Viticulture Flashcards
What are the factors of viticulture production?
- Historical Background
- Location/Geography
- Climate
- Topography/Aspect
- Soil
- Grape Varieties Planted
- Viticultural Practices
- Vinification Practices
- Harvest
- Yearly Weather/Vintage Variation
- Terroir
- Regional Wine Laws
Define viticulture
The art and science of vine growing.
What characterizes the location/geography of a vineyard?
- Site selection
- Goals Regional
- Wine Laws
- Financial Considerations
What does climate determine?
The climate determines whether grapes can be grown at all and strongly influences which variety can thrive. Most importantly climate determines wine style.
What are the latitudinal zones of wine growing?
30-50 degrees in both hemispheres (Northern and Southern).
What is a Macroclimate?
The “big picture” climate of an entire wine region.
What is a Mesoclimate?
The climate of a particular vineyard.
What is a Microclimate?
The climate of a particular row of vines or even a specific vine within a vineyard.
What are the four primary climates?
- Continental (cool)
- Maritime (moderate)
- Mediterranean (warm)
- High Desert (hot)
What characterizes a Continental climate?
- Strong annual variation in temperature due to lack of proximity to significant bodies of water.
- Hotter summers than maritime.
- Often cold winters that can be extreme.
What characterizes a Maritime climate?
- Influenced by a large body of water such as a sea or ocean.
- Marked by mild temperatures.
- Year to year temperature fluctuations causing vintage variation
What characterizes a Mediterranean climate?
- Summers are hot and dry (except for immediate coastal areas).
- Along coasts, summers are mild due to proximity to cold water currents.
- Storms can be consequence
What characterizes a High Desert climate?
- Hot and dry summers.
- High daytime temperatures.
- Dramatic drops in temperature overnight.
What factors affect climate?
- Diurnal Shifts - The difference between average daytime high and nighttime low temperatures. This can affect the ripening of grapes and the balancing of acidity and sugar.
- Sunshine Hours - The number of sunshine hours a vineyard or wine region receives in a given vintage year or growing season.
- Threats (frost or freeze, hail, strong winds)
List the primary climate moderators. (4)
- Bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans - can warm or cool a region)
- Mountains (rain shadow can protect)
- Altitude/Elevation (1 degree drop per 1 meter rise)
- Wind (can cool or lend warmth/drier air)
What is a Rain Shadow?
A dry area on one side of a mountain opposite the wind, rain, and generally poor weather. There are many important wine regions in the world that exist in rain shadows.
What are the primary topographic elements?
- Local Elevation/Altitude
- Hillside Slope or Valley Floor
- Aspect (Slopes facing the sun most of the day)
- Proximity to Water
What are the important properties of soil? (3)
- Water Drainage
- Water Retention
- Sun Reflection
Main types of soil? (8)
- Granite
- Limestone/Chalk
- Marl
- Schist
- Clay
- Sand
- Silt
- Gravel
What do grape skins contribute to a wine?
- Tannins
- Color
- Flavor
What do grape pulps contribute to a wine?
- Water
- Sugar (increases as grape ripens)
- Acids (decreases as grape ripes)
- Seed/Pips (can give bitter flavors if pressed)
What are the main species of vining plants that produce grapes?
- Vitis vinifera (native to Mediterranean, Europe, Southwestern Asia) [Our Focus]
- Vitis labrusca
- Vitis riparia
What should you consider when choosing a grape variety of planting?
- Wine Laws
- Climate Compatibility
- Soil Compatibility
What is viticultural propagation?
A fancy term for vine breeding.
Name the three types of viticultural propagation.
- Hybrids
- Crosses
- Clones
What is hybrid propagation?
Combining two or more species to produce a new variety (Vitis Vinifera x Vitis Labrusca).
What is cross propagation?
Combining vines of the same species to produce a new variety (Vitis Vinifera x Vitis Vinifera)
Cabernet Sauvignon = Cabernet Franc (vinifera) X Sauvignon Blanc (vinifera)
What is clone propagation?
Identical genetic reproduction of a single vine (common in Cabernet Sauvignon).
Cause and Effect: How does a cool climate impact wine style?
- Slow, moderate ripening
- Less sugar
- Higher acidity
- Lower alcohol potential
- More tart and lean; less ripe and juicy
Cause and Effect: How does a warm climate impact wine style?
- Full ripening
- More sugar
- Lower acidity
- Higher alcohol potential
- Ripe, lush, juicy
Name four factors of viticultural practices.
- Vineyard Architecture
- Vine Spacing
- Vine Training
- Yield
What is “Green Harvest”?
The dropping or cutting of grape bunches off of a vine before harvest to focus the vine’s energy on fewer, higher quality bunches.
Name five aspects of vineyard management.
- Canopy Management
- Irrigation
- Pests and Diseases
- Fertilizers
- Anti-Fungal Treatments
What is Phylloxera?
This is a vine louse that destroyed a third of the world’s vines beginning in the late 1800s. It was one of the greatest threats to wine production in history.
What aspects of harvest determine wine style and quality?
- Timing of Picking (grape maturity, sugar ripeness, physiological ripeness, tannin ripeness)
- Number of Vineyard Passes
- Method (hand vs mechanical; small bin vs large bin)
Define terroir.
Terroir is the entire set of factors that influence the development of the vine’s fruit and the characteristics the fruit will show once vinified.
What can regional wine laws dictate?
- Where grapes can be grown.
- What grapes can be grown.
- How grapes can be grown.
- When grapes can be picked.
