WSET2 - Chapter 3 - Viniculture Flashcards
Name the five things a vine needs to be healthy and ripen.
Carbon dioxide, water, heat, sunlight, nutrients
How is climate different than weather?
Climate describes the weather conditions we may expect in a typical year, while weather varies day by day, year on year.
What 3 elements determine the climate of a wine region?
Latitude, altitude and oceans
How do ocean currents and breezes affect climate in wine growing regions?
Ocean breezes generally are cooling. The ocean current warming fro Western Europe.
What happens to the wine of grapes that have not ripened fully? (due to cool climate)
It tastes sour, astringent, bitter and lacking in fruit flavors
What happens to a grape if the climate is too hot?
They become unpleasantly jammy low acid, raisiny or generally taste bland
Wines grown in a hot climate are what with respect to alcohol, body, tannin and acidity?
High alcohol, full body, high tannin, less acidity
Wines grown in a cool climate are what with respect to alcohol, body, tannin and acidity?
Low alcohol, light body, less tannin, more acidity
What time during the year does weather have the biggest impact on grapes?
The growing season
Name four types of extreme weather that impact grapes.
Hail (damages skin, subject to rot); extreme cold or hot; floods and late frosts
How can winemakers handle vintage variations?
They can use (geographical) blending to keep style similar.
Sunlight allows grapes to combine ____ and ____ into ______
Carbon dioxide, water, sugar
In high latitude regions (far away from the Equator) what are common practices to ensure grapes get more exposure to sunlight?
Plant on a slope or near a river that reflects sunlight
What effect does too much water have on grapes (3) and the resulting wine (3)
Grapes become bloated, the crop is bigger, but flavors and sugars are diluted.
Wines have less body, less alcohol and less flavor.
For the highest quality wine, how do you manage water?
Just enough water to ensure sugar production, but no more.
In Europe why are vines planted on steep slopes or soils like gravel or chalk?
They help water drain away and can contribute warmth (e.g. gravel)
Most of the worlds vineyards are found at what position in the globe?
In temperate zones between 30 and 50 degrees
What are the main 2 factors affecting warmth? What is a secondary factor?
Main: Climate and weather. Additional: soils very in their ability to reflect or absorb heat. Dry stony soils are warmer than clay.
What vineyard activities affect the quality and style of the raw grape?
Degree of Care in the vineyard (positioning leaves, etc)
Control of yields (pruning, etc)
Name the four parts of a grape
Stalk, skin, pulp and sees
Give 3 examples of pests and diseases in a vineyard
Animals pests (eat and damage) Fungus diseases (e.g. mildew or rot) do damage Long-term diseases (fungal bacteria or viral ) can affect the health of vines lowering yields and inhibiting ripening.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of machine harvesting
It is efficient and cheap; it can only be done on flat sites. (If whole bunch of grapes are needed, it must be hand-harvested)
What is the most important part of the winemaking process?
Fermentation
Describe the five stages in making WHITE WINE
Crushing, pressing (remove skins), fermentation, maturation and bottling.
