WineAbout Wine
CLIMATE - This effects the growing of grapes. Factors are drought, rainfall,frost, amount of sunlight, temperature. Micro-climates within appellationscan vary dramatically.
SOIL - Soil can vary greatly within a single vineyard. Different soils willproduce different flavors in a particular varietal so it's important totest the soil before planting.
ROOTSTOCK - Different types have different depths to their root system.It takes 5-7 years for a newly planted vine to produce quality fruit. Vinesalso need to be disease resistant as is the case with phylloxera, a parasiticdisease of the root system.
VARIETAL - A wine maker needs to choose the right varietal for all of theabove factors. Different varietals thrive in different conditions.
SPACING - The distance between vines is important for many reasons, mostimportantly, the closer the vines the less production or yield per vine.Also land is very expensive so the more vines per acre may increase theproduction or yield of the vineyard. Wider spacing is necessary for mechanicalharvesting.
TRELLISING - This is the way the canes & leaves are held up. It determinesthe shade to light to vine ratio.
PRUNING - The more a vine is pruned, the more quality (intensity) of grapeand the less quantity will be produced.
IRRIGATION - To little water leaves poor color, bitterness, & raisinqualities. To much water gives diluted flavors, thin tannin & low acidity..