Viticulture Flashcards
1
Q
What is the Italian synonym for free-standing bush vines trained according to the Gobelet system?
A
Alberello
2
Q
What are 3 viticultural factors can influence the sugar ripeness of the grape and thus the level of alcohol in a finished wine?
A
Elevation of Vineyard Weather (Rain, Temperature, Sunlight) Yield Canopy Management Green Harvesting Harvest Dates
3
Q
What is the composition of alluvial soil?
A
typically fertile fine-grained soils consisting of mud, silt, sand, and sometimes gravel or stones deposited by flowing water on flood plains, in river beds, in deltas, and in estuaries.
4
Q
What are the most common American vine species crossed with V. vinifera for the production of American hybrids?
A
Vitis labrusca and Vitus aestivalis
5
Q
What are the top 3 rootstocks known for resistance to phylloxera?
A
Vitis rupestris
Vitis riparia
Vitis berlandieri
6
Q
Anthesis refers to what part of a vine’s growth cycle?
A
Flowering
7
Q
What two factors contribute to the concentration of anthocyanins in grape skins?
A
Increased sunlight exposure and the accumulation of sugar in the grape during veraison.
8
Q
Anthracnose or Bird’s Eye Rot / Black Spot affects what part of the vine? How is it conrolled?
A
Leaves, young shoots, flower cluster stems, and berries appearing as black spots. Controlled by Bordeaux mixture
9
Q
What part of the vine’s growth cycle does aoûtement refer to? How is this considered an indication of vineyard site quality?
A
Refers to cane ripening
A marker for identifying a high quality vineyard site. It has been seen that the first vineyards to start Aoûtement or cane ripening and where it proceeds rapidly are those which produce the finest wine. This is because early and rapid aoûtement indicates a modicum of water stress plus generous plant levels of carbohydrates which contribute to rapid fruit ripening. It is for this reason that aoûtement has been incorporated into vineyard scoring systems and used to predict wine quality.
10
Q
In viticulture what is a strategy to avoid uneven budbreak along a cane due to apical dominance?
A
Bend the cane into an arched training system so that the middle of the cane is higher than the base and the apex.
11
Q
What is an arbour?
A
An overhead trellis structure used for vine training, particularly in southern Italy.
12
Q
Argilo-Calcaire refers to what soil type?
A
Soil that is a mixture of Limestone and Clay
13
Q
Armillaria root rot affects vines most often planted where?
A
Vines planted where oak trees were previously planted
14
Q
What does arrachage refer to?
A
French term for grubbing up vines.
15
Q
What is aspersion and what is it most commonly used to combat?
A
Aspersion is the French term for sprinkling and it is most commonly used for the combatting of Frost
16
Q
In what French regions is the art of Assemblage most vital?
A
Most common and vital in Champagne and Bordeaux though this terroir-driven approach is present in some regions like Hermitage where JL Chave keeps the vinification of separate parcels separate until a final blending of the best wines is decided upon.
17
Q
How can acetobacter be kept in check?
A
Limiting the amount of oxygen will keep this bacteria in check as its existence is dependent on oxygen presence.
18
Q
What does the Ravaz balance measure?
A
The ratio of fruit yield to pruning weight
19
Q
What will happen if too few buds are left on the vine at winter pruning relative to stored carbohydrates? What is the result of the opposite?
A
Shoots in the spring will grow quickly and have leaves which are too large and stems which are too thick. The vine will have a high leaf to fruit ration, which may result in poor fruit set.
Overcropping is the result of the opposite and the shoots will grow too slow and the leaves will be small and the stems spindly.
20
Q
What is bench grafting and what are its advantages?
A
The practice of grafting vines indoors. This lessens the risk of phylloxera and nematodes. Dormant vines are grafted and stored in a nursery where the graft is allowed to callus wherein it is then sealed with wax and sold in the spring.
21
Q
Guignardi bidwelli is the fungus that causes what vine diesease?
A
Black rot
22
Q
What stage of a vine’s life cycle does bleeding take place? What is happening during this stage?
A
Bleeding occurs when vines lose fluid in spring from pruning cuts
23
Q
What is the function of the bloom on a grape?
A
The bloom is a whitish covering consisting of waxes and cutin which protects the berry against water loss and helps stop the penetration of spores. A certain proportion of wild yeast is also present which is often used for wild ferments or whose function is inhibited by more vigorous strains of cultivated yeasts.
24
Q
What is the French term for debudding prior to flowering?
A
bourgeonnage
25
What white grapes are tolerated for Bourgogne Blanc? What about Bourgogne Rouge?
Bourgogne Blanc: Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris
Bourgogne Rouge: César and Tressot
26
What is the style produced under the Bourgogne Mousseux AOP?
Dry, Sparkling Red with min 9 months on lees and bottled under 3.5 atm
27
What are the 3 best locations for quality Aligoté?
Chitry in the Yonne
Bouzeron in the Chalonnaise
Pernand-Vergelesses
28
What are the grape requirements for Bourgogne Passetoutgrains AOP?
Min 30% Pinot Noir plus Gamay
29
What is BSN?
Bunchstem Necrosis; also known as water berry in California and shanking in New Zealand
30
What sort of climates is Cane Pruning most common? Spur pruning? Why is this the case?
Cane pruning is more common in cooler climates.
Spur pruning is more common in warmer climates.
By limiting the vine's lignified growth to the trunk rather than the extremities the vine becomes less vulnerable to frost.
31
What is berry pinking and what is it the result of?
berry pinking results when grapes are exposed to too much sunlight causing them to lose color on the vine.
32
What side of the vine is leaf removal common in the first half of the season? Why?
On the east side of the vine so as to protect it from the fierce afternoon sun.
Removal on the west side is more common in the latter part of the growing season to increase warmth during the cooler tail end of the season.
33
Between what two temperatures is the mean temperature during the final month of ripening ideal?
Between 59-70F
34
Why do vines in warmer climates need long sunlight hours? What is an example of a warm climate producing table and not fortified wines?
Due to the rate of respiration of the vine being higher in warmer climates.
Hunter Valley GI
35
How can wind negatively affect the vine and wine quality?
Can cause direct physical damage to the canopy which in turn will affect photosynthesis and expose the fruiting zones to excessive sunlight in the process.
Dry winds can reduce wine quality by increased rate of evaporation and while this is great for lowering fungal disease pressure it can contribute to excessive water stress at the same time.
36
How has climate change influenced disease pressures presented by vineyard pests?
Pests such as insects are migrating further north and bringing diseases to vineyards that were previously not hospitable for the insect vectors.
37
Other than total vine death, what is the biggest threat resulting from deep freezes to a grape vine?
The vine can rupture and split open allowing for exposure to bacteria such as those that create Crown Gall
38
How is clonal selection different than Mass Selection?
In clonal selection, one single superior vine is selected and cuttings from this plant are propagated throughout the vineyard.
Mass Selection involves the selection of multiple superior vines in the vineyard and cuttings from each are propagated around the vineyard.
39
What is collar rot and how is this treated?
Fungal disease of the vine that largely affects young vines growing in cool, moist soil.
This can be treated by removing soil from the base of the trunk to promote the reduction of soil moisture.
40
What is the difference between Colluvium and Alluvium in regards to soil?
Colluvium is sediment that has moved downslope under the influence of gravity.
Alluvium is transported by rivers.
41
Where does the term continental climate come from?
Climate that is defined by its degree of continentality which is defined for any place as the difference between the average mean temperature of its hottest month and that of its coldest month. Continental climates have a wide annual range. Maritime have a narrow range.
42
What are three conditions presented by climate that can delay or interrupt the ripening period?
Excessive heat can cause the vine to completely shutdown.
Too much water can delay ripening and also dilute the grapes.
Frost at the beginning or end of a season can be detrimental to ripening as it can kill off foliage.
43
What are the two main sugars found in grapes?
Glucose and Fructose
44
What are 4 scales used throughout the world to measure the amount of sugar in grapes and fermenting grape must?
Brix
Baumé
Oeschle
Klosterneuburg (KMW or Babo)
45
Grapes will naturally accummulate between how many Brix in the vineyard? How will a grape obtain a higher Brix level?
Between 22-24
Anything higher is said to be a result of various forms of dehydration
46
Why are stuck fermentations common in the production of botrytized wines?
Because botrityzed grapes frequently have a higher amount of fructose than glucose. Yeasts prefer glucose to fructose and when glucose runs out stuck fermentations can commonly result.
47
What is the general rate of sugar accumulation per week in grapes following veraison?
Generally 0.5-1 Brix per week
48
Phenolic aka Physiological ripeness refers to what?
Maturity of color, tannins, and flavors in grapes.
49
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is typically harvested by machine due mostly in part by the lack of labor force but partly because of what?
It enhances aromatic properties unique to the style that are difficult to replicate by hand harvesting.
50
How much faster can mechanical harvesters pick compared to humans?
10-20 times faster.
51
Cool climate viticultural areas are planted to early or late-ripening varietals?
Early-Ripening varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chasselas, Muller-Thurgau
52
Why are the red wines produced in cool climates typically quite pale?
Full development of anthocyanin pigments and tannins in grape skins requires greater warmth.
53
What is one way to reduce the effects of copper toxicity in soil?
Additions of Lime to raise the pH
54
What is the species of oak that produces cork?
Quercus suber
55
In what region of Portugal are most of the country's cork forests?
Alentejo
56
What type of disease is Corky Bark and which insect is responsible for infection? What are the symptoms of the vine and how is it cured?
Viral disease that is one of a complex of diseases known as rugose wood that comes from the longtailed mealybug.
Symptoms are similar to leafroll virus in that the leaves turn red or yellow and roll downwards in the autumn.
It cannot be cured and if infected vines aren't removed it can kill of large swaths of vineyard.
57
What is coulure? What causes it?
French term for a form of poor fruit set that results from poor weather conditions around flowering that reduce photosynthesis creating an imbalance of carbohydrates in vine tissue. This can also be caused by excessive vigorous shoot growth combined with warm temperatures and excessively fertile soils, vigorous rootstocks, and excessive pruning.
The result of this is less fertilized fruit thus grapes per cluster and shot berries that fall off.
58
The French term cour-noué refers to what vine disease?
Fanleaf Degeneration
59
For what reasons are cover crops sewn in vineyards?
increase organic matter/improve soil structure
reduce soil erosion
reduce soil compaction
reduce vine vigor through competition
induce mild water stress through competion beneficial for concentration of grapes
60
What are a few drawbacks to cover crops?
Can increase levels of nitrogen when ploughed into the soil resulting in excessive vine vigor
Can harbor harmful insects
61
What is éclaircissage also known as and what is it?
Vendange Vert/Green Harvest/Crop Thinning
Practice that became popular in Bordeaux during the early 90's (but practiced at Petrus since the 70s) where bunches of grapes are typically removed during veraison for the purposes of concentrating grapes on the vine.
62
What is Black Knot also known as and what bacterium causes it?
Crown Gall; caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
63
What bacterial disease-causing agent is actually being used for its application in genetic modification due to its ability to incorporate its own DNA into the plant where it is combined with that of a host?
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
64
Cultivation is another name for what process?
Ploughing the soil
65
What is cut cane and for what purpose is it used?
Technique designed to increase sugar concentration in almost-ripe grapes where cutting the canes almost at the time of harvest. This halts water supply to the grapes causing them to shrivel and concentrate.
This technique was developed to avert rain spoilage of drying grapes on the vine.
66
Cuttings produce?
Clones
67
What is desuckering?
The removal of unwanted young shoots that typically grow on the trunk or in the head of the vine and grow in spring from buds surviving in the old wood. These shoots are termed water shoots and for the majority of vine varieties have no bunches of grapes.
68
What is the advantage of divided canopy styles such as Geneva Double Curtain, Lyre, Scott Henry, and Smart-Dyson?
Increases the surface area of the canopy that is exposed to sunlight, while reducing canopy shade. Both yield and wine quality can increase as a result.
69
What is the difference between a cane and a cordon?
A cane is a lignified shoot from the previous years growth that is typically pruned back to a spur following the harvest meaning it is present for 2 years.
A cordon is an extension of the trunk that was previously a cane but has lignified over several years to become thick.
70
How does hydric stress impact a vine's ability to photosynthesize?
During hydric stress, the vine's stomata close to conserve water and this inhibits the ability of the vine to take in CO2 which will shutdown photosynthesis.
71
What are three top rootstocks used for viticulture?
V. rupestris
V. riparia
V. berlandieri
72
What can be said about grapes that are under more water stress in regards to tannin?
These grapes will be more tannic
73
What are a couple reasons that a vigneron may double prune?
To delay budbreak and hence reduce frost hazard in cool climates
To delay harvest and hence potentially increase wine quality in hot regions.
74
What is peronospra also known as and what causes it? What are the symptoms/effects on the vine?
Downey Mildew; caused by Plasmopara viticola
Attacks all green parts of the vine and causes the leaves to fall off which affects the vines ability to ripen grapes and create carbohydrate stores.
Symptoms include an 'oil spot' visible on the leaf accompanied by a cottony undergrowth.
75
What are 4 characteristics of rootstocks that vary from one species to the next and are considered when grafting?
Resistance to pests/diseases
Vigor
Drought Tolerance
Adaptations to Various Soils
76
What are the characteristics that Vitis riparia rootstock confers to the scion?
Low vigor, early ripening, but doesn't do well in drought or soils that contain a high lime content.
77
What characteristics does Vitis rupestris rootstock confer upon the scion that it is grafted to?
Extensive roots, high vigor, does well in rocky soils and has a high resistance to phylloxera and good tolerance to nematodes and viruses. Canopies can become too vigorous if planted in fertile soils.
78
What characteristics do Vitis berlandieri confer upon scions?
Moderate drought resistance, deep roots, and excellent vine health in alkaline soils.
79
What are three examples of wine growing regions that contain subtropical climates?
Madeira, Canary Islands, Hunter Valley
80
What can be said about wines produced in warm climates versus cool climates?
Warm climates produce wines that are fruitier with higher alcohol, lower acid, and softer tannins.
Cool climates produce wines that are lower in alcohol, higher in acidity with more astringent tannins and fresh fruit and savory flavors.
81
What are the 6 categories of the Winkler Index and the values in degree days for Fahrenheit associated with each?
```
Ia: 1500-2000
Ib: 2001-2500
II: 2501-3000
III: 3001-3500
IV: 3501-4000
V: 4001-5000
```
82
What does the Winkler scale accounts for the pattern of heat summation, but what else is worth considering? Why is this important?
The pattern of heat accumulation or the rate a vine receives heat.
This is important to consider because a vine that experiences a moderate climate with a long growing season may experience the same heat as a warmer climate with a shorter growing season, but each will impact the fruit differently.
83
What is the difference between continentality and diurnal shift?
Continentality is the difference between winter and summer temperatures.
Dirunal shift refers to the difference between day and night time temperatures.
84
What is the major viticultural hazard in the spring and fall for vines planted in climates with a high degree of continentality?
Frost
85
In addition to sugar production what else is sunlight responsible for in grapes?
Light also stimulates the production of phenolic compounds, like anthocyanin and tannin which are important for red wines.
It also stimulates the production of TDN which can give Riesling a petrol aroma.
Additionally light assists with the breakdown of pyrazines that can give overly green and herbaceous flavors in wine.
86
What can excessive heat from sunlight cause in regards to grapes?
Flavor loss, acid degradation, and sunburn
87
How many hours of sunlight are said to be needed to ripen grapes?
1250
88
Why do young vines often need more water than older vines?
Due to their root systems not being fully developed yet which inhibits them from reaching water reserves deep in the soil.
89
How does excessive water influence the vine?
It can result in excessive yields, slow ripening, and encourages the vine to produce a big, vigorous canopy.
90
How does drought influence the vine?
Causes the vines to close their stomates to preserve water which inhibits photsynthesis and thus growth. Extreme drought will result in defoliation and can cause the vine to die.
91
How can wind affect photosynthesis and thus vine growth?
Excessive wind can create overly dry conditions which cause the vine to close its stomata, inhibiting photosynthesis and growth.
92
What is the name of the dugout crater that vines are planted in on the island of Lanzarote? What is the name of the crescent shaped wall that surrounds these?
The crater is called a 'hoyo' and the crescent-shaped wall is called a zoco.
93
Between what two latitudes is typically ideal for the growth of grapevines for wine production?
30-50
94
What can be said about the steepness of a hill and its relation to sun exposure and grape ripening?
The steeper the hill the more sun exposure and thus the earlier-ripening the site.
95
What is fertigation?
The application of soluble fertilizers through irrigation lines.
96
The main concern surrounding the presence of fruit flies is that they encourage what?
Bunch rots in grapes.
97
What is dryland viticulture?
Viticulture that relies entirely on natural rainfall.
98
In what kind of climates is Esca most severe? Name a few wine regions that are affected by this?
Mediterranean Climates
France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and California
99
White rot is a sign of which fungal disease?
Esca
100
What is the most common cause of Esca?
Infected pruning and grafting wounds.
101
What is the name for the vine training method that features a trunk and one or two arms growing up a wall in a single plane or flat shape such as a wall?
Espalier
102
Which fungal disease is known as dying arm? What fungus causes this?
Eutypa dieback; Eutypa lata
103
How does fanleaf degeneration affect a vine?
Shoots show abnormal branching and leaves look fanlike creating poor fruit set in grape clusters and many shot berries.
104
What are the two most likely vectors of fanleaf degeneration in grape vines?
Nematodes feeding on vine roots and spread by infected plant material through grafting.
105
What is a calyptra?
The flower cap of the vine.
106
How long after budbreak does flowering occur?
6-13 weeks following.
107
Capfall is most closely associated with what stage of the vine's growth cycle?
Flowering where it refers to the detachment of the calyptra.
108
For what reasons are roses sometimes planted at the end of vine rows?
They can show early onset of Powdery Mildew. They can also attract insects during flowering to assist with pollination.
109
Direct producers refer to what?
Hybrid grapes
110
What two sugars combine to form sucrose and are split and concentrated in grape berries? Which accumulates in the grapes at a higher concentration?
Glucose and Fructose combine to create Sucrose. Sucrose is split into Glucose and Fructose and accumulates in the grapes with Fructose accumulating at a higher concentration often at 5:1 at veraison.
111
What can be said in regards to fruitfulness, or the number of bunches per shoot, as it correlates to spur pruning vs cane pruning?
Cane pruning will produce more buds per shoot than spur pruning.
112
What process of the vine's growth cycle does "nouaison" refer to?
fruit set
113
What is "shatter"?
Shatter is the falling off of unfertilized flowers following fertilization.
114
What is the condition a grapevine sees where there is a higher percentage of seedless berries present?
Millerandage
115
What are gibberellins and what are they use for?
Naturally occurring plant hormones which regulate vine growth.
Preparations of these into sprays are used to promote larger berry sizes and can also be used to reduce botrytis infection and the development of sour rout.
116
What is Homalodisca vitripennis and what does it spread?
Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter; spreads Pierce's Disease
117
What is gobelet training called in Italy?
alberelli a vaso
118
What is gobelet called in Portugal?
en taça
119
What is gobelet called in Spain?
en vaso
120
What are grapevine yellows and how do they affect the vine? How are they spread?
Grapevine yellows is a generic term for a group of phytoplasmic diseases with no known cure and pose a serious threat to vines as a result. Flavescence Dorée is the best-known of these
It drastically affects shoot and leaf growth and causes grape bunches to either fall off completely or shrivel on the vine.
It is typically spread by leafhopper insects
121
Scaphoideus titanus is the culprit largely associated with what disease?
Flavescence dorée
122
What does the term arrachage refer to?
Grubbing up, or the act of ripping out vines as a result of vines being either diseased and/or too old to produce enough grapes to be economical.
123
What are some preventative methods vignerons practice to help mitigate hail damage?
Seeding clouds with silver iodide or dry ice, from planes or a cannon, to reduce the size of the hailstones so that some melt before they reach the ground.
Hail cannons that generate shockwaves intended to disrupt the formation of hail.
Covering the vines with netting to reduce the impact of hailstones
124
How does heat stress affect the vine? How does this affect the grapes?
Excessive temperatures will result in the vine ceasing to photosynthesize.
Heat stress can also lead to water stress when combined with low humidity and strong wind.
The grapes will have lower levels of malic acid while varietal character and color, particularly in red grapes, will be depressed.
125
Why are hillsides said to be superior to flat plains for viticulture?
The steepness of the hill lends itself to thinner soils which will naturally restrict the vigor of the vine.
Plantings on hillsides may also be protected from frost as the cold air will slide down to the valley floor.
In hot regions planting on hillsides is generally cooler in mesoclimate and thus more suitable to the vine than the hot valley floor may be.
126
What is the goal of hot water treatment and how is this practiced?
The goal is to eliminate surface contaminants on vine cuttings by submerging them for a few minutes in water up to 120F.
This submersion may be for up to 30 minutes to treat for internal diseases such as Fungi and Phytoplasma.
This is also used to control Nematodes, Phylloxera, and Crown Gall bacteria.
127
During what times of the day is humidity generally at its highest concentration in the air? Why?
During the evenings and mornings due to the lower temperatures.
The amount of humidity in the air is inversely related to temperature.
128
Why does Gladstone argue that higher humidity during the day is conducive to higher quality grapes for wine?
What are a handful of wine regions that can validate this theory due to their having higher humidity levels during the day?
Transpiration of the vine is lower when there's more humidity so the grapes will absorb less minerals like potassium from the vine leading to must with a lower pH and thus which lends the resulting wines more brightness of color, freshness of flavor and aroma, and greater resistance to oxidation and bacterial spoilage.
Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Rioja, Piedmont, Germany, Austria, Margaret River, Tasmania, Tuscany all experience this.
129
What is indexing? How is it carried out? Give an example
Indexing is the method of testing vines for viral diseases and phytoplasma diseases.
It is carried out by taking sap from a plant to be tested and exposing it to so-called "indicator plants"
Cabernet Franc is an indicator plant for Leaf Roll virus as it's highly sensitive to this viral disease.
130
What does the inflorescence refer to? What does it become?
The structure that bears the flowers on a vine during flowering. The inflorescence will grow into the grape cluster and the flowers into individual grapes.
131
What are 3 examples of Tenturier grapes?
Colorino, Alicante Bouschet, Pontac, Saperavi
132
What species is the North American Concord grape?
Vitis labrusca
133
What are three names for bush vine training?
Alberello (Italy)
En Vaso (Spain)
Gobelet (France)
134
What is Aspersion?
Frost prevention technique that uses sprinklers allowing water to freeze over buds to protect them.
135
Flavescence Dorée is what type of disease?
Also known as Grapevine Yellow, Flavescence Dorée is a phytoplasma diesease
136
What is "shatter"? When does it occur during the growing cycle and what is the result?
Flowers that don't set or that aren't fertilized. This is aka Coulure.
This occurs during the end of flowering heading into fruit set.
The result is fewer bunches per vine.
137
What is a scion?
The part of the plant that is grafted onto a Rootstock.
138
What are a couple reasons that cover crops are planted in the vineyard?
To slow/prevent soil errosion
To promote biodiversity in the vineyard
To introduce more free nitrogen to the soil.
To house predatory insects that are benevolent towards pest control.
139
What are a few goals of pruning?
To control the following seasons yield.
To ensure proper balance of canopy.
140
What does Integrated Pest Management allow that Organic and Biodynamic Farming does not?
The use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.
