Chapter 5 - Vineyard Establishment

Question 1

Site selection for high volume, cheap wine

Answer 1

Need: high yields of healthy grapes consistently and relatively cheaply

Flat, fertile site
Warm, dry climate (ie Central Valley)
Allowed to irrigate

Why flat? Mechanism
Why dry? Less disease risk

Question 2

Site selection for premium wines

Answer 2

Need: obtaining healthy grapes of the optimum composition (sugar, acid, tannin, aroma compounds, color)

In cool climates:
Slope, appropriate aspect
Near body of water

In warm climate:
High altitude
Near oceanic winds

Question 3

Non-natural resource factors for site selection:

Answer 3

1. Price of land in high value GI’s (ie Grand Cru vineyards)
2. Location, layout, topography of the site (ie greater frost risk, greater disease risk)
3. Steep slopes are not suited for mechanization and labor is expensive, slower
4. If irrigation required, source of water and cost
5. Ease of access to the vineyard site and distance to the winery
6. Proximity to towns and cities for labor, supplies, D2C business, distribution business
7. Wine region laws; if you don’t follow them, is the declassified wine going to fetch the same price?

Question 4

Main factors growers assess during soil preparation

Answer 4

Drainage and soil structure
Mineral composition
Presence of pesets or unwanted plants
Topography of hte vyd

Question 5

How does soil structure impact the vineyard?

Answer 5

Impacts root penetration, water drainage, nutrient holding capapcity, and workability

Question 6

What are some of the things you can do to improve the following soil factors:
Drainage and soil structure

Answer 6

Remove large rocks at the surface
Subsoiling - removing the plough pan if land had been previously used for agriculture and an impervious layer of soil has formed

Question 7

What are some of the things you can do to improve the following soil factors:
Mineral composition

Answer 7

Applying Farmyard manure, compost, and fertilizers and ploughing to increase nutrients adn organic matter

Adjusting for pH - ie applying lime and ploughing in acidic soils

Question 8

What are some of the things you can do to improve the following soil factors:
Mineral composition

Answer 8

Applying Farmyard manure, compost, and fertilizers and ploughing to increase nutrients adn organic matter

Question 9

What are some of the things you can do to improve the following soil factors:
Presence of pests or unwanted plants

Answer 9

Remove and burn old vines to be rid of dissease potential

Use systemic herbicide if weeds are a problem

Question 10

What are some of the things you can do to improve the following soil factors:
Topography of hte vyd

Answer 10

Terraces may need to be constructed for steep slopes

Question 11

Climatic factors to consider when considering which grape varietal to plant

Answer 11

1. Time of budding - spring frost risk?
2. Duration of annual life-cycle - late or early ripening?
3. Tolerance of drought
4. Resistance to disease - esp in damp conditions ie Cab is less susceptibel to grey rot than Merlot
5. Winter hardiness
6. Vigor - SB is a very vigorous plant. If you plant it in fertile soils with plenty of water, excessive shoot growth will need to be carefully managed

Question 12

Non-climatic factors to consider when choosing what varietals to plant

Answer 12

1. Style of wine desired - tannin level?
2. Yield
3. Cost -PN is expensive bc it is prone to disease
4. Law
5. Availability - what is commercially available in the region? Is it worth it to introduce a new varietal and go thru quarantine protocol?
6. Market Demand - ie. Do people want SB grown in your area? You can head or top graft onto existing root system if you want to grow a different varietal

Question 13

3 considerations for planting material:

Answer 13

Grape Varietal
Clone
Rootstock

Question 14

Factors to consider when choosing what rootstock to use

Answer 14

1. Pests Phylloxera and others? Maybe root-knot nematodes
2. Water - drought, water-log prone, high levels of dissolved salt
3. Soil pH
4. Vigor - low vigor can advance ripening (good for cool climates)
   High vigor can boost vine growth and yields (if land is unfertile and dry)
   Can also make decision based on style of wine to be produced (sparkling would want high vigor rootstock where high yeilds of grapes with delicate aromas and high acidity is desired)

Question 15

Rootstock tolerant of root-knot nematodes

Answer 15

Ramsey and Dog Ridge

Question 16

Rootstock tolerant of drought

Answer 16

Hybrids of V. rupestris and V.berlandieri - 110R and 140R

Becuase they can root deeply and quickly

Question 17

Rootstock tolerant of water-logged soil

Answer 17

Hybrids of V. Riparia - Riparia Gloire

Question 18

Rootstock tolerant of soils with higher levels of dissolved salt

Answer 18

V. Berlandieri - 1103P

Question 19

Roostock with high tolerance to acidic soil

Answer 19

Rupestris, berlandieri - 99R, 110R

Question 20

Roostock with high tolerance to soils with high lime content

Answer 20

Berlandieri - 41B

Question 21

Low vigor rootstocks

Answer 21

Riparia - 420A, 3309C

Question 22

High vigor rootstock

Answer 22

140R

Question 23

Vines of what age range produce maximum fruit yield?

Answer 23

10-40