Scion

The above-ground portion of the vine. The scion is grafted onto the rootstock. The scion is the grape variety (cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay, for example) grown by the plant.

Le Mistral is the French name for an infestation of locusts in the vineyards of southern France. Such infestations occur about once every two decades.

Answer: False.

Le Mistral (named after the Occitan dialect word for "masterly" or "master") is a treacherous, often unexpected, year-round wind that barrels out of the Alps down through France. (It's the sort of wind that can lift you up into the air if you're caught in it.) The mistral can be helpful for grape vines in some ways and detrimental in others. During the growing season if the wind is moderate, it cools down the vines, helping the grapes retain acidity. Near harvest time it can act like a giant blow-dryer, making sure the grapes are free of mold. However, the mistral can be so violent that it can rip vines apart. As a result, some of the best vines planted in the mistral's path, such as those in the southern Rhône Valley, are found in partly sheltered pockets of land and are pruned low to the ground.

Estate Bottled

Exact definitions of estate bottled differ depending on the country from which the wine comes. In the United States, the term may be used by a winery only if 100 percent of the wine comes… Continue reading

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