WINE VOCABULARY, STEP BY STEP - 16

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Affordable styles, self-development, how-to do’s, learn to divine and describe your own taste. Wine is a personal preference; everybody taste different and likes or dislikes some smell or taste impressions.

FOR THE SELF-MADE PERSON

My impression is that a lot of wine critics sound like a doctor. Using wine terms if everybody knows them. To understand this better, I will take you, in the coming time, step by step through those words in a normal way.

By AD Wines, Dannis Apeldoorn

From A to Z —> G

Green harvesting

Green harvesting is done due to high yield. Yield is a measure of the amount of grapes produced.

There is a risk with green harvesting. When it’s done at the wrong time the vine will compensate for the loss by increasing the size of the grapes that have been left hanging. This can not only return the yield to the almost original size, but will also dilute the flavours in the remaining grapes.

Growing environments

What a vine needs.

Weather and climate

Heat

It the temperature is below 10 degrees C it is to cold for the vine to grow. 

Factors affecting heat

• Latitude, the most wine is produced between 30 and 50 Degrees North and South of the Equator.

• Altitude, how higher you go up a mountain how colder it gets. In hot climates, the wine producers will look for a good spot on a hight altitude then in an area where it’s cooler.

• Ocean currents, some areas closer to the oceans are influenced but the Seawater what a lot colder because of the streams coming from the North or South pools.

• Fog, can help to cool down but can also create decises.

• Soil, dark rocky soils are keeping more head. Soil what is compact and has a lot of water require more energy to warm up, this can delay bud burst.

Nutrients

Are in the soil. The most important nutrients for a vine are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These elements are naturally absorbed by the roots of the vine in the soil. Vines do not need high levels.

Soil

Light soil reflect the sun good, but cools quickly done also. Dark rocky soils are keeping more head. Soil what is compact and has a lot of water require more energy to warm up, this can delay bud burst. 

Sunlight

Factors affecting sunlight

• Latitude, the length during the summer growing is longer the further you are away from the Equator. Temperature is not higher, so the vine need that extra time to ripen.

• Seas and lakes. Vineyards close to sea or lakes can experience more cloud cover. Some benefit too from the sunlight reflecting from the surface of the water.

Water

• Rainfall is the most important source of water. In some regions/ areas is irrigation alowed by the local wine-laws permit.

Classification of Climates

By temperature

• Cool climate. Here is the average growing season temperature below 16,5 degrees C.

• Moderate climate. With an average growing season temperature between 16,5 and 18,5 degrees C.

• Warm climate. Here is the average growing temperature between 18,5 and 21 degrees C.

• Hot climate. Here is the average growing temperature above 21 degrees C.

Where located

• Continental climate. Have the largest difference in temperature between the hottest and coldest month.

• Maritime climate. These climates are characterised by cool to moderate temperatures. Here is the difference between the hottest and coldest month low.

• Mediterranean climate. Also characterised by cool to moderate temperatures but summers are warm and dry.

The following week we continue with the letter - H.

Next week, same day, Saturday, and same time, 9:30 am CET, the next two words.