This is an overview of grape-growing (viticulture), including climate, soil, and farming practices that influence grape quality and wine style.
WHERE ARE GRAPES GROWN?
Grapes can only grow under specific conditions. The majority of the earth is either too cold, or too hot for grapes to successfully ripen. However, there is a “goldilocks” zone across the world where grapes thrive: between 30° and 50° latitude. This zone includes the United States, much of middle Europe, and the tips of South America, Africa, and Australia.
Generally speaking, grapes grown in cooler regions are more acidic and structured, and those grown in warmer climates are sweeter and riper. Vineyards closer to water may benefit from warmer air, cooler air, salty air, or even rainy air, all which effect grapes in different ways.
For example, some Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in northwest France on the ocean coasts have subtle notes of salt, whereas that same grape grown more inland towards Sancerre has more of a mineral flavor. Vineyards situated further into the land and away from water could experience drought, spring frosts, hail, or other continental weather patterns that can impact a grape’s growing season. Location and weather are critical to a wine’s final style and taste.
WHAT IS TERROIR?
Terroir is a French word that means “sense of place.” It is all the factors that work together to create a vineyard’s unique recipe, in a way that no two vineyards on earth are identical.
Therefore, a vineyard has a right to claim that their unique terroir is responsible for how their wines taste, hence the names we see on European wine labels like Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Chianti, Barolo and Rioja to name a few. These famous wines are celebrated by region name, and recognized by their “sense of place.” Note: non-European regions usually put the name of the grape on the label in lieu of the place.
WHY DOES PLACE MATTER?
The same grape grown in Place A and Place B could taste very different due to the variations in vineyards.
The terroir in New Zealand is different than the terroir in Napa Valley, which is why the same grape grown in both places can taste very different. Digging even deeper, the terroir in northern France is different than the terroir of southern France. Delving even deeper yet, terroir can differ between vineyards only 5 minutes a part from each other. Going even farther, (we are literally in the weeds now), the terroir of one row of vines can be different than another.
WHY ARE GRAPES GROWN ON SLOPES?
Some vineyard sites, especially those in cool regions, benefit from being situated on hills and mountains. Because more sunlight is available on sloped land than flat land, the additional light can help to ripen grapes that may struggle to develop on the valley floor. Slopes that face east receive softer morning sun, whereas slopes that face west receive more intense afternoon sun.
Grapes are sometimes grown on slopes to benefit from cooler air. In some hot regions like California or Chile, the temperatures on the valley floors are so hot that it could make grape-growing very challenging. In extreme cases, the intense heat could scorch the grapes or cause permanent damage to the vines. In addition, the heat could cause grapes to over-ripen and lose the acidity needed for a well-balanced and structured wine.
MORE Grape-Growing
From Budbreak to Harvest: The Lifecycle of a Grape Vine
How Wine Grapes Grow: Northern vs Southern Hemispheres
Today’s 1 Minute Read: Noble Rot (Sweet Wine)
