1
Q
What is viticulture?
A
The science and practice of grape growing for wine production
2
Q
Does viticulture cover winery operations or vineyard operations?
A
Vineyard operations
3
Q
Name two broad groups of factors that viticulture includes.
A
Natural environmental factors and human vineyard decisions
4
Q
Give one example of a natural factor in viticulture.
A
Climate (or soil
5
Q
Give one example of a human viticultural decision.
A
Choice of grape variety or training system (or irrigation
6
Q
What is organic viticulture?
A
Viticulture that avoids synthetic chemicals and uses natural inputs and methods
7
Q
What does biodynamic viticulture emphasize?
A
Farm as a self-sustaining organism using specific preparations and lunar/cosmic calendars
8
Q
What is sustainable viticulture?
A
Viticulture that balances environmental
9
Q
What is “dry farming” in vineyards?
A
Growing vines without irrigation
10
Q
What is one potential benefit of dry farming?
A
Deeper root systems and potentially more concentrated fruit
11
Q
What is one potential risk of dry farming?
A
Drought stress and reduced yields in dry years
12
Q
Why is site selection considered the first viticultural decision?
A
Because it determines climate
13
Q
Name two key geographic features that influence vineyard conditions.
A
Mountains and bodies of water (or hills and valleys)
14
Q
Name two non-environmental factors that influence site choice.
A
Producer’s style goals and economic/financial considerations
15
Q
How can regional wine laws affect viticulture?
A
They dictate which grapes can be planted and sometimes how they are grown
16
Q
Define climate in viticultural terms.
A
The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a region
17
Q
How is climate different from weather?
A
Climate is long-term average; weather is short-term day-to-day variation
18
Q
Name three elements included in climate.
A
Temperature
19
Q
Name two elements included in weather.
A
Daily temperature swings and rainfall events
20
Q
What is a continental climate?
A
A climate with large seasonal temperature differences
21
Q
What is a maritime climate?
A
A climate moderated by a nearby sea/ocean with smaller temperature range
22
Q
What is a Mediterranean climate?
A
Climate with warm to hot dry summers and mild wet winters
23
Q
What is a desert or arid climate?
A
Very low rainfall with high sunshine and temperature
24
Q
In which climate type is drought a particular risk?
A
Mediterranean or desert/arid climates
25
In which climate type is spring frost often a major risk?
Continental climate
26
What does “cool climate” usually mean for wine style?
Higher acidity
27
What does “warm climate” usually mean for wine style?
Riper fruit
28
Define macroclimate.
The climate of a broad wine region
29
Define mesoclimate.
The climate of a specific vineyard or local area within a region
30
Define microclimate.
The climate in the immediate area around a single vine or within the canopy
31
What are growing degree-days?
A measure of heat accumulation during the growing season above a base temperature
32
Why are degree-days important?
They help classify regions and determine which grape varieties can ripen
33
Within what latitude range do most classic wine regions lie?
Between 30° and 50° latitude
34
Why can some wine regions exist outside the 30–50° band?
Due to climate moderators like altitude
35
Name two climate moderators.
Altitude and bodies of water (or diurnal range
36
How does altitude affect vineyard climate?
It lowers temperatures and often increases diurnal range
37
What is diurnal range?
The difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures
38
How can a large diurnal range benefit grapes?
It preserves acidity and enhances aromatic freshness
39
Name one way sunshine hours influence grape ripening.
More sunshine aids ripening; excessive heat may cause sunburn or over-ripeness
40
How do nearby seas or lakes moderate climate?
They reduce extremes by cooling hot days and warming cold nights
41
Name one positive effect of wind in vineyards.
Cooling and drying
42
Name one negative effect of strong wind.
Physical damage to vines or poor fruit set
43
What is a rain shadow?
A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range with reduced rainfall
44
Why can a rain shadow be beneficial for viticulture?
It reduces excessive rainfall and fungal disease pressure
45
What is topography?
The surface features of the land
46
How can elevation affect grape growing?
Higher elevation generally leads to cooler temperatures and slower ripening
47
What is vineyard slope?
The angle or steepness of the vineyard land
48
How does slope benefit vineyards in cool climates?
It improves drainage and increases sun exposure
49
Define vineyard aspect.
The compass direction the vineyard slope faces
50
In the Northern Hemisphere
which aspect generally gets more warmth?
51
Why is aspect important for grape ripeness?
It determines the amount and timing of sunlight and heat exposure
52
What is one effect of being near a large river in a cool region?
Rivers can reflect light and moderate temperatures
53
Define soil in viticulture.
The mix of minerals
54
Name three key soil properties important for vines.
Drainage
55
How does good drainage benefit vines?
Prevents waterlogging and root diseases
56
Why is moderate water retention important?
To supply vines with water during dry periods
57
Why is very fertile soil often not ideal for quality wine?
It can cause excessive vigor and dilute fruit
58
How can stony soils (like gravel) affect vineyard temperature?
They retain and radiate heat
59
What is one way soil can affect pest dynamics?
Certain soils (e.g.
60
Name a soil type often associated with high-acid
fine wines.
61
Name a soil type known for good water retention.
Clay
62
Name a soil type that drains quickly and may give lighter wines.
Sand
63
How does climate interact with soil for grape quality?
Soil can moderate extremes of climate by influencing water and heat availability
64
Give an example of a variety matched to warm
well-drained soils.
65
Give an example of a variety matched to cool sites with heat-retaining soils.
Riesling on slate in a cool continental region
66
What is the genus of grapevines used in viticulture?
Vitis
67
What species is the main source of wine grapes for quality wine?
Vitis vinifera
68
Name three Vitis vinifera varieties.
Cabernet Sauvignon
69
Where is Vitis vinifera native to?
Mediterranean Europe and Southwestern Asia
70
Name one non-vinifera species used in viticulture.
Vitis labrusca
71
Name two Vitis labrusca grapes.
Concord and Catawba
72
What is a hybrid vine?
A cross between different Vitis species
73
What is a crossing?
A new variety created by crossing two parents of the same species
74
What is a clone in viticulture?
A vine propagated vegetatively from a single parent vine
75
What is a grapevine mutation?
A spontaneous genetic change that may create a new variant or color
76
Why are regional wine laws important for variety choice?
They set which varieties are legal in each appellation
77
What is one factor besides law that influences variety selection?
Climate compatibility (or soil compatibility or marketability)
78
What part of the vine is usually from American species for phylloxera resistance?
The rootstock
79
What is the scion in a grafted vine?
The Vitis vinifera portion grafted onto the rootstock
80
Define the trunk of the vine.
The main vertical structure connecting rootstock to above-ground parts
81
What are cordons?
Permanent horizontal arms extending from the trunk
82
What are shoots?
Current-year green growth carrying leaves and clusters
83
What are canes?
Matured
84
What are spurs?
Short canes with a few buds left after pruning
85
What is the canopy of a vine?
All leaves and shoots of the vine
86
What is the benefit of canopy management?
It balances sun
87
Define viticultural yield.
The amount of fruit produced per vine or per unit area
88
Name two common units used to measure yield.
Tons per acre and hectoliters per hectare
89
Why is yield important for wine quality?
Too high can dilute flavor; too low can reduce economic viability
90
Do lower yields always guarantee better quality?
No
91
Define the vine’s dormancy stage.
Winter period when the vine is inactive and leafless
92
What key vineyard operation is done during dormancy?
Pruning
93
What is bud break?
Spring stage when buds swell and new shoots emerge
94
Name one risk around bud break.
Spring frost damaging young shoots
95
What is flowering in grapevines?
The stage when small flowers appear and pollination occurs
96
What is fruit set?
Stage when flowers become small berries
97
Define veraison.
The onset of ripening when berries change color and soften
98
What happens to sugar and acid during ripening?
Sugar increases and acidity decreases
99
What is “hangtime”?
The period from veraison to harvest during which flavors and phenolics develop
100
Define phenolic ripeness.
Maturity of skins
101
Define sugar ripeness.
The level of sugar in grapes
102
Why is aligning phenolic and sugar ripeness important?
To avoid green tannins at high alcohol or overripe flavors
103
What is harvest?
The picking of grapes once desired ripeness is reached
104
Name two factors that influence harvest date.
Weather and desired wine style (also law and producer goals)
105
What is night harvesting?
Picking grapes at night when grapes are cooler
106
Give one benefit of night harvesting.
Preserves acidity and aromatics and reduces oxidation
107
Which sugar scale is commonly used in the US for grape must?
Brix
108
What is a green harvest?
Deliberate removal of unripe grape clusters before harvest
109
What is the purpose of a green harvest?
To reduce yield and increase concentration in remaining fruit
110
Why manage pests and diseases in vineyards?
To maintain vine health and protect yields and quality
111
What is phylloxera?
A microscopic root-feeding louse that attacks grapevine roots
112
What was the historic impact of phylloxera in Europe?
It devastated many vineyards in the 19th century
113
What is the main strategy to combat phylloxera?
Grafting Vitis vinifera onto phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks
114
Are most modern vineyards grafted or ungrafted?
Most are grafted onto resistant rootstock
115
What is Pierce’s Disease?
A bacterial disease that blocks water transport in vines
116
How is Pierce’s Disease spread?
By sharpshooter insects
117
Name two common fungal diseases in vineyards.
Downy mildew and powdery mildew
118
What fungus can be either noble or grey rot?
Botrytis cinerea
119
What is noble rot?
Beneficial Botrytis cinerea infection that concentrates sugars for sweet wine
120
Define vineyard training system.
The way permanent vine structures and shoots are arranged and supported
121
What is head training?
Training with little or no permanent cordon
122
Give an example of a head-trained system.
Gobelet or bush vines
123
What is cordon training?
Training with permanent horizontal arms supported by wires
124
What pruning style is often used with cordon training?
Spur pruning
125
What is cane pruning?
Pruning that retains one-year-old canes as fruiting wood
126
What does VSP stand for in vineyard systems?
Vertical Shoot Positioning
127
Briefly describe VSP.
Shoots trained vertically upwards on wires
128
Name two advantages of VSP.
Good sun exposure and easy mechanization
129
Name one disadvantage of overly dense canopy.
Higher disease pressure and shading of fruit
130
Name one disadvantage of overexposed fruit.
Risk of sunburn
131
What is irrigation?
The artificial application of water to vines
132
Name one common irrigation method.
Drip irrigation (or sprinklers or flood)
133
How can excess irrigation affect grape quality?
It can cause excessive vigor and dilute fruit
134
Define terroir.
The combination of environmental and human factors that give wine its sense of place
135
Name at least four elements included in terroir.
Climate
136
What French phrase is associated with terroir’s effect on flavor?
“Goût de terroir” (taste of the earth)
137
How do regional wine laws affect viticulture?
They set rules on varieties
138
Give an example of a viticultural rule in some European appellations.
Maximum allowed yield in hl/ha
139
Why is understanding vintage important for sommeliers?
Because vintage affects style
140
What is a “good vintage” typically associated with?
Favorable weather leading to balanced ripeness and healthy fruit
141
Name one type of problematic weather at flowering.
Rain or cold causing poor fruit set
142
Name one type of problematic weather near harvest.
Heavy rain causing dilution or rot
143
How can hail impact a vintage?
It can destroy leaves and fruit
144
How does a cool vintage typically show in the glass?
Lower alcohol
145
How does a hot vintage typically show in the glass?
Higher alcohol
146
Why might yields be voluntarily reduced in a top estate?
To increase concentration and quality of the wine
147
Why must workforce availability be considered in harvest decisions?
Hand picking requires enough trained pickers at the right time
148
What is the main difference between hand and machine harvesting?
Hand harvest allows selective picking; machines are faster but less selective
149
How can large harvest bins negatively affect grape quality?
More risk of crushing
150
What is one reason to pick in multiple passes?
To harvest only ripe clusters each time and improve quality
151
Why is viticultural knowledge essential for Certified Sommeliers?
It helps explain wine styles
152
In a short answer
how would you define viticulture for an exam?
CMS - Intro/Certified
flashcards
Decks in class (36)
# Cards
-
France - Burgundy CHABLIS142
-
France - Burgundy COTE D'OR333
-
France - Burgundy MACONNAIS/COTE CHALONNAISE110
-
France - Beaujolais113
-
France - Provence BANDOL99
-
Australia - Overall295
-
Portugal151
-
Italy152
-
Germany150
-
Austria150
-
Greece150
-
Europe141
-
New Zealand150
-
US & Canada130
-
South America150
-
South Africa122
-
France - Rhone Valley155
-
France - Alsace333
-
Fortified284
-
Sparkling157
-
Bordeaux153
-
Champagne144
-
Loire Valley129
-
South France164
-
Italy North188
-
Italy Central120
-
Italy South173
-
Sweet135
-
Beer183
-
Sake122
-
Spirits167
-
Business of Wine127
-
Cocktails208
-
Viticulture152
-
Vinif134
-
Liqueurs0
