Green Fertilisation

In the month of August, it comes time to plant greenery in our vineyards.

Between every other vine row, a disc harrow is used to lightly loosen the
soil, after which a rotary harrow follows and levels it off.

Then the seed drill takes its turn and sows the appropriate greencover. Rye
and sweat-pea, a mixture of clovers, or a blend of grasses and herbage are
planted according to the individual spot.

The winter greenery of rye and sweat-pea will generate a great deal of
material by the spring of 2016, while not competing at all with the vines
for water or nutrients. At that time, this greencover will be mulched and
provide nourishment for all of the organisms in the soil.

The other mixtures are perennial in character, and in addition to creating
organic material, they make for improved navigability in the vineyard.

And the timing couldn't be any better. By evening on Sunday, everything was
finished - that night, the rains came: 22 litres per square metre fell upon
the vineyards.

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The Green Harvest

Our vineyards are looking really good these days.
But thanks to the perfect flowering, the potential yield is much too great.
So for five weeks now we have had up to ten skilled workers occupied with
the green harvest.
In this, we leave eight well-formed clusters on each vine - unless a vine
seems weaker, in which case it will be fewer. This procedure demands even
more detailed attention than the harvest itself!
In any event, the harvest will proceed more easily and quicker in such
well-prepared vineyards.
And all the work we invest during the year repays double when we pick the
grapes.

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