Viticulture General Flashcards
What are the main components of a grape vine?
Rootstock
Trunk
Cordons
Shoots/canes
Grape clusters/bunches Canopy
What is a Mutation?
A spontaneous genetic change that can result in new grape varieties.
What is a Hybrid?
The result of crossing two different grape species. (Vinifera, Labrusca etc.)
What is Crossing?
When a grape is bred from two different Vitis vinifera varieties.
What is a Clone?
The creation of a genetically identical grapevine, created by taking a cutting from a single mother vine.
What is Organic Farming.
Organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Certified by an independent body to meet strict requirements.
What is Biodynamic Farming.
A holistic approach to farming that considers the entire ecosystem of the vineyard and uses organic materials and natural processes to promote biodiversity and sustainability.
Give some examples of methods used in Biodynamic farming.
-Compost and Manure
-Cover Cropping
-Companion Planting
-Mechanical Weed Control
-Lunar Calendar
-Soil Supplements
What is the difference between Sustainable and Organic farming?
Organic farming focuses on the purity of the grapes grown, while sustainable farming focuses on the impact of the entire wine production process on the environment.
What is Sustainable farming?
Sustainable farming steers clear of methods that are destructive to the environment. Organic is to vine as Sustainable is to vineyard
What is Dry farming?
Vineyards that are watered just by rain and not irrigation.
True or False: BioDynamic farming is considered Organic and Sustainable.
True
Name the six big Climate Moderators.
-Altitude
-Diurnal shifts
-Sunshine hours
-Bodies of water
-Wind
-Rain shadow
What are the eight steps in the Vine Cycle?
-Dormancy
-Bud Break
-Flowering
-Fruit Set
-Ripening
-Veraison
-Hangtime
-Maturity
-Harvest
-Pruning
What are the two main systems of vine training?
-Head Training: Two examples being Goblet and Bush. (no support)
-Cordon Training: A system that employs some kind of support.
What is Green Harvest?
A quality measure of dropping unripe grapes or clusters.
What are the two main methods to measure yield?
- Tons per acre
- Hectoliters per hectare
What is Pierce’s Disease?
The disease is caused by a strain of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. It kills grapevines by clogging their water-conducting vessels (xylem). (first found in CA in 1884)
What does skin contact do the pH of a wine?
It raises the pH and makes the wine more alkaline.
What is Night Harvesting?
A practice employed to take advantage of cooler temperature for reasons such as:
-less oxidation
-less cooking of grapes in bins
-safer conditions for pickers
-helps grapes to retain acidity
What is Phenolic Ripeness vs. Sugar Ripeness?
Phenolic ripeness (also referred to as physiological ripeness) refers to the changes in the tannins that occur in grape skins, seeds and stems. Sugar ripeness refers to the breakdown of acids and accumulation of sugars. (Northern Hemisphere harvests by Sugar Ripeness)
What are some considerations for timing of picking?
-Weather
-Style of wine being made
-Producer goals
-Regional wine law
-Number of vineyard passes for picking
