Man first domesticated Vitis vinifera, the species of climbing vine responsible for fine wine production, nearly 5,000 years before the Common Era.
Viticulture, the study of grape growing, slowly developed in conjunction with the cultivation of the vine, as growers over time learned from instinct and observation. The grower or viticulturist confronts decisions on vine training and pruning methods, canopy management, fertilization and irrigation, harvest dates, and disease control; and monitors the development of the vineyard in general. From Charlemagne’s directive to plant the vineyards of Corton where the snows melt first, to the widespread adoption of rootstock grafting to combat phylloxera, to the modern embrace of drip irrigation and mechanization, advances in viticulture aim to reduce the vagaries of weather and disease, and promote either the quantity or quality of wine. Rarely are these goals of quantity and quality aligned for the viticulturist. Today, viticulture is a highly evolved science, and the development of the vine (and its transformation in the winery) is highly calculated to provide a desired character of fruit. While cold science governed many of the viticultural advancements of the last century, newer movements of sustainability have sprouted in reaction, and several distinct paths of viticulture exist for conscientious growers.
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The annual life cycle of the vine begins in the spring, with budbreak. The vine, which started “weeping” or “bleeding” watery sap from pruned canes sometime in February (in the Northern Hemisphere), will
"As sunshine during the growing season increases the farther one moves away from the equator, vines in the cooler climates often enjoy more sunshine than vines in the warmer climates." Am I understanding this correctly? Example: The hours(? intensity?) of sunlight in Champagne versus the Rhone Valley will increase from April to August? Or in general, there is more sunlight (hours? intensity?) in Champagne because of the distance from the equator.
Hey Vernon! This is due to the tilt of the earth (~23.5˚). Higher latitudes will see more sunlight hours, yet less intense sun due to the angle of the earth. Per your example, on the summer solstice, Reims (48th parallel) will see 16 hours and 3 minutes of sunlight vs Avignon (44th Parallel) which will see 15 hours and 39 minutes. Champagne sees more sunlight hours, yet further south there is more intensity of sunlight.