Winter in the Langhe: sustainability, innovation and tradition in vineyard work<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/span><\/span>With the arrival of spring we take up familiar habits; one of these is strolling among the vines in the sanctuary that is the Langhe.<\/p>\n
We’re among the vines of the Josetta Saffirio<\/strong> estate run by producer Sara Vezza<\/strong>, here in Monforte d\u2019Alba, on the Castelletto hill, where the vines already show the results of winter work.<\/p>\nWe’re in the heart of the estate\u2019s five hectares of vineyard, among the rows of Nebbiolo that are the source of the estate\u2019s most prestigious wines. Some of these vines have been adopted by wine lovers who have signed up for the Adopt a row of vines project and have thus acquired the opportunity to produce an excellent Barolo and participate in cellar life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>A vineyard requires infinite attention and care that revolves around the natural cycle of the plant.
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nOver the winter, work in the vineyards requires great commitment and effort on the part of the winegrowers to prepare the vines<\/strong> for optimal growth in the coming year.
\nEach vineyard has different requirements that depend on many factors, and these result in various agricultural practices developed by each estate and which together, form the estate\u2019s production philosophy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>![\"lavori-invernali-vigne-langhe-sara-vezza\"](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/lavori-invernali-vigne-langhe-sara-vezza-1-1.jpg\")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>A sustainable winter in the vineyard <\/strong><\/h3>\nThe vines hibernate in winter: it is the rest period after months of effort that culminate in the harvest. It is essential to the development of new buds<\/strong> for the next season\u2019s grape clusters. Both man and nature<\/strong> play important roles<\/strong> in this process.<\/p>\nThis great responsibility<\/strong> for the land is at the heart of Sara Vezza\u2019s production methods. This translates into a constant commitment to research and experimentation to derive techniques that respect the vineyard and the<\/strong> soil<\/strong>, as well as the consumer<\/strong>.
\nThese are tested during the winter resting period and added to the established biological regime<\/strong>, which already eschews the use of pesticides, chemical insecticides and herbicides.<\/p>\n<\/div>One of the first winter jobs is putting miniskirts<\/em><\/strong> on the vines in the southeast-facing vineyards.
\nWhen spring arrives these prevent cutworm larvae from climbing up the vines and attacking the new buds. They are a good investment both in economic and ecological terms.<\/p>\nIn January the first snow fell, the crisp air tingling lungs as the boots of each grower sank into the mud. Despite the cold it is the time to prune<\/strong>\u2013one of the most important jobs in the vineyard\u2013to remove the old parts of each vine to make way for the new, reduce the number of buds to control fruiting and to tidy each plant so that sunlight can reach each part.<\/p>\nThough laborious, pruning reaps great returns: it is indeed the preparation<\/em><\/strong> for the next harvest.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"potatura-inverno-vigna-langhe\"](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/potatura-inverno-vigna-langhe.jpg\")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>![\"potatura-sara-vezza-donna-vino\"](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/potatura-sara-vezza-donna-vino.jpg\")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>After the pruning, branches are cleared and the rows tidied. In the meantime, temperatures rise and the shoots lengthen. The fruiting canes are tied to the trellises<\/strong>, so that the branches don\u2019t snap.<\/p>\nAnti-hail nets are then installed to provide extra protection.<\/p>\n
We dedicate March to working the land<\/strong>: fertilising and subsoiling, planting green legumes and mulching all took place during this last month.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
With the arrival of spring we take up familiar habits; one of these is strolling among the vines in the sanctuary that is the Langhe.<\/p>\n
We’re among the vines of the Josetta Saffirio<\/strong> estate run by producer Sara Vezza<\/strong>, here in Monforte d\u2019Alba, on the Castelletto hill, where the vines already show the results of winter work.<\/p>\n We’re in the heart of the estate\u2019s five hectares of vineyard, among the rows of Nebbiolo that are the source of the estate\u2019s most prestigious wines. Some of these vines have been adopted by wine lovers who have signed up for the Adopt a row of vines project and have thus acquired the opportunity to produce an excellent Barolo and participate in cellar life.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Over the winter, work in the vineyards requires great commitment and effort on the part of the winegrowers to prepare the vines<\/strong> for optimal growth in the coming year. The vines hibernate in winter: it is the rest period after months of effort that culminate in the harvest. It is essential to the development of new buds<\/strong> for the next season\u2019s grape clusters. Both man and nature<\/strong> play important roles<\/strong> in this process.<\/p>\n This great responsibility<\/strong> for the land is at the heart of Sara Vezza\u2019s production methods. This translates into a constant commitment to research and experimentation to derive techniques that respect the vineyard and the<\/strong> soil<\/strong>, as well as the consumer<\/strong>. One of the first winter jobs is putting miniskirts<\/em><\/strong> on the vines in the southeast-facing vineyards. In January the first snow fell, the crisp air tingling lungs as the boots of each grower sank into the mud. Despite the cold it is the time to prune<\/strong>\u2013one of the most important jobs in the vineyard\u2013to remove the old parts of each vine to make way for the new, reduce the number of buds to control fruiting and to tidy each plant so that sunlight can reach each part.<\/p>\n Though laborious, pruning reaps great returns: it is indeed the preparation<\/em><\/strong> for the next harvest.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> After the pruning, branches are cleared and the rows tidied. In the meantime, temperatures rise and the shoots lengthen. The fruiting canes are tied to the trellises<\/strong>, so that the branches don\u2019t snap.<\/p>\n Anti-hail nets are then installed to provide extra protection.<\/p>\n We dedicate March to working the land<\/strong>: fertilising and subsoiling, planting green legumes and mulching all took place during this last month.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>A vineyard requires infinite attention and care that revolves around the natural cycle of the plant.
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nEach vineyard has different requirements that depend on many factors, and these result in various agricultural practices developed by each estate and which together, form the estate\u2019s production philosophy.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/span><\/div>A sustainable winter in the vineyard <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nThese are tested during the winter resting period and added to the established biological regime<\/strong>, which already eschews the use of pesticides, chemical insecticides and herbicides.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\nWhen spring arrives these prevent cutworm larvae from climbing up the vines and attacking the new buds. They are a good investment both in economic and ecological terms.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
![\"gemme-primavera-vigne-langhe\"](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/gemme-primavera-vigne-langhe.jpg\")
<\/span><\/div>![\"nottua-minigonne-vigne\"](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/nottua-minigonne-vigne.jpg\")
<\/span><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/row.png\")
<\/span><\/div>![\"tramonto-vigne-langhe-vista\"](\"https:\/\/www.adottaunfilare.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tramonto-vigne-langhe-vista.jpg\")
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