Poggio Antico - Montalcino’s Post

"'The VSP system is a dinosaur at this point,' Bryan Babcock, the winemaker at Babcock Winery & Vineyards, in the Sta. Rita Hills, said in an article for Wine-Searcher, 'because it exposes the fruit to too much sun and maximizes labor and fuel consumption.'” ☝ Primary reasons I've been advocating different trellis designs in Texas for years now! Why on earth are we using VSP in a HOT, HIGH altitude, HIGH UV, DRY growing region...??? It makes no sense! Our primary issue IN TX High Plains AVA has always been sun OVER exposure to fruit (sunburn, raisin) due to the extreme heat (110*F+) and extreme UV intensity (3,000'+ elevation). Dappled sunlight with single high wire or California sprawl canopies tend to do MUCH better for us and produce more balanced fruit (especially red grapes). "Adam Casto, the head winemaker at Ehlers Estate, in St. Helena, is moving to high-wire trellises as he replants part of the property’s 42-acre vineyard, planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. 'There’s been a pretty decisive move away from VSP over the last 10 years or so, but especially over the last five,' he says. 'The vast majority [of growers] are either bringing up the fruiting wire or converting to cane pruning altogether. Climate change is increasingly the reason.'” While 98%+ of our acreage is in single high wire trellising, we do have ~15 acres still set up in VSP. We actually use our existing VSP trellising to make a modified California sprawl system as we have moveable catch wires. Only one pair is lifted to tuck cane growth at a much shallower angle, producing something similar to a Cali sprawl. Works MUCH better and can still be adjusted as needed for each variety's growth habit. Quotes from Virginie Boone's article "California’s Trellising Systems Adapt with the Times" published July 3, 2024. Link below, please go read it! https://lnkd.in/gdXziCEV Texas Vine Country FermForge 🍇 TEXAS LEGACY VINES #TexasVineyards #TexasWine #GrapeReturns

❝ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ❞ 🍇 1️⃣. 𝘚𝘶𝘯 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦: • Optimal sunshine for grape ripening and complex aroma development. • Southeast-facing slopes benefit from sunlight throughout the day. 2️⃣. 𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦: • Better water drainage, preventing grape rot and preserving vine health. • Well-drained soil promotes deep rooting and access to rich nutrients. 3️⃣. 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘛𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴: • Diversity of terroirs due to the varied geological strata of the Burgundian hillsides. • Limestone or clay-limestone soils are preferred, giving the wines finesse, minerality, and elegance. 4️⃣. 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦: • Slightly cooler temperatures and increased ventilation due to altitude and position on the slopes. • Gradual grape ripening, preserving freshness and promoting aroma concentration. 5️⃣. 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵: • Less exposed to spring frosts due to their position on hillsides and slopes. In summary, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, but the result of a rigorous selection based on precise natural criteria that guarantee the production of exceptionally high-quality grapes, giving rise to exceptional #wines. 🍷 #PremierCru #GrandCru

https://lnkd.in/d7xSDD9f The vineyard is an ecosystem, and the vine is also a micro-ecosystem comprising the plant, and all the yeast, fungi and bacteria that live on and in it. What is most important is to do as little as possible. Not to overprotect the plants, and only to do something when it’s needed. We work in different ways in different areas. Already between Barbaresco and Barolo, I can see a lot of differences. In Barbaresco, for example, we have soils that are a little more sandy and more compact. We’ve been working to boost the different types of grass growing on the soil and to fill it with a nice, complex cover crop. This can be a bit challenging in Barbaresco because the soil tends to get drier than in Barolo where there’s more water-holding potential so that’s different.

Changing Varietal Composition of Chile's Vineyard Area from 2000 to 2022. Sauvignon Blanc is the biggest winner of the last 22 years, Pais is the biggest loser. https://lnkd.in/eX-Ys-4D

Discover Viña Los Vascos: A Jewel in the Central Valley of Chile Nestled between the Andes and the Coastal Mountain Range, 200 km south of Santiago, Viña Los Vascos benefits from an ideal microclimate. This unique terroir, influenced by the Pacific Ocean, features plenty of sun, semi-arid soil, and no frost, creating perfect conditions for exceptional wines. Covering 3,600 hectares with 640 hectares of vineyards, it's one of the largest wineries in the region. At 150 meters above sea level and just 40 km from the coast, the vineyard enjoys a significant temperature contrast, up to 30°C in a single day, which is favorable for the slow ripening of their renowned Cabernet Sauvignon. The volcanic soil, with weathered granite, clay, and shale, adds to the complexity and longevity of their wines. The grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc, with vines ranging from 15 to 60 years old. Traditional growing methods, including drip irrigation and green harvesting, ensure the highest quality.

Age Composition of Main Grape Varieties in Slovenia. Almost half of Laški rizling / Welschriesling vineyard area is 30 years or older; this is 36% for Malvazija. As a results, the avg ages are 27.6 years (Laški rizling) and 22 years (Malvazika), resp. In contrast, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vineyards are comparatively young.

Changing Varietal Composition of Chile's Vineyard Area from 2000 to 2022. Sauvignon Blanc is the biggest winner of the last 22 years, Pais is the biggest loser. https://lnkd.in/eTy5Jp6G

Age Composition of Main Grape Varieties in Slovenia. Almost half of Laški rizling / Welschriesling vineyard area is 30 years or older; this is 36% for Malvazija. As a results, the avg ages are 27.6 years (Laški rizling) and 22 years (Malvazika), resp. In contrast, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vineyards are comparatively young. https://lnkd.in/eqyVSftN

One of the most important phases in grape cultivation occurs after the harvest. The vineyards go through what we call "vegetative rest"; the vine loses its leaves and only the woody part remains. This phase occurs every year, from autumn in the months of March, April, and May, and throughout the winter of June, July, and August. The appearance of the plant is trunk, arms, and shoots. Only the woody part has no green structure due to the soil temperature. During those months in Ica, the climate fluctuates between 7°C to 13°C; there is no absorption of nutrients from the soil by the roots, which we call the rest or dormancy of the vine. From July onwards, the pruning of the vineyards begins. This is important because by reducing the number and length of the shoots, fewer clusters will be produced, allowing the shoots to thicken and improving the quality of what is produced in the vineyards. Ultimately, pruning prolongs the life of the vine and ensures the harvest year after year… Continue reading https://lnkd.in/eSaAQP_B Where pisco is the only protagonist! #lapiscoteca #piscosour #winelover #pasionporlacata #bar #elpiscoesdelperu #vino #vinosdelperu #pisco #piscolover #Lima #Peru @Piscorevista @elpiscoesdlperu @elmagozurdo @aspercat1 Photo by LPW Bodega Monte Carmelo Azpitia-Lima Peru

When grapes are brought into our Research Winery, most trials are processed on our Pellenc Crusher-Destemmer. This is the same brand as many harvester machines you'll see in New Zealand vineyards. The machine can be set up to operate the same way as a harvester, so when applicable to the trial, the grapes are processed similarly to a commercial vineyard but just on a much smaller scale. We also cold macerate the grapes for an hour and a half to simulate time in gondola and truck post-machine harvest for those trials. This way our research findings are more relevant to real-world scenarios than if we processed them by hand. #bragatoresearch #nzwine #researchwinery #vintage2024