WSET Advanced Chapter 3 Vineyard Management AKC3

Question 1

Site Selection (Three Factors)

Answer 1

Environmental: Use data to determine average temperature, rainfall and sunlight, soil fertility and drainage. Helps decide Varietal, Training, Plant Density and Trellising.

Question 2

Vine Management - Why Is It Necessary?

Answer 2

Left alone, vines will produce grapes sweet enough to attract brids, but not ripe enough for winemaking, and focus more on plant growth than fruit ripening. Viticulturists use plant density, pruning and trellising to control ripeness and quality.

Question 3

Trellis

Answer 3

A vine management system consisting of a permanent structure of stakes and wires.With no trellising, vines go unsupported.

Question 4

Training

Answer 4

The vine’s permanent wood and canes are trained to follow the trellising system. It manages the direction and growth of the following years shoots. Shoot positioning affects the amount of sunlight that is intercepted by the leaves and exposure to sunlight, wind and rain of the shoots.

Question 5

Pruning

Answer 5

The removal of unwanted leaves, canes and permanent wood, either during winter of the growing season.

Question 6

Winter Pruning: Purposed and Two Types

Answer 6

Purpose: To determine the number and location of the buds, which will form shoots for the production of fruit in the coming harvest.

Question 7

Summer Pruning

Answer 7

Trimming the canopy to restrict vegetative growth, direct sugar production to the grape, and can involve leaf stripping so the grapes are exposed to sunshine.

Question 8

Bush Training System

Answer 8

A vertical stump of permanent wood is pruned to retain a number of spurs at the head of the vine. The shoots sprawl across the ground. Practical in hot, dry, sunny climates (Southern Rhone, Barossa Valley), not in cool areas because grapes are shaded and wouldn’t ripen. Not suitable for mechanical harvesting. Sometimes referred to as Gobelet

Question 9

Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP)

Answer 9

Most common training system in the world, and may be used with replacement-cane or cordon-spur pruning. Single canopy of shoots are trained upwards, tied to trellis, and may extend to both sides or trunk or only one, then trained horizontally. Low trained for heat retention, high trained to avoid frost. Keeps vines separate, aerated, exposed, good for high density planting.

Question 10

Big Vines

Answer 10

Big vine training systems are planted to low densities and ensure that all light is utilized. Lots of permanent wood. Can use VSP with a vertically split canopy, others train shoots downwards or have multiple canopies. Usually spur pruned, can be mechanically harvested. Developed to restrict vine vigor in high-nutrient areas.

Question 11

Measuring Vine Vigor

Answer 11

Vine vigor is measured by the number and size of shoots and leaves it grows in a season. This is driven by nutrients, water, sunlight, and heat. Planting density, cover crops, number of buds per vine and rootstocks all can manage vigor.

Question 12

Managing Ripeness

Answer 12

Ripeness is achieved when a grape has the level of sugar nad physiological ripeness for the style of wine, far above what would occur in nature. Winter Pruning helps achieve this by defining number and location of buds. Cool sites need fewer buds, because it is hard to ripen many grapes.

Question 13

Cordon

Answer 13

A horizontal extension of a wine trunk

Question 14

Managing Yields

Answer 14

Yields are measured in terms of weight (Kg per hectare) or volume (Hectolitres per Hectare). Producers may have contractual or regulatory obligations to meet Yield requirements. Green harvesting limits yields.

Question 15

Green Harvesting

Answer 15

Removing immature grapes shortly after Veraison. Risky, because the vine may compensate for the loss by increasing the size of the remaining grapes, diluting their flavors.

Question 16

Veraison

Answer 16

The moment when a grape begins to change color.

Question 17

Nematodes

Answer 17

Microscopic worms that attack vine roots and may transmit viruses. Root damage reduces yields and leaves the vines susceptible to infection, and water and nutrient stress. Treatment is hard, so prevention by soil sanitisation is recommended, as is planting nematode-resisting rootstock.

Question 18

Birds and Mammals

Answer 18

They eat grapes, and cause damage that allows rot. Birds, deer, boar, etc. Netting, fencing and bird scares are solutions.

Question 19

Insects and Arachnids

Answer 19

Caterpillars, moths, beetles, mites, aphids, etc, all feed on plant matter, damaging shoots and leaves, limiting photosynthesis, damaging ripening fruit, and even tainting wine flavor.

Question 20

Downy Mildew

Answer 20

Thrives in warm, humid conditions. Attacks green parts of the vine, especially young leaves. Leaf damage impedes ripening, and damage to berries reduces yield.

Question 21

Powdery Mildew

Answer 21

Likes warm, shady conditions and develops on green parts of the vine. It can affect bud development and shoot growth. Affects bud development and shoot growth, can cause grapes to split and gives wine a moldy, bitter taint.

Question 22

Grey Rot

Answer 22

Likes damp and humid conditions. Can damage parts of the vine but causes the greatest problems by attacking immature berries. Taints flavor, reduces yields, and causes color loss in black fruit.

Question 23

Controlling Mildew

Answer 23

Traditionally, treated by spraying with sulfur-based (downy) or copper-based (powdery) sprays, but now chemicals are often used. Spraying is done by tractor, helicopter, or airplane. All spraying must stop before the harvest. It can also be reduced by canopy management.

Question 24

Noble Rot

Answer 24

Desired Gray Rot, caused by the fungus Botrytis Cinerea. It attacks when the grapes are ripe, encouraged by humid misty mornings and warm, sunny days. The fungus punctures the grape skin, allowing the water to evaporate. Acids and sugars are concentrated, and other flavors develop. These grapes go into the world’s best sweet wines.

Question 25

Fanleaf Virus & Leafroll Virus

Answer 25

Does not kill the vine, but dramatically reduces yields, are highly contagious and persistent. Spread via cuttings or nematodes. Only way to eradicate is to dig up vines and sanitize earth, and should not be replanted.

Question 26

Pierce’s Disease

Answer 26

A fatal bacterial disease spread by small insects called Sharpshooters. No cure exists and vines die within five years. Isolation is the only preventative measure.

Question 27

Integrated Pest Managemnt

Answer 27

An Alternative Viticulture Practice that uses chemicals only when absolutely necessary. Vineyards are monitored and chemicals deployed only when required. Predator populations control pests.

Question 28

Organic

Answer 28

An Alternative Viticulture Practice no synthetic chemicals are used, but fungal control is very hard.

Question 29

Biodynamic

Answer 29

An Alternative Viticulture Practice where no synthetic chemicals, homeopathic remedies ward off vineyard pests and disease, and vineyard practices are tied to the planets and stars.

Question 30

MOG

Answer 30

“Matter Other than Grapes” collected during harvest during machine harvesting.

Question 31

Machine Harvesting

Answer 31

Fast, full-time harvesting. Vines are shaken and then fallen grapes are collected. The harvest is culled at a sorting table, as the harvester collects everything on the ground. Best for flat or gently-sloping vineyards. Cannot be used for wine styles that require whole bunches, like Beaujolais or Champagne.

Question 32

Manual Harvesting

Answer 32

Slower, more labor-intensive, but permits grape selection. Essential for botrytised grapes. Stalks are retained. In steep regions like the Mosel, the Douro and the Northern Rhone, there is no choice.

Question 33

The Vineyard Cyclet: Terms and Dates

Answer 33

Budburst: March/April or Sept/Oct

Question 34

Budburst

Answer 34

In the spring, when the avg temp is 10C, buds swell and burst, growing into new shoots. Spring frosts can kill new buds. Earth is taken away from the graft union. Spraying for fungal diseases and pests begins.

Question 35

Shoot & Leaf Growth

Answer 35

In late spring through summer, shoots grow until the vine flowers. Vine needs water and nutrients. Shoots are trained to the trellis to ensure canopy remains open. Spraying as necessary.

Question 36

Flowering and Fruit Set

Answer 36

During flowering, vines need 15C temperatures. plus plenty of sunlight and little to no rain, or pollination will be inhibited. Fruit set occurs when a flower starts to develop into a grape. Unpollinated flowers drop off. Spraying continues.

Question 37

Veraison and Berry Ripening

Answer 37

Veraison is the point that grapes begin to ripen, signaled by a change in the color of the grapes. Until then, all grapes are green, and black varieties turn red and purple, while green ones turn golden and translucent. Birds begin to eat them. Grapes swell with water, sugar levels rise and acid levels drop. Physiological ripening also happens. Requires warmth and sun, and mild stress helps. Summer pruning ensures an open canopy, and green harvesting controls yield and quality. Spraying continues.

Question 38

Harvest

Answer 38

Conditions should be dry, or grapes will swell and be diluted, or rot. No spraying.

Question 39

Winter Dormancy

Answer 39

Cold weather ends growing season. Shoots become woody, vine stores carbohydrate reserves in roots. Leaves fall off and the vine becomes dormant. Earth may be piled on the graft to protect it. Winter pruning takes place.

Question 40

Milleridge

Answer 40

When a berry’s development is disturbed during flowering or fruit set, and it falls to develop seeds and remains small.