Time to tackle the donkey work

Happy New Year to you all from all of us at Poulton Hill Vineyard!

Now that Christmas is over, the hard work really starts in the vineyard. Our vines are currently dormant, much like hibernating animals who sleep through the winter until warmer weather comes. Any growth now would be affected by low temperatures and frost, which would impact the yield later in the year. While the vines are dormant, we start our preparation for the growing season with winter pruning. This is a big task, which we complete by hand.

We select two strong canes and one spur for the year (which is about the thickness of a pencil). We remove the rest of the unwanted canes with secateurs, ensuring these are sharp for clean cut. It is essential not to damage the vine as we do not want to reduce opportunities to produce canes in future years.

Then we trim the selected canes down so that between eight and ten buds remain on each. We tie down each of the remaining canes to the fixed fruiting wire. The tie should not be too tight or the cane will be strangled. We use eco-friendly, natural cane ties.

With the two canes (now arms of the vine) tied down, we treat any large wounds with garlic paste. This acts as a barrier and prevents disease from entering the vine.

Then we collect the cuttings from the middle of the rows of vines and take them to the top end of the vineyard.

Winter pruning will take place at Poulton Hill Vineyard during January and sometimes through February too, regardless of the weather. It is vital to get this process completed before bud break or bud burst, which occurs in March to April.

Some vineyards in France used to keep their workers warm with Chariots de Feu (quite literally Chariots of Fire), which were oil drums on wheels or wheelbarrows that would be moved between the vines burning the wood that had been pruned. We don’t burn our off cuts, the vine branches are bunched together and sold as kindling or wood for smokers, barbecues and fires. We have to make do with warm gloves, hats and thick socks.

 

The original donkey work

Preparing the canes for the growing season is a very important part of the life of the vineyard, but there are many stories about how the process of winter pruning became established. To learn more, read our blog here.

If you would like to learn more about Poulton Hill Vineyard, why not come to see us at the Cellar Door? We are open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.