The work in the vineyards
The vineyards represent a work of all instants for the wine. Here is a list
of the main activities regularly undertaken in the vineyards every year.
There are other activities that are tied to the plantation and growing of
the vines for their 3 first years.
The cutting:
It is the main activity for a wine grower in the year. Very important as
it takes a very long time (several months).
It can start in November and usually finishes early April.
It consists in cutting the vines to limit its growth to its "useful" growth
which will give only a few buds. They will produce the new blades which
will give wonderful grapes every year.
Men and Women, armed with secateurs for the small blades or stump-cutter,
burn the blades, or crush them to give strength to the soil.
There are 4 cutting types authorised in Champagne:
In summer as well, the winegrower can cut. He then
eliminates the excess of vegetation in May, June and can help the grapes
growing by using the sap only for them and not for the old buds.
The tying:
When the vines are cut, the winegrower needs to give it shape. To do that
the winegrower tie the blades to the support cables. Before some rush was
used to tie. Nowadays, there is a special cord and tool used for this operation.
Putting the cables down:
In April, as soon as the soil is at 8 to 10 Celsius degrees, the vines start
to cry. That is to say the sap goes up to nourish the vines but evades
from the cuts made by the winegrower earlier in the year. The young buds,
wet, are then very fragile and sensible to the early morning frost. The
winegrower puts then the cables down to avoid hurting the buds during their
growth.
The flowering:
The flowering is commonly called the flower in Champagne. It is like
all the other vines growth a crucial moment for the winegrower. If this
period does not go well, the harvest will be ruined. To succeed, the temperature
in the vineyards must be between 20 and 25 Celsius degrees and that the
humidity rate important.
If everything go well, the grains will mature 100 days after.
The tying:
From the beginning of June, the winegrowers tie the upper cables and bring
the lower cables up. After the winegrower will try to give discipline to
the by tying the blades inside the cables. It is at this time that the winegrower
green cuts its vines. Finally the winegrower
staples the cables to tie the vines solidly to stop it growing in all directions.
We recognised a good winegrower with the tidiness of its vineyards.
The trimming:
From July to August, the last operations are made before the harvest. In
fact, if the trimming is well done, nothing prevents the vineyards to grow
at its best to produce the best grapes.
And finally...
The vineyards are ready to be harvested. However during this period (August-September)
check the different maturation stages.
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