Viticulture Flashcards
What are the vines most important needs for growth and ripening fruit?
Sunlight, Water, Carbon Dioxide (for photosynthesis)
What is the basic building block of both the vine, as well as the creation of tannins, acids, and flavor molecules in the grape?
Glucose
Around what temperature does the vine become dormant?
10º C / 50º F
Around what temperature does vine grow typically peak?
22-25º C / 71-77º F
Describe Climate.
The annual weather pattern of an area averaged over several decades.
What is the average growing season temperature for a cool climate?
Below 16º C / 61º F
What are typical cool-climate regions?
Champagne, Mosel, Southern England, Marlborough, Tasmania, Anderson Valley
What is the average growing season temperature for a moderate climate?
16.5-18.5º C / 62-65º F
What are typical moderate-climate regions?
Bordeaux, Northern Rhône, Rioja, Piedmont, Tuscany, Coonawarra and moderate parts of Napa and Sonoma.
What is the average growing season temperature for a warm climate?
18.5-21º C / 65-70º F
What are typical warm-climate regions?
Souther Rhône, Douro, McLaren Vale, Paarl
What is the average growing season temperature for a hot climate?
over 21º C / 70º F
What are typical hot-climate regions?
Jerez (generally not suited for quality wine production)
Describe Continentality.
The difference between the average mean temperature of the hottest month and the coldest month.
Describe a Maritime climate.
low continentality, warm summers, mild winters, high precipitation, usually found near large bodies of water.
Describe a Mediterranean climate.
low continentality, warm and dry summers, most rainfall in winter, which is mild.
Describe a Continental climate.
High Continentality, Hot summer, cold winters, generally inland, away from large, mitigating, bodies of water.
Describe a Tropical climate.
Minimal continentality, not suitable for quality wine production, most vines never go dormant, and produce crops bi-annually.
What are the benefits of vineyards near bodies of water?
Reflect Sun's Rays Store heat later in ripening season, to reflect back during cooler nights Water Source Reduce risk of ground frost Can provide mist (for noble rot)
What are the disadvantages of vineyards near bodies of water?
increases humidity, increased fungal disease (particularly downy mildew)
How do you calculate Growing Degree Days?
Measure mean temp for the month, subtract 10ºC (min. temp. for vine growth) and multiply by number of days in the month. (15-10)x30= 150 GDD
How many categories are there in Amerine and Winkler’s GDD system?
5
Describe the progression of the categories for Amerine and Winkler’s System.
Cat. I - light-bodied whites (Chablis, Mosel, Champ.)
Cat. II - med-bod, reds (Napa, BDX, N. Rhône)
Cat. III - full-bod, reds (Barossa, Stellenbosch, S. Rhône)
Cat. IV - fortified wines
Cat. V - Bulk/Table wines
Above what temperature does vine growth slow significantly?
30º C / 86º F
Aside from Amerine and Winkler, which other climatic index is widely used in Australia?
Smart and Dry
How many EU zones are there?
6
List the EU zones with examples of geographic regions for each.
A - Germany (sans Baden), UK
B - Baden, Loire, Champ, Alsace, Austria, Czech Rep.
CI - BDX, SW Fr, Rhône, Parts of Portugal, NA Coast, Spain, Hungary, Alto Adige, parts of Slovakia/Romania
CII - Lang-Rouss, Prov., N. Spain, Most of Italy, Slov, Rom, parts of Bulgaria
CIIIa - Parts of Bulgaria and Greece
CIIIb - Portugal (sans Vinho Verde), S. Spain, Calabria, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, parts of Greece
In the EU zones of production, what happens, generally, as the regions get warmer?
- Min. Potential alcohol req. increases
- level of enrichment decreases
- deacidification becomes illegal, and acidification becomes legal
In Cool regions, a vine needs about how much precipitation?
500mm/year
19.7in/year
In hotter regions, a vine needs about how much precipitation?
750mm/year
29.5in/year
What are the mitigating factors of the vines need for precipitation?
- Vine Density
- Soil water holding capacity
- When the rain falls (during season or winter)
T/F: Autumn rain is nearly always detrimental to the quality of the crop.
True
How are the Mosel, Southern England, and Central Otago wine regions all effected by day length.
They are cool regions which benefit from extended day length, giving them the sunlight needed to fully ripen fruit.
How many hours of sunshine is the minimum for the vitas vinifera species to produce ripe fruit?
At least 1250
Name the current off of Chile, which creates cooling mists and fogs in the morning, to reduce temperature.
Humbolt Current
Which ocean current allows for wine production on the west coast of the UK?
Gulf Stream
How is temperature effected as you raise altitude above sea level?
Temperature decreases by 0.6ºC/33ºF with every 100 meters/328 ft rise above sea level.
Soil fertility is influenced by which factors?
Soil texture Soil structure Organic matter content mineral content availability of air and water Soil pH
Why do vines grow best on soils with low fertility?
Restrict canopy growth
stony
well-drained
List the soil particles from smallest to largest texture.
Clay, Silt, Fine Sand, Sand, Gravel, Boulders
List some Pros and Cons of Clay soil.
- Moisture retention (too much is a bad thing)
- Hold more minerals (slightly neg. charged)
- Take longer to heat in spring (colder year-round)
- Water retention can cause cracking and root damage when they dry out.
- Wet clay is difficult to work on (sticky, machines get stuck)
T/F: Sandy and Gravelly soils have good drainage.
True
What is the texture of soil that has ideal fertility for most crop plants and why?
Loam, because it is a balanced mixture of clay, silt, and sand.
What is limestone?
- Sedimentary rock
- Formed from the deposit of shells and skeletons of marine animals (Calcium carbonate).
- Free draining
List regions known for their limestone content.
Spain, most of Burgundy, Piedmont, central and eastern Loire Valley, Limestone Coast (S. Australia)
What is Chalk?
- Sedementary rock
- Formed like Limestone
- Lower density
- Even more free-draining
What are two good examples of pure Chalk in the soil of wine regions?
Champagne and Jerez
What are three other sedimentary rocks and their basic attribute(s)?
Dolomite - similare to Limestone, but high levels of Magnesium.
Sandstone - compressed sand (quartz) particles.
Shale - sed. rock, composed of clay, soft.
What is Slate?
Shale that’s been metamorphasised by high pressures and temperatures. It is harder and less porous than shale, and can be found in the Mosel.
What is Granite?
- Igneous Rock (formed from solidified magma.
- Extremely Hard and Dense
- Free-draining
What is organic content/humus composed of?
Sugars, starches, cellulose, and nitrogenous compounds; lignin and mineral matter.
What will happen if your soil becomes compacted?
Leads to poor rain infiltration (increased erosion)
Poor Soil Structure (because of erosion)
List the major elements used by plants.
Nitrogen (N) Phosphorous (P) Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca) Sulfur (S) Magnesium (Mg) (Carbon, Oxygen, and Hydrogen are also crucial, but are taken from the air or as water)
Grapevines cannot tolerate soil below what level of pH?
pH 5 (aluminum becomes available and poisons plant)
What are Limestone-rich soils susceptible to due the inability to uptake Iron and other micronutrients?
Chlorosis
List the parts of the vine from the Roots up.
Roots Trunk and Arms Shoots Nodes Buds Leaves Petioles (stalks) Flowers Tendrils Berries
List the steps of the growth cycle and the months in which they occur for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Winter Dormancy (Nov-Jan; May to July)
Budburst (April/May; Sept/Oct)
Flowering and Fruit Set (June/July; Nov/Dec)
Berry Growth and Véraison (July-Sept; Dec-Feb)
Wood Ripening (Wept-Nov; Feb-April)
Berry Ripening and Harvest (Sept-Nov; Feb-May)
Why is it necessary for there to be sufficient carbohydrate reserves, which are collected during winter dormancy?
Because the stored carbohydrates are used for floral initiation.
What is one of the biggest environmental concerns which could adversely effect the process of flowering?
Rain, which could remove the pollen from the air, thereby not allowing the ovules to be fertilized.
What is millerandage?
Caused by low temperatures, it is a mixture of small, seedless berries and larger berries with seeds on the same bunch.
Describe what happens in the first 2-3 years of the vines life cycle.
- Vine grows its trunk and any other permanent wood needed for selected training system.
- Root system begins to explore available soil
- Vigour/Crops are usually low due to minimal carb reserves, while arms are gaining mass.
Describe what happens during the 7-20 years span in the cycle of the vine.
- Permanent wood continues to thicken, though at smaller intervals.
- At its most vigorous/highest yields after 7 years
- Toward end, vine is weakened due to pruning.
- Vigour begins to decline toward end, sometimes low enough to constitute replanting.
Where were the fist vitas vinifera sativa vines thought to have been selected, and why?
Transcaucasia, and they were functioning hermaphrodite flowers.
What are the main criteria in selecting vines?
- Adaptation to the climate
- Resistance to the disease
- Adaptation to soil conditions if using ungrafted vines
- Economic Characteristics (yield, quality, mech. suitable?)
Which rootstocks were utilized due to their resistance to Phylloxera and their ability to graft well?
V. riparia and V. rupestris (though both have poor calcium tolerance)
Which rootstock was crossed with V. riparia and V. rupestris to counteract the poor calcium tolerance in the later two?
V. berlandieri
T/F: Most areas in Europe have forbidden the production of wines from interspecific hybrids.
True
When was Downy Mildew introduced, and by whom?
1878, USA
Which varietal, and hybrid, is the 6th most planted in Germany?
Regent
Where in the world are hybrids used due to their resistance to harsh and cold winters?
Eastern USA
Define Interspecific Vinifera Crosses.
Crosses of one vinifera variety with another.
Give two famous examples of Interspecific Vinifera Crossings, and who created them.
- Alicante Bouschet (Petite Bouschet x Grenache) Henri Bouschet
- Müller Thurgau (Riesling x Madeleine Royale) Professor Müller (Switzerland)
Describe Sélection Massale.
Traditional Method of selecting vines involves passing through the vineyard before harvest and marking out the best plants form which to take cuttings during the winter.
Describe a clone.
plants originating from a single parent, genetically identical, propagated vegetatively.
Who was the first to carry out a successful clone, when, and on which varietal?
Froelich, 1876, Silvaner
What are some of the disadvantages in clonal selection?
- if closely related, disease spreads easily
- some are very specific to where they are suitable
- it’s led to an increase in yield, thereby overproduction
- reduction in vine genetic resources
Are Genetically Modified (GM) vines available for commercial use?
No
T/F: Propagation is used more than seed planting.
True
Describe layering.
A process of burying a vine cane in the ground, then separating it from the parent plant once they have established their own roots.
Describe cuttings.
pieces of plants that develop into a new plant when placed in the right conditions.
Describe the steps of Bench Grafting.
Rootstock cuttings stored in damp sawdust Soaked for 24-48 hours Scion is dipped in paraffin Joined Stored in crates with sand or sawdust Humidity maintained at 90% to prevent drying out Union called a 'callus' Trimmed Redipped in paraffin Kept in cold storage until planted
When is top-grafting used?
When changing varieties in an established vineyard.
T/F: Vitis vinifera was the only species of vine to survive the quaternary ice ages in Europe.
True
Whish subdivision of Vitis vinifera is the most common?
Vitis vinifera sativa
What is a common trait associated with wines made from V. labrusca?
Foxy
What is the main use of V. riparia, and why?
Mainly used as a rootstock because it has good resistance to phylloxera, is low in vigor, and early ripening. Good for high vigor soils or varietals.
What is the main use of V. rupestris, and why?
Mainly used as a rootstock because it has high vigor, a deep root system, and has a good resistance to phylloxera. Good for low vigor soils or limited water availability.
What is the parentage of Pinotage?
Pinot Noir x Cinsault
What is Phylloxera?
Insect that was first identified in Europe in 1863, brought from the USA accidentally, and destroyed 2/3 of Europpean vineyards in the late 19th Century.
What are Nematodes?
Tiny roundworms which are very common in soils. They can cause root damage as well as spread viral diseases.
How is the deficiency of lime in chalky soils (leading to Chlorosis) dealt with in regards to V. riparia and V. rupestris?
Commonly crossed with V. Berlandieri due to its resistance to lime in soils.
Which rootstock is ideal in areas with severe nematode problems?
Schwarzman (vitis Champini can also be used, but generally not considered suitable for quality due to high vigor)
Which rootstock(s) are good for acidic soils?
Couderc 3309 C and 161-49 C(France, Germany, Switz)
Which rootstock(s) are commonly used in Champagne and Charentes?
Ecole de Montpellier , Millard et de Grasset
Which rootstock is the most popular in Europe, despite its poor uptake of Mg?
SO4 Selection OPPENHEIM
Which rootstocks have a good resistance to drought?
Richter (99R/110R)
Ruggieri (140 RU)
Paulsen (1103 P)
What is the Photoperiod?
the day length
