It's all a question of upbringing...

Vines in Chianti

Keeping a watchful eye on the upbringing of the next generation is not only essential for children. In viticulture, too, we speak of education and different forms of education for vines. And as with children, the same applies to wine: there is not just one form of education, but different approaches depending on the grape variety, the external circumstances and the desired result.

But let's start from the beginning: Why am I bringing up the subject of pruning now of all times? Quite simply because pruning is in full swing in Chianti in mid-February. While I'm sitting here comfortably in the wintery, quiet café "La Curva" in the piazza of Panzano in Chianti with a cappuccino and cornetto, the vineyards in the Conca d'Oro are already hard at work. But what exactly happens when the vines are pruned? Which form of training is chosen for which vine?

Pruning requires knowledge and experience

The working year in the vineyard begins with pruning. First and foremost, the winemaker influences the yield - i.e. the quantity of grapes produced - with the type of pruning. The old shoots of the vines are cut back during the winter vegetation break. This ensures a balance between vigor and yield. Ultimately, the quality of the grapes is also closely linked to pruning. With just a few cuts, always by hand, which require a great deal of experience and knowledge, the vines are brought into the desired form.

In Chianti Classico, two main training systems are used in the vineyards today: Guyot and cordon pruning, where a fruit arch is usually cut as close to the trunk as possible, each with a replacement cane. This cut ensures a good distribution of the eyes, i.e. the buds. In a further step, the fruit arches are tied downwards. Cordon pruning cuts short cones and stretchers on a horizontal extension of the trunk. This pruning requires a little more maintenance work (cane build-up and constant rejuvenation). The storage of reserve material is greater in the cordon than in the arched cut.

At the moment, there is undoubtedly still more going on between the vines than on the piazza and in the café. But with the first rays of spring sunshine, the tourists will soon return to Tuscany - and the vines will also grow and flourish again. With this in mind, here's to a good wine year!