Wine Diary
Tending the vines
Following some invigorating rainfall, growth has picked up pace. With the arrival of summer, the first heatwave is now sweeping across the Kamptal. This marks the start of a busy period of work in the vineyards. The ongoing care and protection of the vines are crucial to the quality of the grapes. On the ground, competing weeds are removed from around the roots; the trunks are ‘suckerd’, that is, cleared of useless, energy-sapping suckers; excess shoots are removed from the one-year-old wood (thinning); the remaining foliage is sprayed with organic plant protection products; and the tendrils are later woven into the wire trellises. Some of the leaves in the grape zone are removed to ensure the grapes are well ventilated whilst remaining in partial shade.
Flowering is still underway in many vineyards; this year, it is progressing somewhat irregularly on the vines. Some grapes have almost reached the size of peas, whilst nearby clusters are still in bloom. Experience has shown that such variations in vegetation largely even out as the grapes ripen. However, this too will depend on the weather conditions over the summer.
