FST 422 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mulch, Sulfur Dioxide, Sirloin Steak
21 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Roman era: viticulture: grape growing, enology: study of winemaking. Golden age of wine: great advances in technology increased understanding of winemaking/fermentation: louis pasteur experimented on wine/fermentation. Disaster by phylloxera = sap-sucking insect that feeds on roots/leaves. 18th century: improvements in glassmaking and cork use saw development of sparkling wine/champagne. 2 factors that determine grapes/wine = environmental & cultural: environmental: climate, soil, draining, vineyard site, cultural: pruning, growers, selection of grape variety. High sugar concentration allows yeast to ferment wine to sufficient alcohol content. Vitis vinifera grapes most often used for wine versatile, not well suited to humid/cold climates. Use grafting to combat phylloxera: use a scion from vinifera and affix it to a rootstock that is bred from native american grapes (resistant to phylloxera) Soil & site | ground in which vineyard is planted is most fundamental. Grapevines prefer light/rocky soils that drain well. Vineyards located on hillsides are less likely to experience spring frost than vineyards on valley floor.
