Viticulture (R) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the factors of production?

A
  1. Historical Background
  2. Location/Geography
  3. Climate
  4. Topography/Aspect
  5. Soil
  6. Grape Varieties Planted
  7. Viticultural Practices
  8. Vinification Practices
  9. Harvest
  10. Yearly Weather/Vintage Variation
  11. Terroir
  12. Regional Wine Laws
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2
Q

Define viticulture

A

The art and science of vine growing

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3
Q

What characterizes the location/geography of a vineyard?

A

Site selection
Goals
Regional Wine Laws
Financial Considerations

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4
Q

What does climate determine?

A

Wine style

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5
Q

What are the latitudinal zones of wine growing?

A

30-50 degrees in both hemispheres (Northern and Southern)

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6
Q

What is a Macroclimate?

A

The “big picture” climate of an entire wine region.

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7
Q

What is a Mesoclimate?

A

The climate of a particular vineyard.

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8
Q

What is a Microclimate?

A

The climate of a particular row of vines or even a specific vine within a vineyard.

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9
Q

What are the four primary climates?

A
  1. Continental (cool)
  2. Maritime (moderate)
  3. Mediterranean (warm)
  4. High Desert (hot)
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10
Q

What characterizes a Continental climate?

A
  1. Strong annual variation in temperature due to lack of proximity to significant bodies of water.
  2. Hotter summers than maritime
  3. Often cold winters that can be extreme
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11
Q

What characterizes a Maritime climate?

A
  1. Influenced by a large body of water such as a sea or ocean
  2. Marked by mild temperatures
  3. Year to year temperature fluctuations causing vintage variation
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12
Q

What characterizes a Mediterranean climate?

A
  1. Summers are hot and dry (except for immediate coastal areas)
  2. Along coasts, summers are mild due to proximity to cold water currents
  3. Storms can be consequence
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13
Q

What characterizes a High Desert climate?

A
  1. Hot and dry summers
  2. High daytime temperatures
  3. Dramatic drops in temperature overnight
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14
Q

What factors affect climate?

A
  1. Diurnal Shifts
  2. Sunshine Hours
  3. Threats (frost or freeze, hail, strong winds)
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15
Q

What are sunshine hours and how do they affect climate?

A
  • Number of sunshine hours a vineyard or wine region receives in a given vintage year or growing season.
  • Ripening of grapes
  • Balancing of acidity and sugar
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16
Q

What are potential threats and how do they affect climate? (3)

A
  • Frost or Freeze: Hazard in Spring and Fall. Can kill vines outright. In spring, frost can damage or kill delicate buds and flowers, preventing vines from setting grape clusters.
  • Hail: Can shatter grapes.
  • Strong Winds: Can blow over vines or blow buds and flowers off the vine, preventing grapes from growing.
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17
Q

List the primary climate moderators. (4)

A
  • Bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans - can warm or cool a region)
  • Mountains (rain shadow can protect)
  • Altitude/Elevation (1 degree drop per 1 meter rise)
  • Wind (can cool or lend warmth/drier air)
18
Q

major white grape varieties?

A

16

19
Q

major red grape varieties?

A

18

20
Q

What are the primary topographic elements?

A
  • Local Elevation/Altitude
  • Hillside Slope or Valley Floor?
    (Slope = better drainage, less fertile from erosion, lower chance of frost, difficult to maintain and harvest
    (Floor = pooling of air, frost, sometimes overly fertile)
  • Aspect (sun facing or not)
  • Proximity to Water
21
Q

Important properties of soil? (3)

A
  • Water Drainage
  • Water Retention
  • Sun Reflection
22
Q

Main types of soil? (8)

A
  1. Granite
  2. Limestone/Chalk
  3. Marl
  4. Schist
  5. Clay
  6. Sand
  7. Silt
  8. Gravel
23
Q

What do grape skins contribute to a wine?

A
  1. Tannins
  2. Color
  3. Flavor
24
Q

What do grape pulps contribute to a wine?

A
  1. Water
  2. Sugar (increases as grape ripens)
  3. Acids (decreases as grape ripes)
  4. Seed/Pips (can give bitter flavors if pressed)
25
Q

Grapes are the fruit of a vining plant of the genus __________.

A

Vitis

26
Q

What are the main species of vining plants that produce grapes?

A
  1. Vitis vinifera (native to Mediterranean, Europe, Southwestern Asia)
  2. Vitis labrusca
  3. Vitis riparia
27
Q

What should you consider when choosing a grape variety of planting?

A
  • Wine Laws
  • Climate Compatibility
  • Soil Compatibility
28
Q

What is viticultural propagation?

A

A fancy term for vine breeding.

29
Q

Name the three types of viticultural propagation.

A
  1. Hybrids
  2. Crosses
  3. Clones
30
Q

What is hybrid propagation?

A

Combining two or more species to produce a new variety (Vitis vinifera x Vitis Labrusca) (ie. the Armagnac grape Baco Blanc = Folle blanche (vinifera) X Noah (labrusca))

31
Q

What is cross propagation?

A

Combining vines of the same species to produce a new variety (Vitis vinifera x Vitis vinifera) (ie. Cabernet Sauvignon = Cabernet Franc (vinifera) X Sauvignon Blanc (vinifera))

32
Q

What is clone propagation?

A

Identical genetic reproduction of a single vine (common in Cabernet Sauvignon)

33
Q

How does a cool climate impact wine style?

A
  • Slow, moderate ripening
  • Less sugar
  • Higher acidity
  • Lower alcohol potential
  • More tart and lean; less ripe and juicy
34
Q

How does a warm climate impact wine style?

A
  • Full ripening
  • More sugar
  • Lower acidity
  • Higher alcohol potential
  • Ripe, lush, juicy
35
Q

Name four factors of viticultural practices.

A
  1. Vineyard Architecture
  2. Vine Spacing
  3. Vine Training
  4. Yield
36
Q

What is “green harvest”?

A

The dropping or cutting of grape bunches off of a vine before harvest to focus the vine’s energy on FEWER, HIGHER QUALITY BUNCHES.

37
Q

Name five aspects of vineyard management.

A
  1. Canopy Management
  2. Irrigation
  3. Pests and Diseases
  4. Fertilizers
  5. Anti-Fungal Treatments
38
Q

What aspects of harvest determine wine style and quality?

A
  • Timing of Picking (grape maturity, sugar ripeness, physiological ripeness, tannin ripeness)
  • Number of Vineyard Passes
  • Method (hand vs mechanical; small bin vs large bin)
39
Q

Define terroir.

A

Terroir is the entire set of factors that influence the development of the vine’s fruit and the characteristics the fruit will show once vinified.

40
Q

Regional wine laws often dictate _______, _______, _______, and _______.

A
  • WHERE grapes can be grown
  • WHAT grapes can be grown
  • HOW grapes can be grown
  • WHEN grapes can be picked
41
Q

How does the size of an acre compare to the size of a hectare?

A

1 acre is roughly 40% of 1 hectare