Advanced Sommelier Certification > Vine training > Flashcards

Vine training Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the purpose of vine training?

A
  • Guide the size
  • Adapt to local conditions
  • Avoid phylloxera
  • Maintain purity of fruiting stock

Proper training prevents canes from touching the ground, which can lead to root regeneration and vulnerability to pests.

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2
Q

What are the two basic systems of vine training?

A
  • Cane training
  • Spur training

Each system has local variations and specific advantages and disadvantages.

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3
Q

What is a bush vine?

A
  • Unsupported version of Gobelet
  • Traditional in Beaujolais
  • Common in arid Mediterranean areas

Bush vines often have canes that flop downwards when laden with fruit.

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4
Q

The Chablis spur-training system is primarily used in which winemaking region?

A

Champagne

Over 90% of Chardonnay in Champagne is trained using this method.

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5
Q

In the Chablis spur-training system, how many permanent branches can be cultivated?

A
  • Three
  • Four
  • Five

The number of branches corresponds to the age of the vine.

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6
Q

What characterizes cane-trained vines?

A
  • No permanent branch
  • Almost entirely new growth each year
  • Main branch is only one year old

This system allows for easier regulation of annual production.

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7
Q

What indicates that a vine has been spur trained?

A

Thick, dark, and gnarled main branch

This contrasts with cane-trained vines, which have thin and smooth main branches.

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8
Q

In the Guyot cane training method, what happens to the main horizontal cane in winter?

A

It is cut off

The spare cane is bent horizontally to become next season’s main cane.

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9
Q

In the Gobelet spur training method, what happens to the main canes?

A

They are permanent and only replaced if damaged

Only year-old shoots are pruned back.

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10
Q

What is the fundamental reason for training and pruning a vine?

A

To avoid phylloxera and maintain purity of fruiting stock

Ensuring no cane touches the ground is crucial for vine health.

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11
Q

What is the effect of a cane touching the ground?

A

It sends out suckers that will put down roots

This can lead to dependency on a regenerated root system, making the vine vulnerable.

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12
Q

What is a bush vine?

A

An unsupported version of the Gobelet system

Originated in Australia and traditional in Beaujolais, bush vines are commonly found in arid Mediterranean areas.

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13
Q

In the Beaujolais crus, how many canes are typically restricted on a bush vine?

A

Between three and five

In less-controlled wine areas, a bush vine may have as many as 10 canes.

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14
Q

What is the Chablis vine training system originally developed for?

A

The Chablis district

The method now used in Chablis is actually the Guyot Double, and it is important in Champagne for Chardonnay.

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15
Q

True or false: The bush vine method is suitable for training high-vigour vines.

A

FALSE

This method is only suitable for training low-vigour vines.

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16
Q

What percentage of Chardonnay in Champagne is trained using the Chablis system?

A

More than 90 percent

This highlights the significance of the Chablis system in the Champagne region.

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17
Q

What are the two basic systems of vine training?

A
  • Cane training
  • Spur training

Each system has local variations and different implications for vine growth and fruit production.

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18
Q

In cane training, what happens to the strongest canes each year?

A

All but one are pruned back

This allows for a vine consisting of almost entirely new growth.

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19
Q

What is the minimum age for a vine to be considered for AOC Champagne?

A

Three years old

A three-year-old vine will have three branches, a four-year-old will have four branches, and so forth.

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20
Q

In spur training, how is the main branch treated annually?

A

There is no annual replacement

This results in a solid framework for the vine.

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21
Q

How can you identify a cane-trained vine?

A

Thin and smooth main branch

This indicates that the vine has been pruned back to promote new growth.

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22
Q

How can you identify a spur-trained vine?

A

Thick, dark, and gnarled main branch

This indicates that the main branch is not replaced annually.

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23
Q

What is the effect of the distance between each vine in the same row?

A

Determines the life of the oldest branch

When a branch encroaches upon the next vine, it is removed and a new one is cultivated.

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24
Q

What is the Chablis spur-training system described as?

A

A slanting bush vine unsupported by a central post

This system allows for specific growth patterns and fruit production.

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25
What is the **Cordon de Royat** system primarily used for?
A spur-training system for **Champagne's Pinot Noir** ## Footnote It is a spur-trained version of **Guyot Simple** and can have a double variant to replace missing vines.
26
Describe the appearance of **Cordon de Royat** vines after winter pruning.
They look like **columns of gnarled old men** in perfect formation, all facing forward and bent almost double ## Footnote This visual description emphasizes their structured growth.
27
Who developed the **Geneva Double Curtain** (GDC) system?
**Professor Nelson Shaulis** of the Geneva Experimental Station ## Footnote This system was developed in the early 1960s to enhance the volume and ripening of locally grown **Concord grapes**.
28
What is a key benefit of the **Geneva Double Curtain** system?
* Yields are 50% higher than standard VSP trellis * Increased protection from frosts * Ideal for full mechanization of medium- to high-vigour vineyards ## Footnote The system is particularly effective on deep fertile soils.
29
True or false: The **Geneva Double Curtain** system is easy to apply to classic vinifera vines.
FALSE ## Footnote Classic vinifera vines have an upward-growing tendency, making the GDC system more challenging to implement.
30
What is the primary purpose of shoot positioning in the **Geneva Double Curtain** system?
To achieve successful results in vine management ## Footnote Shoot positioning can be done via movable wire, by hand, or even by machine.
31
Who developed the **cane-training system** known as Guyot?
Jules Guyot ## Footnote The system was developed in 1860.
32
What are the two forms of the Guyot cane-training system?
* Double form * Simple form ## Footnote Both forms represent the most conservative style of cane training.
33
What is the primary benefit of the **Guyot system** for growers?
Easiest means of restraining yields ## Footnote This is achieved by restricting the number of fruiting canes and buds.
34
True or false: The Guyot system is the simplest vine-training method to increase production.
FALSE ## Footnote It is the most difficult method to pump up production, even when abused.
35
In which region is the **Guyot system** commonly used?
Bordeaux ## Footnote The number of canes and buds is restricted by AOC rules in this region.
36
What is **self-regulation** in the context of vineyard inspections?
The absence of INAO inspectors checking vine varieties or counting canes or buds ## Footnote This indicates a lack of oversight in certain vineyard practices.
37
What is the significance of **Guyot** in winemaking?
Used for some of the finest wines throughout the winemaking world, both Old and New ## Footnote Guyot is a vine training system that enhances grape quality.
38
What is the **Lyre** system also known as?
the 'U' system ## Footnote The Lyre system is a spur-training system used in viticulture.
39
What are the benefits of the **Lyre system**?
* Better penetration of light * Improved ripeness levels * Better air circulation * Reduced incidence of cryptogamic disorders ## Footnote The system allows for better management of vine health and fruit quality.
40
Where was the **Lyre system** developed?
Bordeaux ## Footnote It is more commonly used in the New World.
41
In which type of vineyards is the **Lyre method** not useful?
low-vigour vineyards ## Footnote The system is designed for vineyards with higher vigour.
42
Some growers have successfully adapted the **Lyre system** to what type of training?
cane training ## Footnote This adaptation allows for flexibility in vineyard management.
43
What is the **Pendelbogen** system also known as?
European Loop or Arc-Cane Training ## Footnote This vine-training system is a variant of the Guyot Double and is popular in Switzerland and the Rhine Valley areas.
44
In which regions is the **Pendelbogen** system most popular?
* Switzerland * Rhine Valley areas of Germany * Alsace * Mâcon * British Columbia * Oregon ## Footnote The system can be found in various regions, indicating its adaptability.
45
How does the **Pendelbogen** system affect fruit-bearing shoots compared to the Guyot Double system?
It has more fruit-bearing shoots ## Footnote This results in higher yields due to the arching of the canes.
46
What is a primary benefit of the **arching** in the Pendelbogen system?
Better sap distribution ## Footnote This helps in the production of more fruit.
47
What is a potential downside of the **Pendelbogen** system regarding fruit quality?
It can reduce ripeness levels ## Footnote The prime motive for adopting Pendelbogen is often economic rather than quality-focused.
48
Who developed the **Cane-training system**?
Scott Henry ## Footnote Developed at the Scott Henry Vineyard in Oregon.
49
The Scott Henry system effectively doubles the **fruiting area** compared to which system?
Guyot Double ## Footnote It also offers a 60% increase over the standard VSP Trellis system.
50
What percentage increase in **fruiting area** does the Scott Henry system provide over the standard VSP Trellis system?
60% ## Footnote This increase contributes to larger crops and better quality fruit.
51
What benefits does the Scott Henry system provide in terms of **wine quality**?
* Riper fruit * Better quality fruit * Less herbaceous wines * Smoother tannins ## Footnote The canopy is split and less dense, enhancing wine quality.
52
Which estate is mentioned as consistently one of New Zealand's best red wines that supports the effectiveness of the Scott Henry method?
Goldwater Estate ## Footnote Kim Goldwater has records proving the effectiveness of the Scott Henry method.
53
True or false: Growers who have tried the Scott Henry method often find it easy to grow **vine shoots downwards**.
FALSE ## Footnote Growers report difficulties with downward-growing shoots, although they grow upwards for most of the season.
54
What separates the downward-growing shoots from the upward-growing shoots in the Scott Henry system?
A moveable wire ## Footnote This separation is part of the unique training method.
55
What is the **Scott Henry** system used for in cane-training?
It levers half the canopy into a downwards position ## Footnote This system's success relies on timing the movement of the wire just before harvest.
56
When should the wire be moved in the **Scott Henry** system?
Two or three weeks before the harvest ## Footnote This timing prevents the canes from reverting and helps manage the weight of the fruit.
57
In regions where grazing animals coexist with vines, how does the **Scott Henry** system benefit weed control?
Both halves of the canopy are a metre (two feet) above the ground ## Footnote This height allows for the control of under-vine weeds and water-shoots without herbicides or manual labor.
58
In which regions is the **Scott Henry** system mainly found?
Mainly in the New World ## Footnote The system is becoming increasingly popular in these areas.
59
In the **Scott Henry cane-training system**, how many permanent spurs does each vine have when adapted to spur training?
Two permanent spurs ## Footnote This adaptation replaces the four annual canes typically used in traditional cane training.
60
What types of canopies does the **Scott Henry spur training** system produce?
* Top canopies * Bottom canopies ## Footnote The system does not produce both types simultaneously.
61
In the **Scott Henry system**, how are the vines pruned?
At alternating heights ## Footnote This technique replicates the effect of cane training.
62
What happens to the canopies in the **Scott Henry spur training system** as they grow?
All canopies grow upwards ## Footnote Eventually, the canopies on the lower vines are levered downwards.
63
True or false: The detailed structure of the **Scott Henry system** is easily identifiable when the vines are shrouded in foliage.
FALSE ## Footnote The structure becomes almost impossible to identify under foliage.
64
What is the **definition** of a **minimal pruning - spur-training system**?
A wild, unruly mass with a central thicket of unpruned dead wood ## Footnote This system lacks a disciplined form, making it difficult to illustrate.
65
What happens to the central thicket in the **minimal pruning - spur-training system** during winter?
Some of the central thicket may be mechanically removed ## Footnote However, it remains a tangled mass.
66
At what height are the **canes** wrapped around a wire in the **minimal pruning - spur-training system**?
About 1.5 to 2 metres (5 to 6 feet) off the ground ## Footnote This is done on either side of the trunk.
67
What is done to the **summer shoots** in the **minimal pruning - spur-training system**?
Some of the summer shoots will be trimmed ## Footnote This is to keep the fruit off the ground.
68
True or false: Growers often give up quickly in the **minimal pruning - spur-training system** due to high initial yields.
TRUE ## Footnote As the volume increases, the quality noticeably deteriorates.
69
What happens to the vine in the **minimal pruning - spur-training system** if growers are patient?
The vine achieves a natural balance ## Footnote This reduces the length of its shoots and the number of fruiting nodes.
70
How long does it take for the **quality** of fruit to begin improving in minimally pruned vines?
After two or three years ## Footnote Mature minimally pruned vines continue to give fairly high yields.
71
By which year does the **quality** of fruit from minimally pruned vines improve significantly?
By the sixth or seventh year ## Footnote This indicates a long-term benefit of patience in the pruning system.
72
What is the impact of **minimal pruning** on grape quality?
Quality is usually significantly superior and quantity is substantially greater ## Footnote Minimal pruning leads to better grape ripening in hot climates but can be detrimental in cool, wet conditions.
73
How does **ripening time** of grapes change with minimal pruning?
Ripening time needed by the grapes increases ## Footnote This can be advantageous in hot climates but disastrous in cool ones.
74
What vulnerabilities do **minimally pruned vines** face after several years?
* Vulnerable to pests * Vulnerable to diseases * Vulnerable to rot and mildew ## Footnote The mass of old wood and split-ends can contribute to these vulnerabilities.
75
Why are minimally pruned vines in **wet areas** like New Zealand more heavily pruned?
To reduce vulnerability to pests and diseases ## Footnote Wet conditions increase the risk of rot and mildew.
76
In which regions did **minimal pruning** first emerge and is still used effectively?
* Coonawarra * Padthaway ## Footnote These regions are in Australia, where minimal pruning has shown great results.
77
What is the **Sylvos** spur-training system?
A system with a long trunk (up to 2 meters), permanent main branches, and downward-tied fruiting canes ## Footnote Sylvos requires minimal pruning, is simple to maintain, and lends itself to mechanization, but yields are low unless pruned very lightly.
78
Who originally conceived the **Sylvos** system?
Carlo Sylvos ## Footnote The system is popular in Italy and is sometimes operated without a bottom wire.
79
What is a major disadvantage of the **Sylvos** system?
Dense canopy prone to bunch-rot ## Footnote This can affect the health and yield of the vines.
80
In which countries is the **Hanging Cane** technique used?
* Australia * New Zealand ## Footnote This technique involves shoot positioning in the Sylvos system.
81
What is a characteristic of **Vinifera Sylvos** varieties?
They do not like being forced downwards ## Footnote This affects how growers manage the vines in the Sylvos system.
82
What is the main benefit of the **Sylvos** system?
Minimal pruning and simple maintenance ## Footnote This makes it suitable for mechanization in vineyards.
83
What is the **Sylvos (Hawke's Bay variant)** system developed for?
A spur-training system ## Footnote Developed by Gary Wood of Montana Wines in the early 1980s.
84
How many **main spurs** does the Sylvos system have compared to the Scott Henry system?
Two main spurs ## Footnote The Scott Henry system has four main spurs.
85
What is a key advantage of the **Sylvos system** in terms of grape clusters?
Reduces bunch-rot and facilitates better spray penetration ## Footnote Grape clusters are farther apart due to the canopy being more open.
86
By how much can yields increase using the **Sylvos system**?
Up to 100 percent ## Footnote This system significantly enhances productivity.
87
What is a disadvantage of the **Sylvos system**?
Longer ripening time ## Footnote This poses a risk in areas where late harvests can be dangerous.
88
What does **VSP** stand for in the context of trellising systems?
Vertical Shoot Positioned ## Footnote It is widely used in New Zealand and is referred to as the 'standard' trellising system.
89
What is a characteristic of the **VSP Trellis** regarding the fruiting area?
Contained within one compact zone on wires of a narrow span ## Footnote This design is ideal for mechanized forms of vineyard management.
90
What is a disadvantage of the **VSP Trellis**?
Prone to high vigour and shading ## Footnote This can affect the overall health of the vines.
91
What type of vines is the **VSP Trellis** suitable for?
Low-vigour vines ## Footnote Proper maintenance is crucial for producing good quality wines.
92
What is a common variation of the **VSP Trellis** found in France and Germany?
A spur-trained version with just two main spurs ## Footnote This adaptation is commonly encountered in those regions.
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