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