature range tends to be lower
Vineyards beside oceans are cooled by ocean currents
There is often a lower risk of frost
Vineyards beside oceans are cooled by ocean currents… can also be warmed.
What is the objective of Winter pruning?
The main objective is to determine the number and location of buds that will form the shoots in the coming growing season by cutting away unwanted leaves, canes and permanent wood.
What is another name for Botrytis?
Grey Rot
Which one of these is associated with manual harvest?
- Can be done at night when temperatures are lower, slowing down oxidation.
- The grapes are shaken violently off the plant
- Low capital costs but higher ongoing costs
- Suitable for all trellising systems
Suitable for all trellising systems
Which of these techniques in NOT used in canopy management:
VSP
Trellising
Inter row spacing
Passerillage
Passerillage
What 2 reasons why netting is needed in a vineyard?
To protect the Vine from birds and / or hail
What the Latin name for the most commonly grown vine species?
Vitis Vinifera
Explain ‘Diurnal Range’ and it’s effects.
The diff between daytime and night time temps.
Cool nights slow loss of aroma and acidity, warm nights accelerate ripening.
What are the 3 main reasons for trellising a vineyard?
i. Arrangement of young shoots controls (maximise/limit) amount of sunlight getting into canopy.
ii. An open canopy can improve air circulation (esp. beneficial in wet climates).
iii. Aids mechanical harvesting and makes spraying insecticides & fungicides more effective.
How can you protect from Hail?
Netting but costly.
Own several vineyards in different locations to mitigate risk, e.g. Argentina.
What are the 2 types of Winter pruning?
Briefly summarise each type
Spur and Replacement cane.
Spur - Short sections of 1yr wood, cut down to 2-3 buds.
Replacement cane - Longer sections of 1yr wood with 8-20 buds on, typically 1 or 2 canes
When is it best to do a green harvest?
Shortly after Veraison
In relation to vines, Hybrids are?
Sexual reproduction, with parents being from different vine species
Sexual reproduction, with parents being from the same vine species
The process of joining rootstock to another vine
An error in copying process of a new bud
Sexual reproduction, with parents being from different vine species
Which soil type has the poorest drainage?
Clay
What can a grower do if yields are potentially going to be too high?
Reduce by removing immature grapes after Véraison. This practice is known as ‘green harvesting’. If done too early vine can compensate by increasing size of retained grapes potentially diluting flavour.
What are Shoots?
This year’s vine growth from buds.
Which statement about Vitis Vinifera is true
- The main Eurasian species for grape production
- It is the preferred species for root stock
- Provides excellent disease resistance
The main Eurasian species for grape production
Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon Blanc got together in Bordeaux to create Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an example of what?
Crossing
Clones
Hybrids
Mutation
Crossing
Name the Green parts of the Vine
The parts of the vine that grow each year.
A shoot, with leaves, buds, tendrils and flowers or berries
What treatment is there for Viruses and Bacterial diseases in the vineyard?
There are no treatments or cures. Only solution is to dig up vines and sanitise the land. Can interrupt sharpshooters to prevent spread of bacteria.
Below what temperature is too cold for vines?
10c / 50F
What type of climate is this?
Low to medium continentality, medium to high rainfall all year long and often a cloudy growing season
Maritime
What is the objective of Summer pruning?
Trimming the canopy to limit vegatitive growth and direct sugar production to the grapes, and leaf stripping to expose grapes to more sunligt.
Name 4 Natural factors affecting style, quality and price of wines.
Grape selection
Climate
Weather
Soil
Fertilisation; Vitis Vinifera fertilised with any other type of V. Vinifera is called what?
Crossing
Name 4 Human factors affecting style, quality and price of wines.
Grape Growing
Wine Making
Maturation
Market Forces
Fertilisation; Vitis Vinifera fertilised with another type of Vitis (not Vinifera) is called what?
A Hybrid
Name 4 temperature hazards.
Winter freeze
Frost
Cold temperatures in Spring, pollination can be disrupted.
Excessive heat : vines can shut down.
Name 3 water hazards
Drought
Too much rain
Hail
How would you describe the best possible soils for grape growing?
Loam, a mixture of sand and clay. Well-drained retaining only enough water
What are the effects of
Too much nutrients?
Too few nutrients?
Too much = vigorous green growth
To few = Ill health (Chlorosis)
What is a trellis?
Stakes and wires used to support the trained vines.
What is the other (French) name for Replacement Cane pruning
Guyot (single or double Guyot), used in Bordeaux.
Bud management; What happens is there are too few buds left after pruning?
Each bud has access to too much carbohydrate energy and will grow over vigorously
Bud management; What happens is there are too many buds left after pruning?
Each bud will not have access to enough carbohydrate energy and the vine will struggle to ripen the crop load
Vine density; what density would you use, and why, where there is Very limited water
Low density planting because the vines won’t have to compete for the limited water
Vine density; what density would you use, and why, where there is:
Low nutrients with sufficient water
High density - To provide competition between the vines, with strict control of the number of buds
Vine density; what density would you use, and why, where there is:
High levels of both nutrients and water
Low density planting but with multiple cordons or canes, e.g. in the New World.
Name the 3 types of wine producers.
Co-ops : owned by grower members, common in EU b/c of small vineyards, shares cost.
Merchants/negociants : buy juice, have greater control over grape selection than co-ops. Both large and small scale, popular outside the EU.
Estates/Domaines : small scale, greatest control, high quality. But, fewer blending options, and trouble during bad growing years.
