Viticulture Flashcards
What is the definition of a cool climate region?
Regions with an average mean temperature during the growing seasons of below 16•C, in which early ripening varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir will just ripen.
Classic cool climate regions include, Champagne, the Mosel, Southern England, Anderson Valley (N California), Tasmania and parts of Carneros (California).
What is the definition of a moderate climate?
Regions with an average mean temperature during the growing seasons of 16.5-18.5•C
These are suited to the production of medium bodied wines from intermediate ripening varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese.
Examples include Bordeaux, Northern Rhône, Rioja, Tuscany, much of Piedmont and Tuscany, Coonawarra, Marlborough - more moderate parts of Napa and Sonoma.
What is the average mean temperature of a moderate climate region during the growing season?
16.5-18.5•C
What is the average mean temperature of a cool climate region during the growing season?
Below 16•C
What is the growing season in the Northern hemisphere?
April - October
What is the growing season in the Southern Hemisphere?
October - April
What are two classic early ripening varieties?
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
What are two typical cool climate regions?
Champagne The Mosel Southern England Anderson Valley (Northern California) Tasmania Carneros (California)
What is a classic moderate climate region?
Bordeaux
Northern Rhône Rioja Much of Piedmont & Tuscany Coonawarra Marlborough
What is the average mean temperature during the growing season of a warm region?
18.5-21•C
What are some classic warm climate regions?
Southern Rhône The Douro Jerez McLaren Vale Paarl
What grape varieties like warm climate regions?
Grenache, Mourvèdre and Ruby Cabernet
What is classified as hot climate?
Regions with an average mean temperature of over 21•C during the growing season
What is the degree of continentality?
The difference between the average mean temperature of the hottest month and the coldest month.
Where the difference is large climates are continental
Where the difference is small, climates are maritime
Where are maritime climates usually found?
Near large bodies of water e.g. Bordeaux and the eastern coast of New Zealand
A maritime climate has higher or lower rainfall than Mediterranean or continental climates?
Higher rainfall, and this generally brings extra cloud cover
Maritime climates are characterised by…
Low annual range of temperatures (warm summers, mild winters)
Relatively high rainfall
The grape berry ripening period is reasonable long, with moderate temperatures
Classic maritime climates…
Bordeaux Muscadet Rias Baixas Vinho Verde South of England
A Mediterranean climate is characterised by…
Low annual range of temperatures (warm sunny summers and mild winters) but with dry summers and most of the rain falling during the winter.
Where outside of the Mediterranean is classified as having a Mediterranean climate?
West Coast of the United States
Most of Chilean wine regions
Many regions in South Eastern Australia
Cape winelands of South Africa
Continental climates are generally found…
Inland, away from the moderating affects of the sea (e.g. Mendoza, Central Europe, central Spain) has
Continental climates are characterised by…
A wide annual range of temperatures - hot summers and cold winters
Why can Continental climates have a shorter growing season?
Because temperatures drop more rapidly in autumn compared to maritime climates and there is less sunlight and warmth available to the vine at the end of the growling season. Which is why early ripening varieties such as Riesling and Pinot Noir are valued in places like Northern Germany, Champagne and British Columbia
Why is late harvesting less of a risk in continental climates?
Because continental climates tend to be drier than maritime climates which reduces the risk of rot at harvest time and makes late harvesting less of a risk
What is an example of a warm continental climate?
Mendoza
What is an example of a cool continental climate?
Alsace
Austria
Northern Germany
What defines a tropical climate?
Tropical climates show minimal temperature variation throughout the year so seasons tends to be defined through other factors - ie rainfall
Why are subtropical climates difficult for quality wine production?
Because the vine need clear temperature signals for its dormant periods and growth cycles and a climate with minimal variation throughout the year does not provide this.
Some vine growing does occur in subtropical regions like India and Brazil but the lack of winters mean the vine crops at more than once a year and with no dormant period in which to rest and consolidate their carbohydrate reserves, vines have a shorter productive lifespan
What is Smaragd?
The most valuable category of white wines from the ripest grapes on the best sites of the Wachau in Austria.
Alcohol levels must be more than 12.5%
Can age for 20 years+
What EU climate region is the UK and Germany (excluding Baden) in?
EU regjon A
5% minimum abv
Maximum enrichment +3.5% to 11.5% (to 12% for reds)
Acid adjustment -1 - 0g/L
What climatic EU region is Loire, Champagne, Alsace and Austria in?
EU region B
6% minimum potential abv
Maximum enrichment +2.5% to 12 % (to 12.5% for reds)
Acid adjustment -1 - 0 g/L
What climate region is Bordeaux, South West France, Rhône and Vinho Verde?
EU region C 1a
7.5% minimum potential alcohol
Maximum enrichment
+2% to 12.5% abv
Acid adjustment
-1 - 0g/L
