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Notes From the
Vintner
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Welcome
to our column. We hope that you will return to
learn interesting notes on wine, and related
subjects. Wine is a great gift from God to be used
for the enjoyment of man. It is a food, and should
be treated as such. It is meant to lift up the body
and lighten the soul. 02/1/01
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Winter
Fun....yes,
that is what pruning is all about, work that can be fun. It
is important that all the right tools are with you when
going to the vineyard to prune in the cold winter weather.
First, you need warm clothes. It is best that you layer them
so as you get warmer, you can remove some clothing and not
break a sweat. Secondly, you need cutters to cut the
damaged, diseased and over grown healthy vines. Thirdly, you
need loppers and a small saw to remove the wood that the
cutters cannot cut. And lastly, you need a bottle of wine,
some cheese, and a box of crackers. These items are very
important if you are to remain on the job for any time at
all. Well being while working is most important. A person
can prune many vines if they are in the correct
disposition.
Pruning is just
another step in caring for the vines. When pruning the
vines, one may leave a few extra buds or an extra cane when
not sure of the best formation. Then when tying the vines in
the second step, the unwanted buds or extra cane may be
removed. If you do cutting after the weather warms, when the
sap is rising, then the vines lose sap in what is called
“bleeding.” You do not want your vines to bleed;
what you want is for the cut vine to be sealed off before
the sap rises.
When you go to the
vineyard, chose the clear, sunny cold days if you can. Wet
damp days will wilt your spirit -- even with a bottle of
replacement spirits. The work will be hard, but it should be
work that makes you feel good after seeing the progress that
you have made. After the pruning, tying the vines is the
next step. But before we talk about that, how about a glass
of wine…or did you think I would never
ask...
TO YOU !!!
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