A dreamlike winter's day

– and a day just does not get more lovely than this! 

After yesterday’s driving snow, with the largest flakes I have ever seen, Burgenland is showing its sunny side today.

The first almond tree in Austria has been blooming since the 20th of January, and my parents Anton and Grete Kollwentz 

are outside, busy with some pruning.

Weingut Kollwentz

Burgenland

www.kollwentz.at

Pruning the Vines.

The first major undertaking on the winegrower's calendar is pruning the
vines.

The system we are using here for our Sauvignon Blanc is cordon-training,
with the canes cut past the second bud.
This leaves plenty of old wood remaining, which acts as a repository for
nutrients in reserve.

The canes with their two buds will produce this year's summer shoots and
their clusters of grapes

www.kollwentz.at

It's cold out in the woods!

Vine cuttings alone are not enough to fuel our heating system. So we make our way through the forests, where we cut out old and

partially dead trees, along with mostly soft wood like birch and willow, but some acacia as well.

 

In the process we fortify ourselves with a bite of  bacon, and on the second day – with the energetic assistance of family members – we have pork knuckles roasted over the coals.

We enjoy the meal together after our work is done.

 

www.kollwentz.at