When winter envelops the countryside in silence and fog settles on the rows of vines, the vineyard seems to be asleep. At first glance, it may seem like a motionless place, almost suspended in time. But those who work among the vines know that this seemingly quiet season is actually one of the most delicate and decisive of the entire wine-growing cycle.
Winter is the time when the future of the vineyard and the next harvest are prepared.

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Vegetative rest: a pause that serves to restart

From November to March, the vine enters a phase called vegetative rest: the sap slows down, the leaves fall and the bare shoots remain exposed to the cold. Despite this immobility, the plant is doing some essential work: it is accumulating reserves, regenerating its internal structures and preparing for new fertile buds.
The cold, which might seem like an enemy, is actually an ally. Low temperatures:

• eliminate many pests and fungi, reducing the pressure of future diseases,
• promote vernalisation, a biological process that stimulates the vine to programme its spring awakening,
• allow the plant to save energy for subsequent development.
In other words, beneath its apparent immobility, the vine is laying the foundations for the quality of the harvest.

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Winter pruning: the art that determines the fate of the harvest

The most important task in the vineyard during winter is undoubtedly dry pruning.
It is an ancient practice, both technical and artistic. Every cut has a consequence: on the shape of the plant, the quantity of grapes, the quality of the bunches and even the longevity of the vineyard.
Pruning is not just about “cutting”. It means:

• selecting the best shoots,
• regulating productivity, avoiding excess or deficiency,
• guiding the plant towards a balance between growth and fruit,
• preventing wood diseases, protecting cuts and promoting healing.

It is slow work, often carried out in the frost and fog, requiring agronomic knowledge and great sensitivity towards each individual vine. Every plant is different, every row has a story.
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The soil: life hidden beneath the surface

During winter, work is also carried out on the soil:
it is aerated, organic fertilisers are distributed and green manure is sown to enrich the soil with natural nutrients.
This is when the vineyard is literally “fed” so that it can face spring with strength and energy.

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A winter that speaks of the future

Winter is therefore only a silent season in appearance.
In the heart of the vineyard, nature works slowly and precisely, while the winegrower accompanies each process with care and dedication.
Every action taken during these months, albeit far from the frenzy of the harvest, is essential to ensure balance, health and quality in the vineyard.
Because the wine we will drink tomorrow is born right now, in the cold of winter, when the vines seem to be sleeping... but in reality are preparing to give their best.