If we think about the care that a grapevine requires, there are two very clear and necessary events. The first is pruning, which consists of reducing the length and number of shoots so that the vine produces fewer clusters, but of greater quality and thickness. The second is the grape harvest, the collection of grapes for subsequent production (wine, must, etc.).
Between these two moments, there are several months of difference and two seasons in which decisive work is carried out for the vineyard. Spergura, topping or stripping are some of these key viticultural tasks for the development of the grapevine.
Care of the plant
Spergura is a step beyond pruning. Once we have left the best shoots and cut “a thumb” to serve as a reference for the next pruning, it is time to unload the plant even more. This task consists exactly in eliminating all the shoots from the vine, since it absorbs water (humidity) necessary to optimize the fruit. There is also another technique called stripping, which focuses on the same purpose: to give the plant more air by eliminating shoots and branches.
On the other hand, we find the trimming. This task involves trimming the shoots of the vine (normally between seven or eight buds are left). In this way, we get a less loaded plant, which in turn allows nutrients to go to the grape.
As we said before, this period takes place over several months and with two seasons in between: spring and summer. Therefore, the plant is more ‘unloaded’, but also more exposed: to heat, pests and blooms. For this reason, parallel tasks are carried out during this time: plowing the soil to remove and pull weeds, drip irrigation (not too much water since the grapevine needs heat and sun) and treatments to prevent pests or diseases.
Although it may not seem like it, vines need annual, almost daily, care in order to produce the highest possible quality. That is how we understand it at Barcolobo and that is how we do it. That is why our wines are always the best possible company.