Starting in the vineyard working outward, what are 11 factors that influence grape production? the factors of production
- Location / geography
- climate
- topography / aspect
- soil
- grape varieties planted
- viticultural practices
- vinification practices
- harvest
- yearly weather / vintage variation
- terroir
- regional wine laws
- historical background / influences
what is viticulture ?
the art and science of vine growing
what are important points for choosing the vineyard location / geography ?
- site location
- goals of winemaker /owner
- winelaws
- financial consideration
in which climate region do most grapes thrive ( northern +southern hemisphere ) ?
between 30 and 50 degrees in northern + southern hemisphere
what is macroclimate ?
the climate of an entire vine region
what is mescoclimate ?
the climate of a particular vineyard
what is microclimate ?
the climate of a single row of vines or even a specific wine
how can you further describe the climate definitions ?
- cool
- moderate
- warm
- hot
what are the specific climate types
- continental
- maritime : marked by mild temperatures that can fluctuate from year to year, causing vintage variations
- mediterranean
- high desert
what important factors influence or alter the climate ?
- diurnal shifts : daytime + nighttime differences, can affect grape ripening, balance of sugar and acidity
- sunshine hours
- threats
3.1 frost or freeze
3.2 hail
3.3 strong winds
what are climate moderators ?
- bodies of water, can warm or cool a region
oceans, rivers, lakes - mountains, can protect from surrounding weather or climate influences
2.1. rain shadow : a dry area on one side of the mountain opposite the side with poor weather
2.2. altitude / elevation : every 100 m 1 degree colder
2.3. wind : cool or warm/drier air ( helps to prevent mold )
some topographical elements have a strong influence on viticulture ?
- steeper hillside : better drainage, less fertile, lower chance of frost, harder to work
2..valley floor : pool air, susceptible to frost, can have overly fertile soil
- aspect : facing towards or away from sun
4..proximity to water, moderating factor
what are the different soil types ?
- clay : least porous, most dense, least drainage, most water retention, most fertile, least heat retention, keeps soil cool
- granite : great drainage, retains heat, higher acid soil > higher acid wines
- gravel : the most porous of all, great drainage, poor water retention, very infertile, retains heat well
- limestone / chalk : retains water, but also good drainage, lends bright acidity & age well
- marl : blend of clay and limestone
- schist : harder than slate, retains heat well, lends to big powerful wines with good minerality ( galestro is type of schist in Tuscany )
- sand : less porous, good drainage, little water retention, slightly more fertile, great heat retention, known to resist phylloxera
- silt : finer grained than sand, not very porous, pretty poor drainage, one of the most water retaining, fairly heat retaining, more fertile
what do grape skins contribute to wine ?
- tannins : lend structure, but also astringency in red wines
- color, different for each grape variety
- flavor : most important aromas and flavors are in skin, unique to each variety
what does the pulp contribute to wine ?
- water
- sugar, increases as grapes ripen
- acids, decreases as grapes ripen
- seeds/ pips, can produce bitter flavors if pressed
what is vitis vinifera ?
- most common species of vining plant for quality grape production
- upwards of 10k varieties
- native to Europe, Mediterranean, southwestern Asia
- red examples : cab Sauvignon, merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir
- white examples : chardonnay, riesling, Sauvignon blanc
what is important when choosing a grape variety for a specific vineyard/region ?
- local wine law
- climate compatibility
- soil compatibility
name 3 terms of viticultural propagation / grape vine breeding
- hybrids : 2 or more different species combined produce a new variety :
vitis vinifera x vitis lambrusca
example : Traminette, is a cross of Gewürztraminer and a French-American hybrid, Joannes Seyve 23.416 - crosses : 2 or more of the same species combined produce a new variety :
vitis vinifera x vitis vinifera
example : Cabernet Sauvignon, the offspring of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. - clones : are identical genetic reproductions of a single vine : three of the most common Pinot Noir Dijon clones are 667, 777 and 115. In general, the Dijon clones are known for smaller berries, earlier ripening and very expressive aromatics
what are the effects of cool climate on ripeness and wine style ?
- grapes ripen slowly and moderately
- less sugar is produced
- acidity remains high
- less alcohol potential
- flavors are more tart and lean, less ripe and juicy
what are the effects of warm climate on ripeness and wine style ?
- grapes ripen fully
- more sugar is produced
- acidity is lower
- higher alcohol potential
- flavors are more ripe, lush and juicy
what influences do humans exert on the vineyard ?
- vineyard architecture : how vines and vineyard are laid out
1.1 vine spacing
1.2. vine training : controls vine’s production of grape, leaves and wood - yield : measured in a few ways
2.1. tons of grapes per acre
2.2. hectoliters per hectares
2.3. pounds or kids per wine
what is green harvest ?
a crop thinning method of dropping or cutting unripe grape bunches off the vine before harvest to decrease yields and thus allow the vine to focus its energy and nutrition on fewer and high quality bunches.
name a few key elements of vineyard management
- canopy management : managing the growth of the vine’s leaves to either shade or expose the grape bunches or determine the flow of air through vine rows
- irrigation
- pests and vine disease management. eg phylloxera, a vine louse, which destroyed 1/3 of the world’s vine beginning in the late 1800. one of the greatest threads to vine production
- fertilizers
- anti fungal treatments to ward off mildew and rot, which can seriously compromise fruit quality
when and how are grapes harvested ? determines style and quality.
- time of picking
- grape maturity
- sugar ripeness
- physiological ripeness : ripeness of the grape bunches in their totality, incl stems and seeds
- tannin ripeness : ripeness specifically associated with tannins in skins and seeds
- number of vineyard passes
- method of harvest
- hand harvesting vs mechanical harvesting
hand : slower, more labor intensive, greater selectivity
mechanical : quite economical, rapid, can enhance quality if crop is grown in hot region or threatened by incoming storm , but grapes arriving at winery with leaves, pests and even animals - large vs small bins
smaller bins limit number of grape bunches
larger bins have the danger that fruit lower in the bin gets crushed by weight, compromising quality and conceivably beginning the fermentation prematurely
- hand harvesting vs mechanical harvesting
