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.
