In The Vineyards: Pruning
At Spier we try to work as closely to natural rhythms as possible. That's why this is the third year in which we pruned according to lunar and stellar activities.
Winter signals a natural time of rest and this is no less true for vines. During this resting or dormant phase, usually around mid-winter when temperatures have dropped to less than 5° Celsius, the vines are pruned. Vineyards need to be revitalised annually in order to keep producing good quality grapes. Pruning is an effective method to ensure regeneration by cutting away old and unwanted growth, including old bark left from the previous season.
Each block is pruned differently as determined by the grape varietal, soil conditions, locality and environmental macro- and microclimate conditions. Pruning takes place in dry weather conditions as pruning wounds need sunlight to dry out. If the wounds are wet, either from rain or dew, they become susceptible to fungal spores which may cause vine disease. On the other hand, if the climate is overly hot, the pruning wounds could dry out too quickly which, in turn, may cause damage to the bud.
Pruning is about finding the correct balance between various elements to establish harmony within the vine as well as externally in the vineyard.