WWJ In the Vineyard Flashcards
What are six factors that affect heat in the growing environment?
- Latitude (30-50 degrees N & S of equator)
- Altitude
- Ocean Currents
- Fog
- Soil
- Aspect
What are the five key things a vine needs to survive?
- Heat
- Carbon Dioxide
- Sunlight
- Nutrients
- Water
Define ‘Aspect’
The direction in which a slope faces
What is ‘continentality’?
The temperature difference between the coldest and the hottest months is referred to as continentality.
What is ‘diurnal range’?
The difference between daytime and night-time temperatures.
What are the four forms of protection against spring frosts?
- Heaters
- Wind machines
- Sprinklers
- Thoughtful vineyard design
What are three factors that affect the amount of sunlight in a vineyard?
- Latitude
- Seas and lakes
- Aspect
What are the three main irrigation techniques?
- Drip irrigation
- Sprinklers
- Flood irrigation
Define a ‘cool climate’.
Regions with an average growing season temperature of 16.5 C (62 F) or below.
Define ‘moderate climates’.
Regions with an average growing season temperature of 16.5-18.5 C (62-65 F).
Define ‘warm climate’.
Regions with an average growing season temperature of 18.5-21 C (65-70 F).
Define ‘hot climate’.
Regions with an average growing season temperature in excess of 21C (70F).
Define ‘continental climate’.
A continental climate has the greatest difference in temperature between the hottest and coldest months (high continentality) and are usually characterized by short summers with a large, rapid temperature drop in autumn. Continental climates are also noted for having dry summers.
Define ‘maritime climate’.
Maritime climate are characterized by cool to moderate temperatures and a low annual difference between the hottest and coldest months (low continentality). Rainfall tends to be evenly spread throughout the year which helps to moderate the temperature.
Define ‘Mediterranean climate’.
Mediterranean climates are characterized by a low temperature difference between the hottest and coldest months but the summers tend to be warm and dry. The extra warmth and sunlight, compared with maritime climates, leads to wines that are fuller bodied, with riper tannins, higher alcohol and lower levels of acidity. the lower rainfall can have a positive effect on the health of grapes but can also lead to drought.
The most expensive and advanced form of irrigation is what?
Drip irrigation
What are downsides to sprinklers as a form of irrigation?
They spray water and create damp conditions, increasing the risk of disease.
What are the benefits to sprinklers as an irrigation system?
They are cheaper than drip irrigation and can be used for frost protection.
What is the minimum temperature required for a vine to grow?
10 C (50 F)
In order to meet the vine’s temperature needs and its preference for a dormant period, most vineyards lie between what latitudes north and south of the Equator?
30 and 50
As altitude increases, what happens to the temperature?
It drops
How do ocean currents impact certain wine regions?
The major currents transport large volumes of warm or cold water across the surface of the ocean, leading to localized warming or cooling in certain wine regions.
What is the name of the ocean current that warms the north-west of Europe?
The Gulf Stream
What is an important cooling influence found in many top vineyard areas in California as well as Casablanca Valley in Chile?
Fog
What types of soil are better at reradiating warmth?
Soils that are either dark in color or that have a high stone and rock content absorb and reradiate more of the sun’s heat than lighter colored soils.
How can budburst be impacted for vines planted in soils with high water content?
Soils with high water content require more energy to warm up. This can delay budburst.
What aspect will provide a vineyard with the most heat?
The vineyards with an aspect facing the Equator receive the most heat. In the Northern Hemisphere south facing slopes whereas in the Southern Hemisphere it is north facing slopes. Steeper slopes benefit even more from this effect.
How can large bodies of water impact continentality?
Large bodies of water, such as seas or lakes, heat up and cool down more slowly than landmasses. Therefore in the winter they have a warming effect on the surrounding air and in summer they have a cooling effect. Areas close to large bodies of water therefore generally have low continentality whereas wine regions that are far inland usually see more temperature extremes and have high continentality.
How can a vineyard’s proximity to seas and lakes impact its diurnal range?
It reduces its diurnal range. Even relatively small bodies of water, such as rivers, can hold enough warmth to keep adjacent vineyards warm overnight and provide cooling breezes during the day.
How can the levels of cloud cover influence diurnal range?
The level of cloud cover (generally greater nearer seas and lakes) also influences diurnal range. This is because temperatures drop more quickly on clear nights, when there is no insulating blanket of cloud (increasing diurnal range), and rise more slowly on cloudy days, when sunlight cannot heat the ground directly (reducing diurnal range).
What part of the vine is most at risk during a winter freeze?
the graft
What can happen to a vine if a winter is mild or there is no winter at all?
If winter is mild, or there is no winter at all, the vine will not have a dormancy period and may produce more than one crop each year. Its life will be shortened, and the quality of the grapes will suffer. Mild winters also mean larger populations of insect pests survive to attack the vine the following summer.
When do spring frosts occur?
Spring frosts occur when cold air below 0 C (32 F) collects at ground level, freezing any water vapor that has settled on the ground or the vine.
What impact can spring frost have on a vine?
If spring frosts are present when newly burst buds or young shoots are present, it kills them. The damage done and the impact on yields can be enormous, and in frost-prone regions growers go to great lengths to minimize the risk.
How can cold temperature during the spring months impact the growing season?
Cold temperatures in the spring may delay budburst. This shortens the growing season and could mean that there is not enough time for the grapes to ripen fully in the autumn before it becomes to cold. Flowering and fruit set can also be disrupted by cold temps, resulting in a smaller than average crop of grapes.
How can very hot temps during the summer months impact the growing season?
During the summer, very hot temps can be harmful, and in prolonged periods of extreme heat all vine activity will slow and eventually stop, even when there is sufficient water. This prevents the grapes from ripening. In extreme cases the vine will die. Hot and dry conditions can also increase the risk of fires starting and rapidly spreading. Vineyards can be damaged and winery buildings destroyed if they lie in the path of these fires. In addition, the smoke that such fires produce can affect a much larger area.
How can smoke from fires impact a wine?
Smoke in the vineyard during the ripening period can result in smoky or plastic-like aromas in the final wines.
Why is light necessary for the vine?
Without light, photosynthesis cannot happen and plants die. The more light there is the more a vine will photosynthesize and the greater the amount of glucose produced for growth and ripening grapes. Flowering and fruit set also benefit greatly from plenty of sunlight.
How does latitude impact the amount of sunlight in a vineyard?
Day length during the summer growing season is longer the further the vineyard is from the Equator.
How can seas and lakes impact the amount of sunlight in a vineyard?
Vineyards near large bodies of water tend to experience more cloud cover. Regions at the center of large land masses tend to be sunnier. In some cases, vineyards situated above rivers or lakes can benefit from sunlight reflected from the surface of the water.
How can aspect impact the amount of sunlight in a vineyard?
A slope’s aspect affects the amount of sunlight it receives and steeper slopes benefit more from this effect. Vineyards that face the Equator receive the most sunlight. The greater the distance from the equator the weaker the sun’s energy, so for vineyards that are closest to the Poles maximizing the sunlight with a favorable aspect is especially important.
What can be negative results of intensely sunny conditions?
Intensely sunny conditions can cause sunburn, leading to bitter flavors developing in the grape skins.
How does a vine access water?
The vine accesses water through its roots and draws the water up to its leaves.
What is transpiration?
The process where water is lost via evaporation from the vine’s leaves.
Why could limiting the supply of water to the vine once a sufficient canopy of leaves has grown be beneficial for grape ripening?
This has the added advantage of reducing the impact of shading because the canopy does not grow too large.
What is the most important source of water for a vineyard?
Rainfall
What can happen to a vine if drought occurs?
During prolonged shortages of water or drought, vines suffer from water stress; photosynthesis stops, leaves wilt and grapes fail to ripen. Ultimately this can weaken and kill a vine.
What can happen if a vine has access to too much water during the growing season?
If the vine has access to too much water during the growing season the vine will continue to grow shoots and leaves during the ripening season, leaving less sugar for ripening grapes. Furthermore, the extra shoots and leaves increase the amount of shading in the canopy, which restricts grape ripening.
