WSET2 - Chapter 3 - Viniculture

Question 1

Name the five things a vine needs to be healthy and ripen.

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide, water, heat, sunlight, nutrients

Question 2

How is climate different than weather?

Answer 2

Climate describes the weather conditions we may expect in a typical year, while weather varies day by day, year on year.

Question 3

What 3 elements determine the climate of a wine region?

Answer 3

Latitude, altitude and oceans

Question 4

How do ocean currents and breezes affect climate in wine growing regions?

Answer 4

Ocean breezes generally are cooling. The ocean current warming fro Western Europe.

Question 5

What happens to the wine of grapes that have not ripened fully? (due to cool climate)

Answer 5

It tastes sour, astringent, bitter and lacking in fruit flavors

Question 6

What happens to a grape if the climate is too hot?

Answer 6

They become unpleasantly jammy low acid, raisiny or generally taste bland

Question 7

Wines grown in a hot climate are what with respect to alcohol, body, tannin and acidity?

Answer 7

High alcohol, full body, high tannin, less acidity

Question 8

Wines grown in a cool climate are what with respect to alcohol, body, tannin and acidity?

Answer 8

Low alcohol, light body, less tannin, more acidity

Question 9

What time during the year does weather have the biggest impact on grapes?

Answer 9

The growing season

Question 10

Name four types of extreme weather that impact grapes.

Answer 10

Hail (damages skin, subject to rot); extreme cold or hot; floods and late frosts

Question 11

How can winemakers handle vintage variations?

Answer 11

They can use (geographical) blending to keep style similar.

Question 12

Sunlight allows grapes to combine ____ and ____ into ______

Answer 12

Carbon dioxide, water, sugar

Question 13

In high latitude regions (far away from the Equator) what are common practices to ensure grapes get more exposure to sunlight?

Answer 13

Plant on a slope or near a river that reflects sunlight

Question 14

What effect does too much water have on grapes (3) and the resulting wine (3)

Answer 14

Grapes become bloated, the crop is bigger, but flavors and sugars are diluted.
Wines have less body, less alcohol and less flavor.

Question 15

For the highest quality wine, how do you manage water?

Answer 15

Just enough water to ensure sugar production, but no more.

Question 16

In Europe why are vines planted on steep slopes or soils like gravel or chalk?

Answer 16

They help water drain away and can contribute warmth (e.g. gravel)

Question 17

Most of the worlds vineyards are found at what position in the globe?

Answer 17

In temperate zones between 30 and 50 degrees

Question 18

What are the main 2 factors affecting warmth? What is a secondary factor?

Answer 18

Main: Climate and weather. Additional: soils very in their ability to reflect or absorb heat. Dry stony soils are warmer than clay.

Question 19

What vineyard activities affect the quality and style of the raw grape?

Answer 19

Degree of Care in the vineyard (positioning leaves, etc)

Control of yields (pruning, etc)

Question 20

Name the four parts of a grape

Answer 20

Stalk, skin, pulp and sees

Question 21

Give 3 examples of pests and diseases in a vineyard

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

What are the advantages and disadvantages of machine harvesting

Answer 22

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)

Question 23

What is the most important part of the winemaking process?

Answer 23

Fermentation

Question 24

Describe the five stages in making WHITE WINE

Answer 24

Crushing, pressing (remove skins), fermentation, maturation and bottling.

Question 25

What is must?

Answer 25

The mix of grape juice and yeast that you have prior to fermentation.

Question 26

What is the temperature of white wine fermentation?

Answer 26

12-22 C

Question 27

How long does fermentation of WHITEwine take?

Answer 27

2 to 4 weeks

Question 28

Describe the five/six stages in making RED wine.

Answer 28

Crushing, fermentation, pressing, maturation, blending, bottling

Question 29

What is the temperature of red wine fermentation?

Answer 29

20 - 32 C

Question 30

How long does fermentation of RED wine take?

Answer 30

5 days to 2 weeks

Question 31

What types of wines MUST be made from black grapes?

Answer 31

Rose and red

Question 32

What distinguishes rose wines during their production compared to white or red wine?

Answer 32

Like red wines there is skin contact (12h/36h) before pressing.
Like white wine fermented is at lower temperatures (12-22 C).

Question 33

T/F Red wines are fermented in oak barrels

Answer 33

False. This is not very practical

Question 34

Name three containers that can be used for maturation

Answer 34

Oak, cement, stainless steel - eventually bottle.

Question 35

Maturation WITH Oxygen causes what flavors?

Answer 35

toffee, fig, nut and coffee

Question 36

Maturation WITHOUT Oxygen causes what flavors?(usually in bottle, as inox tanks are too big and flavours stay unchanged for months)

Answer 36

Fresh fruit aromas change into cooked fruit, vegetal and animal notes.
Only in small percentage of wines the fruit characters remain while the other complex flavours develop around it.

Question 37

What are factors that impact the cost of a wine? (three categories, list one or two items per)

Answer 37

Vineyard: cost of premium land, degree of mechanisation, yield management
Winery: Cost of barrels and ageing (ties up capital need space)
Packaging/Distribution: Exchange rates, packaging, transport, low-volume high service distribution is more expensive

Question 38

(True/False) White wines can only be made from white grapes.

Answer 38

False

Question 39

What do punching down and pumping over do to a red wine? When do they happen?

Answer 39

This happens during fermentation. Alcohol can help extract color, tannins and flavor from the skins so this is done to accelerate those processes.

Question 40

What is the difference between free run wines and press wine?

Answer 40

Free run wine can be drawn off after fermentation is complete (no press).
Press wine is yielded by pressing, this has a higher level of tannins and can be blended in to achieve certain styles.