Summer work in the Vineyard (May)

Summer in the vineyard is the time for getting the vines ready to grow their grapes. The scenery couldn’t be more gorgeous, well, unless it were Norway, but that is besides the point. When you work in a vineyard, you have the wonderful opportunity to look about you at a quilted, lush hillside.

Like a crazy quilt the rolling hills are made of up of patches, with stripes of vines going this way and that. In between are dotted old stone houses and little villages. Various birds trill as we work in the general silence.

Training your Vine

As summer progresses the vines of course grow, and like most vines they can grow long and start to cling to everything and anything. So the summer job in the vineyard becomes curtailing them and training them.

We do this because the vines will struggle less, spend less energy in growing the vine and more energy in producing the fruit. Which in wine making, is fairly important I would say.

Wire Placement

If you haven’t been in a vineyard, you have probably seen pictures, but either way I will bet you haven’t really noticed the wires. Neither had I, not really. I noticed the vines, as you do. I vaguely noticed the wooden posts at the end of the rows, too. But really, for me, it was all about the grapes and the end result – wine. (Still is.)

Turns out, in France, there are 3 wires running along the row of vines. There is a low wire, about knee height, which is the one you train the vine along. (Read my post ‘Winter in the Vineyard‘ to understand how and why). This lower wire is attached to the posts dotted along the vine row.

Then there are two side by side wires above that one. They run on either side of the posts and so create a gap in between them. They are not fixed to the post, rather they rest on a series of nails that are at varying heights up the post so you can raise these wires up as the vines grow. Are you with me so far?

Tucking In

Tucking in is where you take the lengthening vines and tuck them in between the gap of the two wires so that the vine points upward. The result looks almost like a hand, with the vines looking like fingers.

Having them go vertical gives space and air to the foliage and consequently the grapes. This, hopefully, means less chance of mildew and rot, more space for the grapes to grow and good shade for them during the heat of the mid day.

Time for a trim

Once the vines are vertical, we use clips (often shaped like the letter C) to pull the two wires together either side of the vine, keeping it in place. The vines are then all trimmed, rather like giving a haircut, to just a bit longer than the top wires.

We also tuck in and trim vines to be sure they are not touching the ground. Touching the ground is the easiest way for them to pick up mildew and transfer it to the whole of the vine. Mildew is a danger in vineyards as it defoliates the vine. Without foliage the grapes will not be healthy and grow into a proper bunch fit for harvesting to make wine.

At the same time we also trim any additional shoots around the roots that have sprung up. You don’t want extra shoots taking away the energy from the grape producing. We also dig out any weeds between and around the vines.

Summer Heat

Vineyards in summer are hot places as there is no shade. Work usually starts very early, in the cool of the morning. In our own vineyards, I was always lucky as I normally finished about mid-day, since I had to still look after my shop. This of course was a luxury. When I went on to work at other wineries vineyards we would work through the whole day, no matter the heat.

Here’s a visual taste…