1/21/2025 8:24:16 PM	VIT 53 Course Outline as of Summer 2007	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  VIT 53	Title:  ADV VINEYARD PRODUCTION
Full Title:  Advanced Vineyard Practices for Quality Production
Last Reviewed:9/13/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 57E

Catalog Description:

Course presents principles and cultural practices utilized in the vineyard to produce high quality North Coast wines. A thorough look at the practices of fertilization, irrigation, trellis design, and canopy management as they relate to wine quality factors. Includes lectures, guest speakers, and field trips to local vineyards and wineries.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Completion of VIT 52, and Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Principles and cultural practices utilized in the vineyard to produce high quality North Coast wines. Practices of fertilization, irrigation, trellis design & canopy management as related to wine quality factors.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of VIT 52, and Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1987	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify factors affecting vineyard yield and wine quality.

2. Summarize principles for the production of wine grape quality.

3. Evaluate the effects of trellis design and canopy management on wine

quality.

4. Identify and describe the most important canopy management systems in

use around the world.

5. Calculate and apply formulas for pruning and balancing the vine.

6. Classify basic wine markers in grape varieties.

7. Summarize the principles of fertilization and irrigation management for

premium wine production.

8. Show the relationship between grapevine physiology and grape quality.

9. Adopt quality assurance procedures to improve wine quality.

Topics and Scope

I. Introduction

 A. Quality winemaking starts in the vineyard

 B. Factors affecting vineyard yield and wine quality

 C. Principles for the production of wine grape quality

 D. Managing for quality

II. Trellis Design and Wine Quality

III. Canopy Management and Wine Quality

 A. Physiological basis for canopy management

 B. Effect of sunlight

    1. Vine photosynthesis

    2. Fruit ripening

    3. Bud initiation

    4. Other yield concerns

 C. Optimal utilization of available sunlight

 D. Deleterious effects of canopy shade on wine grape composition

 E. Canopy microclimate effects on important diseases

    1. Botrytis bunch rot

    2. Powdery mildew

 F. Choice and management of wine grape training systems

   1. Most important canopy management systems in use around the world

      today

       a. VSP (vertical shoot position) systems

       b. Vertically split systems

       c. Horizontally split systems

   2. Designs to improve yield and quality

   3. Designs to reduce shoot vigor

   4. Designs to facilitate mechanization

   5. Guidelines for selecting a training system

IV. Advanced Pruning Techniques

 A. Cordon pruning

   1. Balancing crop load

   2. Fine tuning the vine

     a. traditional formulas

     b. contemporary formulas

     c. trunk diameter formula for training and pruning young vines

 B. Cane pruning

   1. Balancing crop load

   2. Fine tuning the vine

     a. traditional formulas

     b. contemporary formulas

     c. trunk diameter formula for training and pruning young vines

V. Fertilization (Nutrition Management) for the Production of Premium

   Wines

VI. Irrigation Management for the Production of Premium Wines

VII. Grapevine Physiology and Wine Quality

 A. Grapevine physiology

   1. Relevance to grapevine performance and grape quality

   2. Growth cycle stages

 B. Berry physiology

VIII. Grape Varieties and Wine Markers

IX. Vineyard Quality Assurance

 A. Record keeping requirements of modern viticulture

 B. Quality assurance procedures to improve quality

X. Future Industry Trends

XI. Special Topics

 A. Using climatic data for determining grape varieties to plant

 B. Soils for premium grape quality

 C. Mildew control programs and winery concerns

 D. Other

Assignments:

Representative assignments:

1. Four written reports (2-3 pages each) on premium wine grape production

and cultural practices.

2. Research report (2-3 pages) on future trends in viticulture.

3. Homework problems: pruning formulas.

4. Oral presentation of research report findings.

5. Complete lecture summary forms (or compile lecture notes) for each

guest speaker.

6. Approximately 15-20 pages per week of reading.

7. Midterm and final exam.

8. Written report on the practices that are implemented on the site visits

(field trips)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 20 - 50%
Research and other reports; lecture notes.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 20%
Homework problems, Pruning formulas.
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 10 - 20%
Oral presentation.
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 40%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion, Short answer.
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Participation.

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Sunlight to Wine. Smart, Richard. Smart, et al, 2001.

Growing Quality Grapes to Winery Specifications. Krstic, Mark. Winetitles,

2003.

The Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Workbook. Dlott, Jeff et. al.,

editors. Wine Institute and California Institute of Winegrowers, 2002.

Wine Grape Varieties in California. University of California Agriculture &

Natural Resources Publication 3419. Regents of the University of

California, 2003.

Climate. Monographs in Cool Climate Viticulture - 2. Jackson, Davis.

Daphne Brasell Associates, Ltd., 2001.

Pruning and Training. Monographs in Cool Climate Viticulture - 1. Jackson,

Davis. Daphne Brasell Associates, Ltd., 2001.

General Viticulture. Winkler, Albert Julius. University of California

Press, 1975.

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