Environment Factors
Vine Plants Need 5 Things:
Heat
Sunlight
Water
Nutrients
CO2
Wine Plants Need Heat
Temperature
Average temparatures below 10°C (50°F) is too cold for winemaking.
Average temparatures over 20°C (68°F) is too hot for winemaking.
Latitude
Most wine regions are located between 30 and 50 degrees latitude, and if you look at the map below, you will also see that most wine regions have an average temperature between 10°C and 20°C.
At 30 degrees latitude, the day length is longer than at 50 degrees. This extra sunlight helps grapes ripening in cold climate areas like in Germany.
Altitude (Elevation)
Temperature drops as altitude rises.
High altitudes leads to grapes with higher acidity and more complex aromas.
Higher elevations with cooler temperatures make it possible to grow grapes in warmer climate zones like in northern Argentina, in southern Spain, and in southern Italy.
Aspect
The aspect (angle and sloope) of a vineyard impacts sunlight exposure.
Equator-facing slopes receive more sunlight.
Steep slopes collect more heat from the sun.
Ocean Cooling
Ocean currents can be a useful temperature moderator in wine regions.
A vineyard in a warm region, close to a cold ocean, will benefit from the cooling ocean currents.
A vineyard in a cool region, close to a warm ocean, will benefit from the warming ocean current.
Wind
Wind is one of the environmental features of wine regions.
Wind can cool a warm climate or warm a cool climate.
Fog
In warm climates, fog can act as an air conditioner. It cools down vineyards, during the morning and the evening, which helps prevent grapes from overheating. This extends the growing season, allowing grapes to ripen more slowly and evenly, resulting in more complex flavors and better acidity balance in the wine.
Wine Plants Need Water
Rainfall
Adequate rainfall is essential for grapevine health, but excessive or untimely rainfall can dilute flavors and increase the risk of disease.
Regions with a balance of wet and dry periods can produce more consistent wine quality.
Drought
Drought can stress the vines and limit the amount of fruit they produce.
Frost
Frost can damage the buds and shoots, reducing the amount of fruit the vine produces, or even killng the plants.
Extreme Weather
Hail can damage grapes. Hail can even damage an entire crop.
Heatwaves can have devastating effects on vineyards.
Hurricanes can cause significant damage, destroying both crops and equipment.
Wine Plants Need Nutrients
Vine plants take up nutrients primarily through their roots, which absorb water and nutrients from the soil.
Roots
The roots of vine plants grow in the soil and spread out to find water and nutrients.Absorption
Tiny root hairs on the roots help the plant absorb nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are dissolved in water in the soil.Transport
Once absorbed, the nutrients travel through the plant’s vascular system, which works like tiny tubes. These tubes (called xylem and phloem) move the nutrients and water from the roots up to the rest of the plant.Photosynthesis
The plant then uses these nutrients, along with sunlight and carbon dioxide, to make food through photosynthesis, helping the vine grow and produce leaves, flowers, and fruit.Wine Plants Need CO2
Vine plants take up CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air through tiny openings on their leaves.
Stomata
Vine plants have small openings on the underside of their leaves called stomata.
These can open and close like tiny doors.
Carbon Dioxide Enters
When the stomata are open, CO2 from the air enters the leaves.
Photosynthesis
Inside the leaves, the plant uses the CO2, along sunlight and water, to make food through a process called photosynthesis.
The food helps the plant to grow and produce energy.
Oxygen Release
During photosynthesis, the plant releases oxygen through the stomata.