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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. 12/1/04
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Like fine
wine, we all are
aging…So
the key to this situation is to age well and to improve as
the wine improves with age. But to improve, one must take
care not to be spoiled. Like the wine, only things from the
outside can cause spoilage. It is the season of Christmas,
and the message of the season is Love. So fortify
your live with love as wine is fortified with spirit. May
our Good God bless you with wonderful holidays shared
with family, relatives, and friends.
It is time to think about the vineyard, and plan the work
leading to bud break. The leaves have fallen, and the vines
are at rest. So let's plan on walking the vineyard id to see
what we must do for the new year.
Take a pad of paper and make notes. This is something you
should always do each time you visit the vineyard. It is
very helpful, and the older you get, the more helpful it
becomes. Check the post and wires, note what repaired and
replacements that have to be made to the trellis and posts.
How is the cover crop? How are you maintaining the centers
of the rows. Check the irrigation lines to see if there are
any breaks or sags. How is the weed and the grass under the
wires? Do you need to spray one last time to take them
back?
Now for the pruning, do you have good cutters, ties, and
tags? Do you know how to prune the system and style that is
best for you vineyard? Read up on the different systems. If
you have a large vineyard, you need to start pruning now,
because we have had a frieze. Be sure to place the pruned
wood in the middle of the rows so that it can be drug out of
the vineyard and burned or used for cuttings.
Make sure that the cutters are sharp and make a clean cut.
When you tie up the vines, tie them tight, but do not gird
them as they grow. Remember that you are training the vine
for the years ahead, not just this next year.
Now you are ready to go out and check the vineyard ….
do not forget your bottle of wine, some cheese, and a few
crackers …. And wait a minute, I am coming also! !
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