Viticulture - Out on the Vineyard Flashcards
The Art of Vine Growing - Learning the factors that influence the grapes and the resulting wine that they produce.
Q: Most grapes thrive between which Latitudes?
30° and 50° Latitude
in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Define:
Viticulture
Definition:
All factors that affect Vine-Growing.
Short Story:
The things that pertain to the farming of grape vines.
Describe the three different sizes of Climate from Largest to Smallest
- Macroclimate
- Mesoclimate
- Microclimate
Define:
Macroclimate
Definition:
An entire Wine Region
Define:
Mesoclimate
Definition:
A particular Vineyard
Define:
Microclimate
Definition:
A specific Single Row or Vine
Define:
Continental Climate
Definition:
Areas NOT in close proximity to large bodies of water which would moderate the temperature. Strong annual variation of temperature with hotter summers and sometimes extremely cold winters.
Define:
Maritime Climate
Definition:
A climate influenced by a large body of water like a Sea or Ocean. Mild Temperatures that can fluctuate from year to year, causing vintage variation.
Define:
Mediterranean Climate
Definition:
Summers are Hot and Dry except on the coastal areas.
Along the coasts, summers are mild due to cold water currents with some chance of storms.
Define:
High Desert Climate
Definition:
Summers are generally Hot and Dry with temperatures dropping dramatically overnight.
Q: What are the four Temperature Definitions?
- Cool
- Moderate
- Warm
- Hot
Define:
Diurnal Shift
Definition:
The difference in temperature between the average Daytime Highs and Nighttime Lows. Can affect balance of Sugars and Acids in resulting Wines.
Define:
Sunshine Hours
Definition:
The number of Sunshine Hours that a Vineyard or Wine Region recieves in a given vintage year or growing season.
Define:
Threats
Definition:
Forces of Nature that can be potential threats to vineyard health and viability.
Define:
Frost or Freeze
Define:
Hail
Definition:
Pellets of frozen rain.
Can shatter grapes on the vine.
What can Strong Winds do to Vineyards/Grape Vines?
Strong Winds can blow vines over and blow buds and flowers off of the vines, preventing the actual grapes from growing.
Define:
Climate Moderators
Definition:
Climate Factors that can strongly influence the climate of a specific Region by
Warming or Cooling it.
Name three examples of this Climate Moderator:
Bodies of Water
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Oceans
Q: How do Mountains Moderate the climate of a Wine Region?
A: Mountains can protect a wine region from surrounding weather or climate influences.
Define:
Rain Shadow
(very important)
a DRY area on one side of a mountain opposite the wind, rain and generally poor weather on the other side.
Ex. Alsace, Eastern Washington State, Mendoza and more.
Q: How does Altitude/Elevation
Moderate Climate?
A: With every 100 meters of elevation gain the temperature drops by approximately one degree. Increased elevation also provides cooler temperatures that slow grape ripening and make more balanced wines.
Short Story:
the higher up you go, the cooler the temp!
Q: How does Wind act to Moderate the Climate of a Wine Region?
A: Depending on the direction from which winds originate, wind can cool or warm a region.
Short Story:
Wind from Desert ⇒⇒⇒ Warms Wine Region
Wind from Oceans, etc. ⇒⇒⇒ Cools Wine Region
Q: How do steeper hillsides affect a Wine Region?
A: Steeper Hillsides provide better drainage of soil, they are often times less fertile due to erosion. They are also harder to maintain during growing season and harvest.
Q: Valley Floors influence vine growth in what way(s)?
A: Valley Floors pool air, are susceptable to frost and have overly fertile soil from nutrients and minerals washing down the valley slopes.
Define:
Slope Aspect
Definition:
Slopes facing the sun for most of the day are the warmest whereas slopes facing away from the sun are coolest. Either can be desirable depending on the climate of the region and on whether ripening or retention of acidity is most desired by the grower/winemaker.
Short Story:
Aspect = the direction the hillside faces and how much sun it gets.
Name four different Soil Types.
- Granite
- Limestone/Chalk
- Marl
- Schist
- Clay
- Sand
- Silt
- Gravel
Q: What attributes does the Skin of a grape impart to a wine?
- Tannins
- Color
- Flavor
Q: What two major factors are imparted to a wine from skin contact?
- Tannic Structure
- Color
Q: As a grape ripens on the vine, what happens to the Sugar and Acid levels?
A: Sugar levels increase.
Acid levels decrease.
Q: Will an early-harvest wine show more sugar or acid and why?
A: Acid, because the grape wasn’t given added time to ripen and produce more sugar.
Q: What is the Latin name for the most common wine-making grape vine?
A: Vitis Vinifera
Cause and Effect:
Cool Climate will do what to the resulting wine?
(This is also called the “style” of the wine)
- Grapes ripen slowly and moderately
- Less sugar is produced
- Acidity remains high
- Less alcohol potential
- Flavors are more tart and lean, less ripe and juicy.
Cause and Effect:
Warm Climate will do what to the resulting wine?
(This is also called a “style” of wine)
- Grapes ripen fully
- More sugar is produced
- Acidity is lower
- Higher alcohol potential
- Flavors are more ripe, lush and juicy
Define:
Vine Spacing
Definition:
How far apart or close together individual vines are planted.
Define:
Vine Training
Definition:
Vines will continue to grow out of control unless a vineyard manager tells them what to do. Vines are trimmed to grow in specific ways to control the vines production of grapes, leaves and wood.
Define:
Yield
Definition:
The amount of fruit the vine produces.
Measured in:
Tons per Acre
Hectolitres per Hectare
Pounds or Kilos per Vine
Define:
Green Harvest
Definition:
Dropping or Cutting grape bunches off of the vine before harvest to focus the vine’s energy on fewer, higher quality bunches.
Define:
Phylloxera
***Very important for exam***
Definition:
A Vine Louse that destroyed 1/3 of the world’s grape vines in beginning in the 1800s.
BTW: It was one of the greatest threats to wine production in history.
Define:
Canopy Management
Definition:
Managing the growth of the vine’s leaves, often to shade or expose the grape bunches or control the flow of air through the vine rows.
