The cultivation of grapes and their importance to wine crafting is known as viticulture. All aspects of a vineyard (sun, soil, drainage, and so on) affect the quality of the grape, and ultimately the wine it produces.

Viticulture is the technical term for the study of vine cultivation, where the term "vitis" refers to the genus of grapes used in wine. Although, there are about 10,000 grape varieties, very few are used in winemaking. Wines differ in taste depending on the grapes, their vinification, their age, and also where their grapes are grown.

The climate and soil of the vineyard has a significant impact on flavour, and certain grapes will flourish only under certain climatic conditions. A vineyard needs to be open to plenty of sun throughout the day. However, too much heat, freezing temperatures, or rain will destroy the grapes.

The land must also have the correct soil balance, which affects the character of the grape. It must be well drained, and have the appropriate pH for the type of grape(s). The minerals of the soil are more important than fertility; they impart aroma and taste to the grapes.

The winemaker's art owes much to his viticultural knowledge and expertise. These skills allow him to use the viticultural 'strengths' of an area to create the optimum quality wine at the optimum cost.

Often the preferred vines for wine produce a low yield because of poor soil, making the roots work harder for nourishment. Invariably these grapes