Viticulture / Vinification Flashcards
Clay Soil
Clay soils stay cooler in the spring which delays budbreak and slows ripening. Vines planted in clay should have a lower tannic structure and be early ripening–Merlot, for example.
Speed of ripening
Grapes that ripen slowly have a better chance of developing complex flavours.
Aroma vs. Bouquet
Aroma is derived from the varietal and can denote youth. Typically fruit, herbal, floral. Bouquet is derived from the winemaking process and can denote age. Bouquet is typically associated with tertiary aromas including cream, butter, mushroom, game, aged cheese, etc.
Three factors that affect climate
- Diurnal Shift 2. Sunshine Hours 3. Threats (frost, hail, strong wind, etc.)
California heat summation index
Degree days calculated by multiplying the days in each month of the growing season by the mean number of degrees over 50F for that month.
Ideal average summer temperature for grape ripening
70F / 21C for red 66F / 19C for white
Cordon-trained vines pruning and trellising
Spur pruned Require trellising
Vignerons
Winemaker or vintner
Microclimate
Climate around a vine canopy
Green Harvesting
Yield control
Must
A mixture of grape juice and skins
Maritime Climate
A climate influenced by a large body of water such as a sea or ocean with milder temperature fluctuations.
Vinum
Latin, wine
Three species of grapes
Vitis vinifera Vitis riparia Vitis labrusca (bonus: V. rotundifolia)
Examples of soil type
Granite Limestone / Chalk Marl Schist Clay Sand Silt Gravel
Continental Climate
Strong annual variation in temperature due to lack of proximity to significant bodies of water with moderating influences. Difference in summer and winter more extreme.
Factors that affect a wine’s ability to age
Varietal Vintage Region Wine making technique Storage conditions
Mesoclimate
The climate surrounding a particular vineyard.
Carbonic Maceration
Whole, unbroken grape clusters still on the stems are placed in a sealed fermentation container filled with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide discourages yeast fermentation and encourages enzymes naturally present in the grape to be released. Once released the enzymes break down the sugars into alcohol. Thus the sugars are fermented without the help of any micro-organisms.
Four climate moderators
- Bodies of water - rivers, lakes, oceans 2. Mountains - many important regions exist within a rain shadow. 3. Altitude / elevation 4. Wind
Four topographical influences
- Local elevation / altitude 2. Vineyard location - slope, valley floor, or apron? 3. Aspect of slope 4. Proximity to water
Head-trained vines
Trunk ends in a knob or head. No trellising system required though it can be used. Vines can be spur- or cone-pruned.
Vin de goutte
Wine made from free-run juice
Mediterranean Climate
Hot, dry summers, coastal areas milder but vulnerable to storms.
Hybrid
Two different species combined - Baco Noir
Cross
Same species combined - Cabernet Franc crossed with Sauvignon Blanc to create Cabernet Sauvignon
Clone
Identical genetic reproduction
Macroclimate
Climate within a region
Minimum amount of sunshine to support viticulture
1300 hours
High Desert
Summers are hot and dry with dramatic temperature drops at night
Why is sulphur dioxide used in winemaking?
It is an antioxident, antibacterial, and kills unwanted yeast
Foudre
Large oak cast/vat, can hold 1000+L of wine.
Vin de presse
Wine made from pressed juice
90% of the world’s white wine comes from what 3 varietals?
Riesling Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
Vitis
Latin, vine
Brix
The measure of sugar in grapes
Verasion
The onset of ripening - when sugars move from the leaf system to the fruit.
Batonnage
Stirring the lees
Chaptalization
Adding sugar to the must so the yeast generates more alcohol content. Standard for champagne production. Prohibited in Argentina, Australia, California, Italy, Spain, South Africa. Also for Pradikatswein. Tends to be more common in cooler growing areas.
Ortega and Scheurebe are what?
Grape Crosses
What is Bordeaux Mixture?
A treatment used against vine disease
What important job does a Tonnelier do?
Make wine barrels
What is a Lagar?
A stone trough where grapes are foot-trodden
How many acres to the hectare?
2.5
A winemaker could use a ‘spinning cone’ to do what?
lower the alcohol in a wine
What does a French winemaker achieve with Remontage?
Removing excess bunches of grapes during the growing season
Used to clarify wine, isinglass is made from what?
The swim-bladders of fish
Bobal is a common wine grape in which country?
Spain
This grape variety has red flesh and red juice.
Alicante Bouschet Part of a small class of grapes called ‘Tienturier’, or tinted grapes, these are unlike most black or red grapes that have green flesh and clear juice.
Biodynamic winemaking aims to completely ban the use of what?
Cultured yeasts
Father of biodynamics.
Rudolf Steiner
When is saignage LEAST likely to occur?
after fermentation
Which of the following methods is used to adjust alcohol after fermentation?
A. Malolactic fermentation
B. Acidification
C. Chaptalization
D. Reverse Osmosis
D. Reverse Osmosis
Kerner grape was produced by crossing which varietals?
Schiava Grossa with Riesling
Dried grape wines
Name 4 examples from different countries!
Vin de Paille -Jura (Domaine de Montbourgeau) & Hermitage (Jean Louis Chave), France
Vin Santo -Tuscany, Italy (Felsina) & Santorini, Greece (Sigalas)
Straw Wine - South Africa (Mullineux)
Pedro Ximenez - Montilla-Moriles, Spain (Toro Albala “Don PX’)
Passito di Pantelleria - Italy (Donnafugata Ben Ryé)
Strohwein - Austria (Weingut Schwarz)
Commandaria - Cyprus (Etko St. Nicholas)
U.S. passito wines (Sine Qua Non Semillon Mr. K The Straw Man, and Barboursville Virginia Paxxito)
Vin Santo- Domaine Sigalas, Greece.
Amarone della Valpolicella- Cantina Bertani
Dorado-Lorenzo Cachzo
Vin de Paille - New Zealand - Prophits Rock (central Otago)
