Viticulture BHT220
Description
Viticulture- learn the techniques and become a successful Vitculturalist. This course will help you develop an ability to select and cultivate appropriate varieties of grapes in different situations, and provide the knowledge to make informed decisions about the management of a vineyard. There are ten lessons covering the history of viticulture, the current state of the industry, wine and table grapes, dried grapes, cultural practices (trellising, soils, planting, pruning, irrigation, pests & diseases); vineyard design, improving quality, harvest & post harvest procedures, winemaking, marketing and more.Learn to grow Grapes
A serious course for vineyard workers, hobby farmers, farm managers,…
Frequently asked questions
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Learn to grow Grapes
A serious course for vineyard workers, hobby farmers, farm managers, amateur enthusiasts, or anyone working or aspiring to work in this industry.
There are 10 lessons in this course:- Introduction Describe the nature and scope of the Viticulture
industry both locally and world wide.
- Includes: global viticulture; major winegrowing areas around the world; the grape; genera and species; rootstocks; classification of grape varieties; table grapes; wine grapes; dried fruit; juice grapes; canned grapes.
- Climate & Soils: Identify suitable climate and soil
conditions for vineyard site establishment
- Includes: temperature; temperature calculations; latitude-temperature index and degree days; sunlight; rainfall; soil; soil types and wine regions; understanding soils; texture; characteristics; soil structure; chemical characteristics of soils including pH and nutrient levels; understanding plant nutrition; soil water content; simple soil tests; naming the soil; problems with soil; erosion; salinity; structural decline; soil acidification; chemical residues.
- Selecting Grape Varieties: Select and evaluate appropriate
grape varieties for different situations.
- Includes: grape types; selection considerations; what to plant; matching the variety with the site; varietal characteristics; selecting wine grapes; yeild; varieties; chenin blanc; chardonnay; semillion; muscat ottonel; muscadelle; gewurztraminer; cabernet sauvignon; carignan; vitis rotundifolia; wine grapes; raisin grapes; juice grapes, the importance of rootstocks; purchasing plants; phylloxera.
- Vineyard Establishment: Develop a procedure to establish a
vineyard.
- Includes: establishing a new vineyard, vineyard planning; site planning; vineyard layout; site preparation; planting the vines, vine spacing; shelter belts; crop infrastructure; equipment.
- Grapevine Culture Part A (Training & Pruning): Specify the
techniques used in the culture of grape vines (Training &
Pruning Grapevines).
- Includes: pruning and training vines, shoot spacing; bud numbers; vine spacing; how much to prune; machine pruning; summer pruning; combination pruning; pruning sultana vines; trellising; construction; guyot system; geneva double curtain system; head training, cordoning; kniffen systems; umbrella kniffen system; pergola training system.
- Grapevine Culture Part B (Weeds, Pests & Diseases): Specify
the techniques used in the culture of grape vines (Weed, Pest &
Disease Control).
- Includes: weeds, pest and disease control, weeds in vineyeards; controlling weeds; safety proceedures when using agricultural chemicals; laws and guidelines; types of chemicals (14); weed management in vineyards; weed management before planting; weed management in new vineyards; weed management in established vineyards; integrated pest management; pest control in vineyards; grape berry moth; grape mealy bug; grape leaffolder; grapevine rust mite; grape blossom midge; flea beetles; birds; large animals; disease control in vineyards; fungal diseases; rots; mildew; eutypa dieback; bacterial diseases; viruses; organic culture of grapes; organic pest and disease control; companion plants; environmental problems including air, water, damage, frost, hail, wind and shade; water mangement; runoff; water saving; grape clones and varieties.
- Grapevine Culture Part C (Irrigation & Feeding): Specify
the techniques used in the culture of grape vines (Irrigation &
Feeding).
- Includes: irrigating and feeding grapes; excessive irrigation; seasonal effects of irrigation; drip irrigation; monitoring and timing; feasibility of irrigation; design considerations; soil and water; measuring water available to plants, calculating permanent wilting point, calculating field capacity of a vineyard; available moisture range; measuring air filled porosity; tensiometer; estimating water; rate of growth; climate; soil conditions; drainage in vineyards; improving subsoil and surface drainage; subsurface drainage; soil fertility; choice of fertilizer; timing of application; fertigation.
- Improving Grape Quality: Explain different ways to ensure or
improve grape quality.
- Includes: plant stock, crop management; post harvest impact on quality; improving flower and fruit set; second set; girdling; berry thinning.
- Harvesting & Selling : Specify procedure for harvest and
post-harvest treatment and formulate market strategy for vineyard
products.
- Includes: harvesting; testing for ripeness; influence of weather; harvesting techniques; selling grapes; vineyard resume; selling grapes; contracts; selling online; marketing; developing a marketing plan; advertising; market research; legalities.
- Wine: Explain the basic principles of wine making.
- Includes: basic production; overview of winemaking process; basic production principles; fermentation; making white wine, making red wine; methods
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school\'s tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims- Choose an appropriate site for a vineyard.
- Simple Soil tests
- Measuring ph
- Water content of soil.
- Choose appropriate grape varieties for different situations.
- Develop criteria to be considered when selecting which grape varieties to grow.
- Devise a procedure to establish a vineyard.
- Specify the techniques used in the culture of grape vines.
- Specify a procedure for harvest and post-harvest treatment of grapes.
- Formulate marketing strategies for vineyard products.
- Explain the basic principles of wine making.
Suitable regions for good quality grape production are determined more by climatic similarities than geographic location. Regions that have mean annual temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius are the most conducive for quality wine production. World distribution of viticulture is bounded by the 50∞ line of latitude, both north and south of the equator. However, even within these general parameters, grape vines are not suited to places where leaves do not fall from the vines over winter (due to warmth) or where winters are severe and summers are short.
Assessing regional suitability to grape production is not
absolute. Variations in local climate caused by topographical
characteristics can greatly affect the feasibility of production.
For example, elevated areas in warm climate regions may yield the
cooler temperatures required to produce good quality winemaking
grapes.
Several parameters are commonly used for assessing growing
conditions. Degree Days and Latitude-Temperature Index (LTI) are
two such measures. A region with a higher latitude may have cooler
mid-summer temperatures but may not be inhibited from good
production when offset by a long growing season. The Bordeaux
region of France and areas of Washington state in the USA may fall
into this category
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