3/03/2024
Natural factors and human
Session 2
influences in the vineyard
What are the factors that affect the
style, quality and price of wines?
Natural factors Human factors
• grapes • grape growing
• climate • winemaking
• weather • maturation
• soil • market forces
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Vine species
Eurasian vines
Vitis vinifera
• used for fruit production
American vines
• used for rootstocks
Anatomy of the vine
• green parts
• woody parts
• roots
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Green parts of the vine
Tendrils
Buds
Leaves
Flowers
and
berries
Woody parts of the vine
This year’s
shoots
Permanent One-year-old
wood: trunk wood: cane
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Roots
• phylloxera
• rootstock
• Grafting (head/bench)
Bench grafting Head grafting
7
Vine propagation
variety of
Vitis vinifera
Cutting/layering fertilisation
(same variety) (new variety)
with with
CLONE
Vitis vinifera other Vitis
CROSSING HYBRID
(usually as rootstocks)
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3/03/2024
Vine propagation
Layering
Vine propagation
variety of
Vitis vinifera
Cutting/layering fertilisation
(same variety) (new variety)
with with
CLONE
Vitis vinifera other Vitis
CROSSING HYBRID
(usually as rootstocks)
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Annual growth cycle of a vine
11
What a vine needs
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Heat • atmosphere Sunlight
• sun
• sun
• reflected from soil
• reflected from
water
Oxygen
Photosynthesis
• leaf combines CO2 +
water to produce
glucose + oxygen
Nutrients
Water • soil particles
• rainfall • humus
• irrigation • fertiliser
• water stored in soil
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Climate classification
A vine needs average
temperatures of 16–22°C
Cool climate Moderate climate Warm climate Hot climate
16.5°C or below 16.5–18.5°C 18.5–21°C Above 21°C
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Climate classification
Continental climate
➢ BIG difference hottest/coldest month
✓ Rapid shift between seasons
✓ SHORT growing seasons
✓ Can be challenging to get grape fully ripe
✓ Early ripening varieties favoured (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling…)
✓ Summer usually dry
Maritime climate
➢ Low difference hottest/coldest month
✓ Slow temperature shift between seasons
✓ LONGER growing season
✓ Rain evenly spread
→ can cause problems at flowering, fruit set and harvest
Mediterranean climate
➢ Low difference hottest/coldest month
➢ WARMER
✓ LONG, WARM growing season
✓ Lower rainfall
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Climate classification
• Continental climate
• Maritime climate
• Mediterranean climate
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Climate classification
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Factors that affect the climate of
a vineyard
• altitude
• diurnal range
• cooling effects
from the ocean
• large bodies of
water
• aspect
• soil
17
Temperature hazards
• winter freeze
• frost
• cold
temperatures in
spring
• excessive heat
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Sunlight
A vine needs sunlight to
power photosynthesis
Factors affecting sunlight
• latitude
• aspect
• seas
• lakes
• rivers
Sunlight hazards
• too little
• too much
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Water
A vine needs water for
photosynthesis
Sources of water
• rain
• irrigation
(drip, sprinkler, flood)
Water hazards
• drought
• too much
• at the wrong time
• hail
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Water
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Soil
Composition
• stones
• humus
• nutrients
Soil and water
• The best soils are well drained
retaining only just enough water
Nutrients
• too much vigorous growth
• too little ill health (chlorosis)
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Vineyard management
Why does a vineyard need to be managed?
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Pruning, training and trellising
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Managing the vine
Pruning
• removal of unwanted leaves,
shoots or wood
• winter
• summer
Training
• moulding the vines wood and
shoots to the required shape
Trellis
• stakes and wires used to support
the trained vines
25
Winter pruning
Head or cordon
• Head is little permanent
wood
• Cordon is permanent wood
Spur vs Cane
• Spur: a few buds
• Cane (or replacement cane):
more buds
26
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3/03/2024
Winter pruning – replacement cane
Vine at harvest
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Winter pruning – replacement cane
Leafs fall
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Winter pruning – replacement cane
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Winter pruning – replacement cane
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Winter pruning – replacement cane
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Winter pruning – replacement cane
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Winter pruning – replacement cane
Vine at harvest
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Winter pruning – spur (cordon)
Vine left with several spurs
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Winter pruning – spur (cordon)
Leafs fall
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Winter pruning – spur (cordon)
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Winter pruning – spur (cordon)
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Winter pruning – spur (head trained)
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Vine density
• very limited water availability
• low levels of nutrients and
sufficient rainfall
• high levels of nutrients and
sufficient rainfall
39
Yield and quality
high levels of: potential for higher yields
sunlight / heat / nutrients of quality fruit
low levels of: only potential for lower
sunlight / heat / nutrients yields of quality fruit
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Pests and diseases
Risks
• limits a vine’s photosynthetic
capability
• damage/destroy fruit
Treatment and management
• rootstocks
• physical barriers
• chemical sprays
• canopy management
41
Pests
• phylloxera
• nematodes
• birds and mammals
• insects
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Fungal Diseases
• downy mildew
• powdery mildew
• grey rot
43
Other diseases
• viruses
• bacterial diseases
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Viticultural practices
• conventional agriculture
• sustainable agriculture
• organic agriculture
• biodynamic agriculture
45
Harvest
Machine harvesting Hand harvesting
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Systematic Approach to Tasting
APPEARANCE
Intensity pale – medium – deep
Colour white lemon-green – lemon – gold – amber – brown
rosé pink – salmon – orange
red purple – ruby – garnet – tawny – brown
NOSE
Intensity light – medium(-) – medium – medium(+) – pronounced
Aroma characteristics
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Development youthful – developing – fully developed – tired/past its best
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Systematic Approach to Tasting
PALATE
Sweetness dry – off-dry – medium-dry – medium-sweet – sweet – luscious
Acidity low – medium(-) – medium – medium(+) – high
Tannin low – medium(-) – medium – medium(+) – high
Alcohol low – medium – high
Body light – medium(-) – medium – medium(+) – full
Flavour intensity light – medium(-) – medium – medium(+) – pronounced
Flavour characteristics
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Finish short – medium(-) – medium – medium(+) – long
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Systematic Approach to Tasting
CONCLUSIONS
ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY
Quality level faulty – poor – acceptable – good – very good – outstanding
Balance
Length
Intensity
Complexity
can drink now, drink now: not
Level of readiness for
but has suitable for
drinking / potential for too young too old
potential for ageing or
aging
ageing further ageing
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Tasting – identify the grape variety
Cabernet
Pinot Noir Merlot Syrah/Shiraz
Sauvignon
Colour intensity: Colour intensity: Colour intensity: Colour intensity:
light deep medium – deep deep
Tannins: Tannins: Tannins: Tannins:
low high medium medium – high
Acidity: Acidity: Acidity: Acidity:
high high medium medium
Flavour Flavour Flavour Flavour
characteristics: characteristics: characteristics: characteristics:
strawberry blackcurrant strawberry blackberry
raspberry black cherry red plum black cherry
red cherry green bell pepper red cherry black pepper
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