HFT 4866 - Wine & Culture Part 1 - Terroir

Microclimate -

Specific environment in a small restricted space-such as a row of vines. The more delineated term canopy microclimate refers to the environment around an individual grapevine.

Aspect -

Generally refers to the horizontal direction to which a mountain slope faces.

(AOC) System -

(Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée)- Model for appellation and wine laws across the globe with its core assumption that the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality that is specific to that region

Terroir -

(from the French word terre, or land, or loosely translated as "a sense of place") - Term in wine used to denote the special characteristics that geography bestows upon particular varieties of grape.

Elevation -

A geographic location's height above a fixed reference point, often the mean sea level.

Heat Retention -

Ability of the soil to retain heat and/or reflect it back up to the vine. Soil particles continue to release heat during the evening ripening grapes after the sun sets.

What is fog partly responsible for because of the moisture that is deposited on the grapes?

Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot (a grey fungus that concentrates sweetness in the grapes)

Macroclimate -

Climate of a larger or broad area on the scale of tens to hundreds of square kilometers

Mesoclimate -

Climate of a particular vineyard site and is generally restricted to a space of tens or hundreds of meters

What decisions in the growing process either suppress or enhance the terroir in wine?

Climate, soil, and topography

Sedimentary soil -

Composed of rock particles physically weathered and deposited by wind or water

Igneous soil -

Formed from lava flows below and above the earth's surface

Metamorphic soil -

Formed from the weathering of schist, slate, or gneiss. These rocks were originally sedimentary or igneous, but were changed by pressure and heat underneath the earth's surface.

What kind of grapes thrive in warmer temperatures?

Fuller bodied grapes like Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Viognier

Is low soil fertility good or bad? Why?

Grapes do well in soil with low fertility. Low soil fertility produces small grape yields resulting in concentrated flavor and aroma in the wines produced.

What kind of grapes thrive in cooler temperatures?

Lighter bodied grapes like Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer

What effects does limestone have in the soil?

Limestone weathers, releasing carbonates, which break down organic matter increasing the soil's water retention.

Majority of wine is grown between the temperate latitudes of _?_º and _?_º in both hemispheres where annual mean temperatures are between _?_ and _?_ ºF (_?_ and _?_ ºC)

Majority of wine is grown between the temperate latitudes of 30º and 50º in both hemispheres where annual mean temperatures are between 50 and 68 ºF (10 and 20 ºC)

Many metabolic processes in the vine will stop below _?_ degrees Fahrenheit. Why is this important? At what temperature does winterkill occur?

Many metabolic processes in the vine will stop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures must be cold enough to encourage the vine to go dormant. Below 0 degrees Fahrenheit causes winterkill.

What color soil produces the best grapes? Which color soil is the worst for grapes?

Quality grapes are produced in soils of lighter colors, including tan, red, or brown, which have lower levels of organic matter, better drainage, and higher oxidation. Grey soils drain poorly; they contain a lot of organic material.

Which side of a slope is most often exposed to the sun?

Significantly influences microclimate because the sun's rays are in the west at the hottest time of day (the afternoon), therefore in most cases, a west-facing slope will be warmer than a sheltered east-facing slope.

Why is soil depth important?

Soil depth effects how large the root system of the vine can grow. Grapevines are stressed when their roots are forced to grow deep to find water sources, resulting in a concentration of flavor in the grapes.

How do air pockets affect heat retention in the soil?

Soil with many air pockets traps heat underneath the topsoil, resulting in the increased possibility of frost at ground level.

What effect does soil that drains well have on a vine's roots?

Soils that drain well induce a vine's roots to grown deep into the ground in search of water pockets, stressing the vines and concentrating the flavors in the fruit. Deep roots are less susceptible to changes in weather patterns.

What do French wine labels tend to emphasize?

Terroir is the dominant influence in French wine and is the basis behind French wine labels.

Mineral content of vineyard soil is a product of what?

The answer is the physical and chemical weathering of parent materials or rocks. The mineral content of the soil produces nuanced, complex flavors and aromas in the grapes. Clay is rich in nutrients and has minerals vital to the vine's ability to absorb other nutrients. Sandy soil is lacking in large amounts of nutrients and water.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) -

The capacity of the soil for ion (charged particles) exchange of cations (positively charged ions) between the soil and the soil solution (nutrients in a water solution)

Topography -

The natural landscape features like mountains, valleys and bodies of water, which affect how the climate interacts with the region.

The optimal amount of nutrients for vines are between pH _?_ to _?_.

The optimal amount of nutrients for vines are between pH 6.0 to 7.0

What are the effects of wind on climate and the vineyard?

Wind has a moderating effect on extreme climates and helps keep moisture off of vines thus lessening the chance of mildew. Too much wind exposure can stop the metabolic processes of vines which results in an inferior wine. Where wind is scarce growers use machines in their vineyards to warm vines on cold, spring mornings.

How much cooler is temperature at higher elevations?

approximately 6.5 degrees Celsius cooler per 1000 meters due to less density of air at higher altitudes. 1 meter = 3.28 feet

How much rainfall is required throughout the year for vines to produce grapes suitable for winemaking?

around 690 millimeters (27 in.) of rainfall throughout the year

What are the consequences of excess rainfall?

humidity increases which increases the chance of mildew growth

What are the effects of fog on temperature?

moderates extremes, cooling warm days and warming cold nights and mornings

What is the ideal situation for drainage in soil?

thin topsoil and subsoil that sufficiently retains water, but also has good drainage so that the vine roots don't become overly saturated.

How can cover crops influence soil acidity?

pH can be lowered using cover crops which remove certain nutrients from the soil.

Clay in the vineyard must be what?

porous and not very water retentive

Grapes grow well in shallow or deep soil?

well-drained, deep soil

What does soil acidity affect?

which varietals are planted in a particular vineyard. High acid varietals have traditionally been planted in high pH soils. Low acid varietals do best in soils with a low pH.

Topography factors to consider when growing:

•Aspect of the vineyard location •Elevation of the vineyard location •Slope of the vineyard location

There are several minerals that all good vineyard soils should have which are vital to the health of vines, and include:

•Calcium - Helps to neutralize the Soil pH levels •Iron - Essential for photosynthesis •Magnesium - An important component of chlorophyll •Nitrogen - Assimilated in the form of nitrates •Phosphates - Encourages root development •Potassium - Improves the vine's metabolism and increases its health for next year's crop

Soil particle size effects:

•How the vine's roots are structured and anchored •Influences the soil drainage levels •The amount of minerals and nutrients that the vine is exposed to. •The larger the soil's particle size, the better the soil retains heat.

Categories of Parent Material or Rock Types:

•Igneous •Metamorphic •Sedimentary

In cool/warm climates grapes are:

•Less pigmented •Less consistently ripe •Low in sugar •High in acid

In warm/hot climates grapes are:

•More pigmented •Very ripe •Higher in sugar •Lower in acid

Factors that affect soil fertility include:

•Nutrient Availability •Cation Exchange Capacity •pH Level (Acidity)

Soil character and composition factors:

•Parent material or rock •Particle size •Heat retention •Drainage •Depth •Color •Fertility

CEC is used as a measure of what?

•Soil fertility •Nutrient retention capacity •Capacity to protect groundwater from cation contamination